Roger J. Wendell
Defending 3.8 Billion Years of Organic EvolutionSM
6,859 feet (2,090 metres) [N 39° 42.059' W 105° 10.664']
William Frederick Hayden Park - 2,400 acres (971 hectares)
Lakewood, Jefferson County, Colorado, USA
A personal look at a very much loved park and
neighborhood on the western edge of Denver
along Colorado's Front Range community!
On July 8, 2016 Denver TV News 9 described it this way;
"The tight-knit community on the slope of a 2,400-acre park"
"Nestled on the western edge of Lakewood, Green Mountain Estates
is a small, close-knit community on the slope of Green Mountain."
"Also known as Green Mountainside, the neighborhood lies between
Alameda Parkway, Cedar Drive, Alkire Street and Hayden Park.
It's made up of about 1,100 homes, as well as trails, schools,
parks and a very active civic association."
(Click on any of this page's thumbnail images for a larger view!)
Green Mountain is a great place to live! It offers residents a lot of open space, and a hint of "country" living, while sitting on the edge of one of America's largest, noisiest sprawl centers - the Denver metro area! Despite Green Mountain's close proximity to such a mess, life can still be reasonably peaceful with quiet streets (except along 6th Avenue...), clean air (Green Mountain is almost a thousand feet higher than Denver, maybe keeping it somewhat above the smog?), and great people (The Green Mountainside Civic Association hosts neighborhood Easter egg hunts, garage sales, and summer picnics...) - Welcome!
Sprawl
Since parts of the Green Mountain community are so much higher than Denver, temperatures can be slightly cooler and snow accumulations a bit deeper. Nevertheless, Green Mountain is a desirable community that wouldn't mind separating itself from Lakewood and the surrounding sprawl. You can see a hint of this sentiment in the protest photos I've posted further below. It seems Green Mountain's residents are very concerned about filling-in every inch of open space with more housing, businesses, and parking lots - let's hope they win the fight!
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Click Here for my YouTube video of Green Mountain from the air during winter! |
Green Mountain Naturalists
More pipes mean more people
and less open space...Sally White is a naturalist who knows a lot about Green Mountain and the adjacent Front Range's geologic and biologic makeup. She leads nature walks and has all kinds of interesting experiences, information, and advice. Her Foothills Fancies blog is well worth a visit plus she asked that I make available to everyone her Weeds on our walk flier and the state of Colorado's Noxious and Invasive Weed List - check 'em out! Oh, in Sally's blog she describes a naturalist like this, "Naturalists look at things (that's why they're usually so slow). Hikers, bikers, others may look at scenery, I'm willing to admit that, but naturalists LOOK, really look, at things. (And touch them and smell them and whatever else.) They may, depending on their type, be looking at or for birds, butterflies, insects, flowers, trees, ferns, spiders, grasses, shrubs, lichens, geology, rocks, fossils, water, patterns, snakes, salamanders, frogs, fish, fungi, bugs, big critters, little critters, or scat, to name a few --but they are most likely looking AT something. They may be looking at or for a specific KIND of something, like carrion beetles, zeolites, sulfurs, oak galls, rock tripes, or moonworts. They may even be looking at or for all of the above."
She goes on to say, "Thus, naturalists are just different. Not right or wrong, just different. All part of that human diversity we cherish. The thing is, they need open spaces, especially relatively untrammeled open spaces, for their chosen 'sport.' Tamed urban spaces just don't cut it the way remnants of the wild, however modified, still can." - although I haven't asked her, my guess is that Sally doesn't appreciate the pipes and other development along Green Mountain any more than I or my neighbors do...
Skiing Green Mountain!
Over the Christmas week of 2006, two huge storms crippled the Denver area with
an average of almost three feet of snow! On New Year's eve, days after the skies
had cleared, my friend Steve Farley called and suggested we go skiing in our own
"backyard" on Green Mountain! These five photos show part of the experience - it
was great!! The snow was deep, soft and powdery - just like in high country. Plus,
although there were few people there were lots of deer and even a few elk!! The
following pix prove my point that Green Mountain has it all!
 Starting at Jewell Ave. |
 Steve on the summit |
 Roger skiing down |
 Elk |
 Deer crossing... |
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Click Here for my backcountry skiing page... |
Ditch Dwellers Beware!
Other threats to Green Mountain's quality of life (for both people and wildlife!) include economic pressure to construct housing in what Green Mountain residents consider natural drainage areas alongside Alameda Avenue and the Hayden Green Mountain Park. During 2005 and 2006 I noticed a number of very large banners on display along adjacent properties and fence-lines. Having walked through the drainage area, myself, it does seem incredible that somebody would want to build a house there! Also, it appears to be a natural wildlife corridor that shouldn't be disturbed either. It's not often that the desires of the people trump big government or business interests - it will be interesting to see what happens in this fight...
 Risky area |
 Caution! |
 Snow |
 Foot path |
 Drain warning |
 Ditch warning |
 No ditch homes |
 Know the risk |
 Steep slope |
 Stormwater |
Green Mountain Miscellanea:
Deer crossing the top of Green Mountain in March, 2006.
 For sale |
 Solar Siren |
 Smoggy view from Mt Morrison |
 South fence line |
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 Front |
 My Backyard |
 Deframe and Ohio |
 Ohio and Deframe |
 Soft green photo by me! |
Green Mountain Pets and Wildlife:
In the nearly five years that we've lived on Green Mountain, by the time I created this entry in June '07, I had discovered nearly two dozen piles of bird feathers in our yard and around the house. And, I've also seen the neighbors' cats scurrying away from me, in my yard, with all kids of limp and dying creatures clamped tightly in their their jaws. There's no doubt that neighborhood cats are really destructive to backyard wildlife allong with dogs contributing to some of the killing as well. So, it was with some interest that I saw this neighborhood warning about the disappearance of pets around Green Mountain:
Take Precautions with Wild Predators In coyote country, January-March is breeding season, which can make these animals aggressive and territorial. "Coyotes are adaptable predators, found in most open habitats, including city neighborhoods, open space, parks and trails" said DOW District Wildlife Manager Crystal Peterson. Coyotes should be treated with caution and respect: [They go on to list how to protect pets, discourage coyotes, and what to do during an encounter, etc.]
A COMPANION ALERT IS THAT NEXT UP THE FOOD CHAIN ARE MOUNTAIN LIONS! |
On the Mountain Itself:
 Walking to the top... |
 Soapweed Yucca |
 Mt Morrison |
 Rooney Valley |
 Carma Colorado carves up 90 acres... |
 Looking at Mt. Evans |
 Denver and its Smog... |
 C470 & Bandimere |
 Pediment gravel |
 Looking through the fence... |
Dinosaur Ridge:
Okay, although the two are located really close to each other (within 4 kilometres and easily visible) they are two distinct and separate geological formations. Dinosaur Ridge is a north-south running hogback made of exposed sedimentary rock that has revealed dinosaur footprints and plant impressions due to the various layers that have been tilted by the Rocky Mountain Orogony (mountain building process).
 Green Mountain view |
 Dinosaur Tracks |
 Ornithomimus Track |
 39. Entrance |
 Natural Landmark |
 Green Mountain view... |
Green Mountain, itself, rises to 6856 feet and sits about 800 feet above Highway C470 on its west side. Green Mountain is a remnant mass of Green Mountain Conglomerate, a pile of syntectonic gravels that developed adjacent to the rising Front Range about 55-60 million years ago. Syntectonic means that the sediments were laid down at the same time as mountain-building was taking place.
Green Mountain fires!
Unfortunately parts of Green Mountain catch fire at times. Although in recent times these fires have been human-caused
there's probably sufficient evidence that lightning regularly caused fire throughout the grassy mountain's history...
November 28, 2016:
A fast-moving wildfire on Green Mountain forced evacuations from a neighborhood as crews raced to contain
the flames amid gusting winds and brittle-dry conditions. Evacuations were lifted by about 9:30 p.m.
A spokesperson for the West Metro Fire Protection District said evacuations had been ordered on three streets on
the east side of Green Mountain. Later, the city of Lakewood said residents were evacuated from neighborhoods
west of South Alkire Street and north of West Mississippi Court.
August 04, 2008:
On Monday, August 04, 2008 about 300 acres (121 hectares) of Green Mountain/Hayden open space burned
after a ligtning strike. Five days later, on Saturday morning, we hiked the entire area to see the
extent of damage. Although I'm in favour of protecting people and homes I still believe fires like
this to be a natural event that's probably occurred many thousands of times over the life of Green
Mountain. Either way, we had an enjoyable hike and took these pix along with a few YouTube videos:
Burnt birdhouse
Firebreak
Patchwork
Plant closeup
Radio tower
Tami
Me
Trail firebreak
Trail intersection
Water tank
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Click Here for one of my YouTube videos about the Green Mountain burn area... |
West Metro Fire Protection District:
These folks are not only Green Mountain's fire department, but are also
responsible for emergency response for much of Douglas and Jefferson counties
as well. I've discovered them, a few times, practing mountain resuce techniques
at the trailhead I use to climb Mt. Morrison. This particular morning (Saturday,
November 18, 2006) was clear and warm and I happened to be carrying a small camera!
 West Metro fire truck |
 Readying the litter |
 West Metro fire truck |
 Rescue litter |
 Rescue litter |
Green Mountain Water & Sanitation:
Accountant Doug Pavlich, Roger J. Wendell, & District Manager Jeff Tyus (5/10/22)
On May 3, 2022 I was elected to the board of directors for Green Mountain Water & Sanitation District. These are not partisan elections. In this photograph I'm being sworn-in by then district manager Jeff Tyus (my left). My goal was to help my neighbors by ensuring fiscal responsibility for all things related to the services provided by the district.
Water Department
Water Bill Payment
District Manager Josh Stanley and Roger J. Wendell (5/14/2025)On May 6, 2025 I was elected to a second term on the board of directors for Green Mountain Water & Sanitation District. These are not partisan elections. In this photograph I'm being sworn-in by district manager Josh Stanley. My goal for this term remains to help my neighbors by ensuring fiscal responsibility for all things related to the services provided by the district.
Green Mountain Water and Sanitation Updates from Karen Morgan
(Reprinted here with permission)
Election and Lawsuit Results
I apologize for the long delay in getting you this information. Life happens but this newsletter contains important updates on several complex issues. Please read carefully and email with questions or for a phone call.
GMWSD Board Election Results
It's been a long time since the GMWSD Board election, but the results are in - and they were a surprise. The 2025 newly-elected Directors are:
Dave Wiechman
Art Martinez
Roger Wendell
I say this is a surprise because Wiechman, Martinez and Randy Little ran together "as a block" - but only two of the three were elected: Dave Wiechman and Art Martinez. Roger Wendell, working on his own, was elected as the third board member.
This ended up being a contentious election, which was disappointing, considering all candidates seemed to be on the same general page, but some candidates needed to invent a straw man to campaign against.
Fortunately, Roger Wendell's authentic campaign won respect, and the fact that he won against the combined "block" efforts of the three other incumbent directors, is a testament that residents also recognize honesty.
Injunction and New Board Appointment
Due to a quirk in election timing, the May meeting took place after the recent election, but before the newly elected directors were sworn in. Therefore, only the three previously-elected Directors were present – Morgan, Wendell and Wiechman.
These three were the only directors who were previously elected, not appointed to the board. These same 3 directors had the opportunity to appoint a Director for the fifth, vacant position. This appointment was important in order to have a fully operational board, without the possibility of 2-2 deadlock. Unfortunately, what should have been a routine, simple meeting, became somewhat complicated.
Director Wiechman filed an injunction to stop the meeting, claiming it was a “lame duck” session and was illegal. He claimed that unilateral actions would be taken and that we shouldn’t be allowed to appoint anyone other than his friend Randy Little. The injunction was denied completely.
Wiechman ended up voting for someone other than Little. The three Board Directors unanimously voted to appoint Phil Hardinger as the fifth director. Mr. Hardinger ran on the ballot, was present at the meeting and confirmed his willingness to serve. Director Wendell deserves thanks for his leadership on this issue to ensure operations continue smoothly.
CONGRATULATIONS to all the new Directors: Dave Weichman, Art Martinez, Roger Wendell and Phil Hardinger.
Fed Center is the Common Thread
The election, the fight for an appointed director and the injunction all stem from a baseless campaign issue that GMWSD board could put a hard stop to all development on the Federal Center property known as “The Bend.” Since there was no legal basis to deny service to our customer, the attempt backfired when GMWSD got sued for not doing our job. Thereafter, the issue was restated and reconstructed into "safety" during the campaign. However, readers of this newsletter know how hard we were already working to ensure safety with extra studies and legal reviews. We could have done more if the three-member majority hadn’t stopped all action.
Without evidence of a problem from the developer, GMWSD has now become the problem! We are now involved in a defensive lawsuit triggered by the former three-member majority. Legal actions for this case are still ongoing.
Metro district passed without objection
Lakewood passed a metro district for The Bend on May 12. https://lakewoodspeaks.org/items/4316. Readers know that GMWSD had the opportunity to vote on plans that would have stopped the city from approving a metro district. Directors Wiechman, Martinez and Little failed to attend that important meeting - so we could not vote to stop the metro district.
That means that the new metro district is responsible for the operation and maintenance of public improvements and infrastructure, not GMWSD.
It will take everyone a while to tie up all the loose ends from this action, but there is no walking this back. Lakewood has agreed to provide services to the Fed Center development if that is the developer's preference.
All the directors who campaigned on this issue, then refused to show up to a special meeting to take action before the City Council vote, have cost us any chance to positively impact the safety of this development. The entire federal center issue is likely to be decided by the developers themselves, since they are now in control of services.
This is a tragedy for our district. There are no longer any good options for us. In my opinion, Dave Weichman, Arthur Martinez and Randy Little have just handed the developer the rubber stamp that residents were begging us to counteract.
Rooney Valley Case LOST
On Monday May 12, the same day Lakewood voted to approve The Bend metro district, Jefferson County Judge Carrithurs ruled that GMWSD lost the Rooney Valley case. We have been ordered to provide service to all the Rooney Valley developers.
On the bright side, the judge did not award any damages or attorneys’ fees so the district is not in danger of going bankrupt.
This is a disappointing result after 6 years but we did everything we could. It's also been an ugly lesson in things that I still can't fully understand. For example, did you know that the terms of the contract do not need to be spelled out in the contract. Instead, the court looks at the "surrounding circumstances".
One specific example: GMWSD signed a contract with the Big Sky metro district that stated “no third-party beneficiaries” but the court found that the developer was a third-party beneficiary based on circumstances. Surrounding circumstances could not be used to show that the metro district was an illegitimate government because there were no representative residents, only the developer acting for itself.
Thank you for letting us fight. It was worth the effort for its own sake and also to expose how the developer acts through metro districts - this same opaque process that is now going on with The Bend, enabled by Lakewood. Legislative changes are needed to restrict these developer "governments" from gaining control.
Thank you for reading and please let me know if you have thoughts or concerns.
Karen
Karen Morgan karen4water@gmail.com https://karen4water.com/
All opinions expressed are my own and not official positions of GMWSD
This news is from Karen Morgan and is not a Green Mountain Water and Sanitation District distribution.
Paid for by Karen Morgan | 565 S Coors Ct Lakewood CO 80228
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Green Mountain Quick Facts by Cory Grady (posted with permission) [first appeared in the January 2022 edition of the GMCA's Annual Newsletter] |
- The anchor of the neighborhood, William Frederick Hayden Park (“Green Mountain” or simply "the hill") is a City of Lakewood Park and is the second largest park in the City. The summit of Green Mountain is over 6,800' in elevation (over 1,500' above the proud citizens of Downtown Denver). Established in 1972, the bulk of the over 2,400 acres of open space and trails was donated to Lakewood or purchased from the Hayden family. Those that frequent the s are familiar with the city and Front Range views, spring wildflowers, along with encounters of many bird species, rattlesnakes, coyotes, rabbits, and deer. Occasionally bobcats, elk, bear, and mountain lion are reported.
- Green Mountain Estates was the site of the 1962 Parade of Homes where 13 homes were featured, with the majority being on Cole Drive. The custom and semi-custom homes that make up GME were mostly built from the early '60s through the mid '70s and were the work of primarily 10 different homebuilders (a few newer, custom homes have been sprinkled in over the years).
- Green mountain is primarily made up of the Green Mountain Conglomerate. The layers of boulders, cobbles, pebbles, and coarse gravel that make up Green Mountain came from the erosion of a mountain range that was present to the north and west at around 55-64 million years ago (Green Mountain is younger than the dinosaurs!). Fossilized plant and wood material (petrified wood) can be found on the slopes of the mountain within the conglomerate and represent tropical or subtropical forests that would have been in the Green Mountain vicinity at that time.
- Before homes were built on Green Mountain, it was home to a turkey farm and more famously, a munitions range for the Army National Guard based at Camp George West. The northern slopes of the hill were used as an impact area for artillery training for 75mm high explosive projectiles from 1912 through the late 1930s. The area has been swept for old munitions, but should you encounter them on the mountain, practice the 3 Rs. (RECOGNIZE potential munitions, RETREATE-Do Not Touch or Disturb, and REPORT suspicious items by calling 911).
- Green Mountain was first formally mapped (and possibly formally named) by famous geologist-surveyor Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden (not of relation to the WF Hayden family) in 1873 (pub. 1874). Hayden spent a considerable amount of time in the Golden/Morrison/Green Mountain area as leader of one of his many government funded expeditions of the Rocky Mountain region. The expeditions were manned by a collection of surveyors, scientists, and artists to catalog primarily the natural resources of the region, but also its history and natural beauty.
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