Pikes Peak Multiuse Plan: A Technical Approach to Carrying Capacity Analysis

Author: Steven B. Mullen
Organization: Design Workshop, Inc.

1390 Lawrence Street
Suite 200
Denver, CO 80204
USA

Phone: 303-823-6219
Fax: 303-623-2260
smullen@designworkshop.com

Pikes Peak is immediately adjacent to Colorado Springs and 600,000 people. Owned by Colorado Springs Water Resource Department (a closed watershed) and Pike National Forest, this outstanding natural resource and national landmark is under massive pressure for access and utilization. This multiobjective, multijurisdictional planning process had to succeed at protecting this landmark and critical water resources while creating greater recreational benefit to a hungry public. The speaker will provide the whole story: Water Resource Department mandate to protect water quality, the Forest Service mandate to provide access, and how these apparent contradictory issues were reconciled using good design, intensive public involvement, and innovative GIS application.