Conservation Corner - November 2024
Boulder to Erie Regional Trail (BERT)
Unfortunately on October 24, the Boulder County Commissioners voted to move the BERT plan forward, including the ecologically harmful, preferred alignment. Commissioners Loachamin and Stolzmann voted in favor, and Commissioner Levy voted against.
Background: Boulder County, in partnership with the City of Boulder and Town of Erie, evaluated options for the creation of the BERT, a new soft-surface regional trail connection, about 8.5 miles long, linking the City of Boulder and the Town of Erie. The BERT plan describes several conceptual alignments with the preferred alignment following the RTD corridor (formerly owned by Union Pacific Railroad). This alignment is very ecologically harmful, as it cuts through important wildlife habitats and ecosystems, including a Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Habitat Conservation Area and a number of valuable natural resources designated in the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan. BCAS believes that the evaluation of less ecologically harmful alignment options was insufficient.
BCAS commented to the Boulder Open Space Board of Trustees, the Boulder County Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee, and the County Commissioners.
The BCAS Conservation Committee will continue to follow the BERT project through future phases and look for opportunities to participate and comment.
Thanks to everyone who helped with BCAS comments and commented as individuals, in writing, over Zoom, and in person!
Highway 36 Wildlife Crossings
Elk and other wildlife regularly cross Hwy 36 between Boulder and Lyons. Photo courtesy of Susan Spaulding.
Boulder County is in the process of planning a variety of wildlife crossing structures along US 36 between Boulder and Lyons. These crossings will help reduce collisions between vehicles and wildlife and make it easier for animals to move around the area. The project is still in its early planning phases and public input, including input from nearby property owners, will be requested and used as the project progresses. This project is being closely coordinated with the North Foothills Bikeway (see more information on this bikeway below).
Project lead Susan Spaulding, Boulder County Parks and Open Space Environmental Resources Specialist, was the speaker for the October BCAS program, which can be viewed on the BCAS YouTube channel here.
Learn more about this project and wildlife crossings in general, sign up for email updates from Boulder County, and take a short survey by clicking on the button below.
Lefthand Canyon Off-Highway Vehicle Area
BCAS is participating in several invite-only stakeholder meetings, hosted by the U.S. Forest Service, Boulder Ranger District, about the Lefthand Canyon Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) area during the remainder of 2024.
See the September 12, 2024 USFS news release for more information, including these quotes.
“The purpose of this initial effort is to get all the Lefthand area user groups sitting down at the table together, listening to each other’s perspectives, and clearing up misunderstandings and biases,” said Boulder District Ranger Kevin McLaughlin. “In an ideal world, these conversations would lead to the development of a collaborative vision for a multi-use, sustainable roads and trails system in the Lefthand area.” “If a proposed management action emerges from this effort, the public would be invited to engage in the environmental review process.” If this occurs, BCAS will stay involved and inform members about comment opportunities.
NoCo Places
Earlier this year, BCAS became a partner in NoCo Places, a coalition of eight county, state, and federal public land agencies from north-central Colorado that are actively collaborating to address the challenges the mountains and foothills in this region are facing from high visitation and a growing population. See the member agencies list, mission statement, goals, partners, core principles, and more here.
NoCo Places is one of a number of Regional Partnerships around Colorado that are part of Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s (CPW) Regional Partnership Program, established by Governor Polis in 2020 and provides funding sources for the coalitions.
NoCo Places latest accomplishment is the completion of the regional Conservation and Recreation Vision, which articulates a shared, cross-jurisdictional approach for protecting and conserving natural and cultural resources in the Northern Colorado Front Range while providing equitable access and a quality recreation experience for current and future generations. The Vision describes current conditions, shared values, desired future conditions, a shared management philosophy, and management strategies and activities to achieve conservation and recreation goals.
COTREX Trail & Trail Status App
NOCO Places member land management agencies encourage visitors to download and use the Colorado Trail Explorer app COTREX prior to their outdoor adventures. COTREX is built for all trail users, in all seasons including winter trail opportunities!
COTREX now includes a fire alert feature that automatically notifies users about wildfires and prescribed burns- see this CPW article for more information.
North Foothills Bikeway
Boulder County has conducted the North Foothills Bikeway Feasibility Study to determine the feasibility of a bikeway along US 36/North Foothills Highway that is separated from motorized vehicle traffic. The study looked at the 11 miles between the City of Boulder and the Town of Lyons, focusing on land within CDOT right-of-way.
The Boulder County Transportation Planning Division collaborated with CDOT, Boulder County Parks and Open Space, the City of Boulder, and the Town of Lyons on the study. The purpose of the bikeway is to improve safety and comfort for cyclists of all ages. This project is being coordinated with the Highway 36 Wildlife Crossings project (see above).
There will be future opportunities to comment in favor of natural resource protection. Stay tuned to this newsletter and the BCAS website.
Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Update
The Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan seeks to protect the natural environment of the Boulder Valley while fostering a livable, vibrant, and sustainable community. The plan provides an overview of the community’s desires for future development and preservation of the Boulder Valley. The city and county use it to guide long-range planning.
The upcoming major update, which kicked off with a public open house on October 19, will be the eighth major update to the plan, celebrating 50 years since its adoption. The plan was first approved in 1977. Since then, major updates have been completed in 1982, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2017.
BCAS will continue to follow this update.
The Boulder County Audubon Society leadership thanks the members of the BCAS Conservation Committee for their time and efforts in helping educate and advocate for Boulder County’s birds, wildlife, and their habitats. Thank you to the current members Bev Baker, Suzanne Bhatt, Lynn Merrill, Tori McKee, Linda Andes-Georges, Kathleen Sullivan, and Carron Meaney. If you are interested in joining this effort, or any other BCAS committees, please contact us.