Conservation Corner
Many of the issues that have been important in 2020 continue to require attention in 2021.
Gross Reservoir Proposed Expansion by Denver Water
Denver Water has continued to pursue expansion of Gross Reservoir, which would divert more water from the Upper Colorado River to support development in the Denver metro area. This would have deleterious effects on the ecosystems of the western slope, from wildlife to plant communities. Concentrating on further transcontinental divide diversions rather than conservation measures is a backward-looking and environmentally unsound policy. The justifications by Denver Water are outdated and questionable. This would be the largest construction project ever undertaken in Boulder County if it proceeds as proposed by Denver Water. It would include cutting down significant acreage of forest, a massive quarrying operation, and extensive truck traffic in Coal Creek Canyon.
The Boulder County commissioners asserted their authority to regulate (and perhaps completely prohibit) this project under state law, known as 1041 Authority. In the past years, they have withstood legal challenges by Denver Water, so the Board of County Commissioners is now poised to hold hearings on the project. Note that two of the three commissioners have just been sworn into office, so public comment on the project may be of importance over the next few months. You can sign up for updates from the county or submit a public comment on the county website.
Prairie Dog Management on City and County Open Space
City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) recently presented its annual report on prairie dog management and Boulder County Parks and Open Space (BCPOS) is about to hold its annual meeting (both online this year, links below). Other Boulder County cities are also discussing prairie dog management and more can be found by searching “prairie dog management” and your city’s name.
Both departments have well-documented and managed plans to preserve prairie dog populations on protected native grasslands, but both also have challenges in managing prairie dogs on unsuitable irrigated agricultural properties that are leased to local agricultural users who have to maintain crops, pasture, or land devoted to hay, alfalfa, or other food for livestock. Both agencies have had to resort to lethal control in some cases where overpopulation of prairie dogs has occurred and is beyond their capabilities for relocation. Learn more and register to attend the February 10 BCPOS meeting on the County's website. Learn more and watch the January meeting on the City's website.
South Boulder Creek Flood Mitigation and CU South
Current flood mitigation plans approved by Boulder City Council and being designed by the utility staff would have significant impacts on city open space and would require a disposal action by the Open Space Board of Trustees, though that has not yet occurred.
These plans would also require the use of land owned by CU since the late 1990s, known as CU South. CU is using this situation to demand annexation by the city, providing city water and sewer services, together with a number of other forms of compensation for CU. It is important to note that since CU is a sovereign state entity, no city ordinances or zoning would be binding on the development of the property. Thus, only rules that are part of the annexation agreement would have any force. The annexation agreement, if properly written, is an intergovernmental agreement and would be binding. Traffic in this area is already gridlocked at rush hours every day, and CU has not provided any site plan for what they intend to build there. The danger is of a premature and ill-considered annexation with major impacts on the environment and on the adjoining neighborhoods.
Boulder Reservoir
Boulder City Parks and Recreation Department is considering granting a contract to a restaurant group to operate a facility at the reservoir that would permit loud music to be played daily until midnight. In addition to totally changing citizens’ experience of the reservoir and annoying neighboring residents, this would have potentially serious impacts on wildlife in the wetlands to the west of the reservoir, the site of the only remaining nests for Northern Harriers, once plentiful in Boulder County, but now nearly extirpated. It is also a nesting area for American Bitterns. Both of these are species of concern in Boulder County. So far the City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department appears to have ignored the likely impact on these and other species.