North Jeffco Gem & Mineral Club - Mineral Collecting on North Table Mountain

To: Mr. Frank Kunze, Jefferson County Open Space Board

Dear Mr. Kunze,

Thank you for the positive action that you and the other members of the Jefferson County Open Space Board are taking to continue to allow mineral collecting on North Table Mountain, an internationally recognized collecting site for more than a hundred years.

You join other far-sighted agencies around the nation who have seen that "open space" doesn't just mean areas set aside for jogging, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, sailing, fishing, etc., but can be open to other compatible recreational activities.

I also applaud your decision to manage the collecting activity through the requirement of a Special Activity Permit. I think you'll find that those who request such a permit will keep the area cleaner and in a better state of "repair," as they will mostly be from established groups that require their members to adhere to a code of ethics such as that of our Littleton Gem & Mineral Club. Here are several of the LGMC's entries (for all 17 items in our list, see http://us.geocities.com/littletongmc/ ):

- I will respect both private and public property and will do no collecting on privately owned land without the owner's permission.
- I will keep informed on all laws, regulations, or rules governing collecting on public lands and will observe them.
- I will cause no willful damage to property of any kind - fences, signs, buildings, etc.
- I will fill all excavation holes which may be dangerous to livestock.
- I will will cause no willful damage to collecting material and will take home only what I can reasonably use.
- I will support the rockhound project H.E.L.P. (Help Eliminate Litter Please) and will leave all collecting areas devoid of litter, regardless of how found.
- I will cooperate with field-trip leaders and those in designated authority in all collecting areas.
- I will appreciate and protect our heritage of natural resources.
- I will observe the "Golden Rule," will use "Good Outdoor Manners," and will at all times conduct myself in a manner which will add to the stature and public "image" of rockhounds everywhere.

Sincerely,
Dick Oakes
Webmaster, Littleton Gem & Mineral Club
DickOakes@PhantomRanch.net

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	April 1, 2004 Mineral Collecting on North Table Mountain To: Mr. Frank Kunze, Jefferson County Open Space Board Dear Mr. Kunze, Thank you for the positive action that you and the other members of the Jefferson County Open Space Board are taking to continue to allow mineral collecting on North Table Mountain, an internationally recognized collecting site for more than a hundred years. You join other far-sighted agencies around the nation who have seen that "open space" doesn't just mean areas set aside for jogging, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, sailing, fishing, etc., but can be open to other compatible recreational activities. I also applaud your decision to manage the collecting activity through the requirement of a Special Activity Permit. I think you'll find that those who request such a permit will keep the area cleaner and in a better state of "repair," as they will mostly be from established groups that require their members to adhere to a code of ethics such as that of our Littleton Gem & Mineral Club. Here are several of the LGMC's entries (for all 17 items in our list, see http://us.geocities.com/littletongmc/ ): - I will respect both private and public property and will do no collecting on privately owned land without the owner's permission. - I will keep informed on all laws, regulations, or rules governing collecting on public lands and will observe them. - I will cause no willful damage to property of any kind - fences, signs, buildings, etc. - I will fill all excavation holes which may be dangerous to livestock. - I will will cause no willful damage to collecting material and will take home only what I can reasonably use. - I will support the rockhound project H.E.L.P. (Help Eliminate Litter Please) and will leave all collecting areas devoid of litter, regardless of how found. - I will cooperate with field-trip leaders and those in designated authority in all collecting areas. - I will appreciate and protect our heritage of natural resources. - I will observe the "Golden Rule," will use "Good Outdoor Manners," and will at all times conduct myself in a manner which will add to the stature and public "image" of rockhounds everywhere. Sincerely, Dick Oakes Webmaster, Littleton Gem & Mineral Club DickOakes@PhantomRanch.net