Scot Elder, manager for Lone Mesa and Mancos state parks, was recognized as Colorado's 2014 Ranger of the Year during the Colorado Parks and Wildlife commission meeting Aug. 7 in Durango.
Elder was one of five CPW rangers nominated by their peers. The award was established in 1986.
Fellow CPW ranger Matt Thorpe told the story of how they had to use some trickery to get Elder to the meeting.
"We said we needed him there to do security, and he bought it," he said.
"I was totally surprised and honored to have that level of support," Elder said Tuesday at his Dolores headquarters. "It was an emotional and overwhelming moment."
Bosses and fellow rangers cited Elder's efficient management of two state parks with a limited budget and staff.
"Commitment to continual improvement, diplomacy and public service is the common thread of all award recipients over the past 30 years," said CPW director Bob Broscheid, before inviting Elder to the podium.
Elder also stepped up his workload during the recent merger of Colorado State Parks and the Division of Wildlife to ensure a smooth transition.
"Meshing the policies and missions of two different agencies was a gigantic effort, but it is paying off," Elder said.
Bringing wildlife biologists and ecologists together with a park manager's mission of recreation has helped to protect the natural resources long-term.
"That expertise is invaluable, and I've learned a great deal about habitat and successful wildlife management," Elder said. "Having those specialists on the wildlife side helps us make more informed decisions."
Elder operates out of a small visitor center in Dolores, overseeing the 12,000-acre Lone Mesa State Park, 32-site campground in Mancos, the prime fishery of Jackson Lake, trails and an array of activities.
The Dolores office also handles hunting and fishing licenses, OHV and boat registrations and interpretive programs for the region.
Elder is a modest man, and is quick to credit his dedicated volunteer staff and seasonal workers for the success that led to the award.
"I'm on a broader team, and I share it with each of them," he said. "They keep this place running and deserve recognition for contributing to our mission."
Elder began his career as a volunteer on the Front Range in the early '90s and was a park law enforcement officer at Boyd Lake State Park in Loveland. He always imagined himself living in a small town like Dolores with his wife, Brooke.
"Professionally, being part of a rural community in Colorado means something special and different." he said. "It's a unique opportunity that you don't see in higher population centers."
As a result of the parks' remoteness, Elder, the only full-time employee at the office, maintains his wildland firefighter, search management, and ice rescue certifications.
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Lone Mesa update
Lone Mesa State Park was purchased in 1999, but is closed to the public except for a limited hunting season.
'When it will open for general recreation is something we know is on the mind of the public,' park manager Scot Elder told the Star.
New Colorado state parks are known for their long preseason of planning and development before opening their gates. Elder says Lone Mesa is inching closer toward that goal as staff complete an inventory of its natural resources. The park also is in line for planning funds.
'Talking with CPW leaders, I'm encouraged about the next phase of recreation opportunity for the park,' he said. 'Next year, we will put together internal management alternatives that will then be released to the public for input.'
State parks have a multiple-use model, he said. One highlight is a proposed non-motorized trail that would connect the northern part of the park with Disappointment Valley.
The park's planned main entrance on the south has been adjusted to protect the habitat of two globally rare plants - the Lone Mesa snake weed and Mancos shale packera.
'To preserve that area, we did a property exchange with a landowner allowing us to move the main access to the east boundary so it connects with the Dolores-Norwood Road,' Elder said.
The rare plants survive in shale barrens near Plateau Creek, and were discovered by local naturalist Al Schneider in 2008.
Also to protect the park's natural qualities, the BLM recently deferred oil and gas leases near and within Lone Mesa.
'It's wonderful that the BLM recognized that oil and gas in the park is not consistent with our mission,' Elder said.
