Purpose of this Corridor Management
PlanCorridor Management Plan |
Purpose of this Corridor Management
PlanOrganization and Preparation of
the PlanPublic Participation ProcessMission StatementGoals and ObjectivesBrief History of the Santa Fe
TrailNational Historic Trail and Colorado
Historic and Scenic Byway DesignationTerms and AbbreviationsBack
to Main Contents
Purpose of this Corridor Management
PlanThis Corridor Management Plan describes the condition, evaluates the resources and guides the future of the Santa Fe Trail Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway. It was created with the participation of persons representing broad interests along the Byway. It incorporates information on the many preservation, development and promotional activities which these agencies and individuals have already implemented and describes future plans for road improvements, management of intrinsic qualities, interpretive development, improvements in tourism facilities and services, sign installation, and marketing.
Organization and Preparation of the
PlanThis document consists of six main sections as specified by the guidelines
for corridor management plans published by the Federal Highway Administration,
Office of Environment and Planning. These sections are:
1. Location and Maps covering the Trail location relative
to the Byway, corridor boundaries, land use and land ownership;
2. Physical Description covering a general review of the road,
traffic volumes, safety, accidents, maintenance and improvements;
3. Intrinsic Qualities which includes an assessment of the scenic,
cultural, historic, archeological, recreational, and natural resources in
the Byway corridor, management strategies for their preservation and enhancement,
and an interpretive plan;
4. Visitor Needs and Expectations including existing services
and amenities, visitation estimates and trends, a tourism services/facilities
plan, a commerce plan, a sign plan and information on outdoor advertising;
5. Marketing and Promotion which covers existing marketing
programs, a promotion plan, and a multi-lingual information plan; and,
6. People's Involvement and Responsibilities including descriptions
of involved organizations, management, on-going public participation and
an action plan with schedule. Protection tools along the Byway are reviewed
in each element of the CMP. Sections of the plan are segregated into existing,
in-progress and proposed projects to illustrate current protection efforts
already implemented along the Byway.
The Corridor Management Plan was prepared by a consulting team and Richard Smith, with financial assistance provided by the Colorado Department of Transportation through Southeast Colorado Enterprise Development, Inc. and the Mountains and Mesas Enterprise Zone. An interpretive plan was completed for the Byway in May 1997; it is summarized within the main body of this document and included in its entirety as an appendix.
Public Participation ProcessThe Corridor Management Plan (CMP) was created through a participatory process with decisions formed through consensus building techniques. Participants representing federal agencies, regional development organizations, local governments, the Bent's Fort Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Association and the general public contributed to the plan's development.
During the development of the Interpretive Plan, ten public meetings
were held in Trinidad, Las Animas, Lamar and at Bent's Old Fort between
July, 1996 and the following May. Public officials as well as land owners
were invited to the meetings. When work commenced on the remaining portions
of the CMP, three additional meetings were held to assess resources, identify
opportunities, and develop long-term strategies for enhancement and preservation
of the Byway.
A mailing to over 140 private and public agencies and land owners interested
in the Santa Fe Trail was done ten days prior to the first of the three
meetings. The first meeting included the creation of a mission statement
for the plan, review of the Byway's physical inventory, and establishment
of goals and objectives for the CMP. Strategies for management of intrinsic
qualities, meeting visitor needs and expectations, and marketing were developed
and analyzed at the second meeting. At the third meeting, strategies were
further refined and prioritized to meet agreed upon goals. At each meeting
the purpose for the development of a CMP was discussed. A handout given
to attendees defining a CMP and explaining its benefits is included in the
appendices.
Input was also obtained through two surveys conducted during the CMP's development.
A questionnaire was mailed with meeting notices asking that persons unable
to attend to provide written comments on road conditions, signs, promotional
materials, and resource interpretative and management. To learn more about
visitor experiences, a survey of persons working in visitor service positions
(motel and convenience store clerks, welcome center volunteers, and chamber
of commerce representatives) was conducted. Both surveys are included as
an appendix to this report.
Mission StatementThe mission for the development of this Corridor Management Plan is to
produce a document which is:
comprehensive, addressing all aspects of the Byway including roadway
conditions, intrinsic qualities, visitor experiences, and marketing;
consistent with existing plans, including the National Park Service's
1990 Comprehensive Management and Land Use Plan;
guiding in terms of the direction for the future it will provide through
management guidelines;
creative and visionary;
coordinated among all participants in the four counties in Colorado
through which the Mountain Route passes and the four neighboring counties
which have Trail-related resources and may be impacted by this plan's implementation;
integrated with programs and policies in other Trail states, particularly
New Mexico and Kansas;
dynamic and responsive to changes over time while sensitive to the preservation
of intrinsic qualities;
specific rather than general, containing well-defined strategies;
long-term with definitive plans for the initial years and general direction
for thereafter; and,
feasible and realistic.
Goals and ObjectivesThe following goals and objectives were developed through the public participation and consensus building process. They are used to assess resources in the Byway corridor and to guide the development of plans for their preservation and enhancement.
Goal
Preserve historic sites and resources for future generations.
Objectives:
to achieve a balance between preservation and development;
to increase public knowledge about the locations of archeological and
historic resources along the route; and,
to encourage protection of sites on private land through voluntary mechanisms,
incentives and certification programs.
Increase recognition and appreciation of the multi-cultural heritage in communities within the corridor.
to increase information availability about travel in both directions
along the Trail's historic routes and the ties it created among vastly different
cultures and races;
to preserve the pioneer spirit among the region's population;
to enhance awareness of the Trail's history among persons moving into
the region;
to promote Trail-related activities among all ages and families; and,
to use connections provided by the Trail to improve inter-community
relations.
Upgrade and improve maintenance of developed sites and facilities.
to increase ongoing repair efforts;
to use low maintenance materials and designs; and,
to secure adequate budgets for maintenance and development.
Develop additional sites which are not now accessible or do not have visitor services.
to improve the quality of visits; and,
to increase the number of sites visited.
Increase visitation and tourism's contribution to the economy.
to consistently use a unified Trail-related theme and identity;
to increase visitation approximately 5% per year;
to increase the length of visitor stays and expenditures;
to increase visitation to under-utilized sites and facilities;
to provide services and facilities to attract groups; and,
to disperse Trail-related activities throughout the corridor.
Brief History of the Santa Fe
TrailFrom 1821 when William Becknell and five companions from Missouri first transported goods to New Mexico for sale by wagon, until 1880 when the railroad made wagon caravans obsolete, the Santa Fe Trail was foremost a trade route. Goods traveled in both directions on the Trail creating strong commercial ties between Missouri and points east and the Mexican frontier province of New Mexico. By 1846, the value of goods taken over the Trail surpassed $1 million.
The Trail also served as a route for settlers immigrating as far west as California. The Trail carried many men and some families searching for their fortunes in gold during the 1848 rush to California and following the 1858 gold discoveries in Colorado. The military had a continual presence on the Trail, first accompanying trade caravans as protection against Indian attacks then later in both the 1846 war between the United States and Mexico and the Civil War.
The Mountain Route afforded greater safety and access to water; however, this route was longer than the Cimarron Route. As the wagons pulled by oxen or mules crossed the prairies and high deserts, they traveled four abreast in large caravans (often over 100 wagons) for security. The route would meander depending upon water levels in rivers and creeks, the presence of Indians and even the location of bison herds. The Trail narrowed in difficult sections including river crossings, canyons and mountain passes. At night, the wagons were positioned in large circles. Since the terrain generally allowed for variations in route depending upon conditions, the Trail usually resembled a wide swath rather than a well-defined, narrow strip. As such, distinct ruts as viewed from a pedestrian's perspective are only apparent in a few sections of the Mountain Route in Colorado.
(Please note: A more thorough description of the Trail's history is contained in the 1991 Scenic and Historic Byways nomination submitted to the Colorado Byways Commission, which is included as an appendix to this plan.)
National Historic Trail and Colorado
Historic and Scenic Byway DesignationIn 1987, the Santa Fe Trail was designated a National Historic Trail by the National Park Service (NPS). In the early 1990's, under the authorization of the Trail Systems Act, the Byway was named an Auto Tour Route under the administration of the NPS. NPS provided funds to each state for Auto Tour Route signs which were installed in Colorado by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).
In October, 1991, an application was submitted to the Colorado Department
of Transportation's Byways Committee to designate State Highway 50 from
the Kansas border to La junta, State Highway 350 from La Junta to Trinidad
and Interstate 25 between Trinidad and Raton Pass as a Scenic and Historic
Byway. The application was co-sponsored by Southeast Colorado Enterprise
Development, Inc. and Mountains and Mesas Enterprise Zone. Numerous agencies
provided letters of support. The application was approved following a presentation
to the Colorado Byways Commission.
Since achieving Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway designation, a wide variety
of efforts aimed at enhancing the Byway and its contribution to the region
have been made including:
installation of interpretive media at key locations;
development of interpretive sites and picnic areas;
installation of Scenic and Historic Byway signs along the entire length
of the roadway;
design, production and distribution of interpretive and promotional
brochures;
certification of interpretive and marketing programs;
participation in multi-state promotional programs; and,
improvements in the roadway in the downtown areas of several communities.
Terms and AbbreviationsThe Trail: The Mountain Route of the Santa Fe Trail which has
been designated a National Historic Trail.
Byway: The road and its corridor which has been designated a Scenic
and Historic Byway by the Colorado Byways Commission
High Potential Route Segments and Historic Sites: The NPS designation
for sites which have the potential to provide opportunities to interpret
the trail's historical significance and to provide high-quality recreation
along a portion of the route having greater than average scenic values and
also offering visitors the chance to vicariously share the experience of
trail users. Criteria include historical significance, the presence of visible
historic remains, scenic quality, and relative freedom from intrusion.
Intrinsic Quality: Those features that are a unique part of the route.
These features must be unusual, exceptional or distinctive, and meaningful
to both the communities along the Byway and the Byway visitor. Intrinsic
qualities are categorized as Scenic, Cultural, Historic, Archeological,
Recreational and/or Natural.
National Significance: Those intrinsic qualities which best represent
the nation and are one-of-a-kind features that do not exist elsewhere in
the nation.
Regional Significance: Those intrinsic qualities which are irreplaceable,
unique or representative of southeast Colorado.
CMP - Corridor Management Plan
CDOT - Colorado Department of Transportation
NPS - National. Park Service
SECED - Southeast Colorado Enterprise Development, Inc.
SFT - The Santa Fe National Historic Trail
STFS - Santa Fe Trail States (Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado,
New Mexico)
USFS - United States Forest Service