Hoover Dam

Pawnee Pioneer Trails Scenic and Historic Byway, Ault-to-Sterling, CO

This project was a master plan for the Pawnee Pioneer Trails Scenic and Historic Byway. The project was a cooperative effort with the USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Center for Design and Interpretation.
Pawnee Pioneer Trails Scenic and Historic Byway runs through the ranching and farming country of the South Platte River Valley in northeastern Colorado. This part of the high plains (known as the “Colorado Piedmont”) is much more rugged and varied than the rolling terrain that surrounds it, and its gullies, escarpments, potholes and buttes are home to a surprising abundance of wildlife. Pawnee National Grassland is one of the finest birding destinations in North America, and the geological strata exposed in its landforms contain world-class fossils from several eras.
Among the challenges faced by the project team was building a bridge between two key stakeholders: the Forest Service and the Byway Committee, an entity dominated by ranching interests. Area ranchers have traditionally had a somewhat rocky relationship with the Forest Service, which administers grazing leases on Pawnee National Grassland. Disagreements over policies on prairie dogs and prescribed burning have been key points of contention.
EDA staff facilitated planning workshops that sought to identify areas of agreement and build consensus on the interpretation of controversial issues. Eventually, consensus was achieved in most areas, including the design of new picnic shelters, restrooms and trailhead structures in an historic vernacular based on the stone line shacks built by cowboys during the open range era. The ranchers still don’t like prairie dogs, and the Forest Service still manages for their continued survival.
Both parties, though, came to the realization through the planning process that their areas of agreement, in particular a deep and abiding respect for the land, were far greater than the areas in which they disagreed. Solid consensus on priorities for themes and design/implementation of future interpretive media was achieved.
We are particularly proud of the public involvement process that was used in this project. Concept designs for gateway kiosks were displayed in local museums and government offices to gather public comment on proposed structures. Interested parties were also given the opportunity to comment on interpretive themes through a (non-scientific) survey instrument. EDA staff gave several presentations to local historical societies as well, in cooperation with the State Scenic Byways Coordinator.