City to conduct prescribed grassland burns this month

 

The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) department and the Boulder Fire Department will be conducting prescribed grassland burns this month.  The burns will be conducted only if environmental and weather conditions fall within city burn plan guidelines.  Ignitions will not begin before 10 a.m. and will end no later than 2 p.m.

 

Prescribed burns will be conducted at the following sites:

  • OSMP Fell property, a 15-acre site located north of Valmont Road and east of 75th Street,                                                                  
  • OSMP Van Vleet property, a 25-acre site located west of South Boulder Creek and south of South Boulder Road.
  • OSMP Gephard property, a 20-acre site located east of South Boulder Creek, north of South Boulder Road, and west of Cherryvale Rd.

 

Boulder’s ecosystems have evolved with fire over thousands of years. The prescribed burning of these areas will improve habitat for native plants and wildlife.

 

Additionally, OSMP, in conjunction with the Boulder Fire Department, will be conducting ditch burns throughout the spring on the city’s agricultural properties.  OSMP has significant shares of water rights used primarily to support agricultural activity in the Boulder Valley.  Ditch burning is important to the productivity of agricultural cropland and the efficiency of water delivery.  Periodic burning removes the build up of plant debris in irrigation ditches and also keeps weeds at bay, reducing herbicide use. Burning is a cost effective way to clear irrigation ditches before the spring water run off.

 

No burning will occur on Red Air Quality days.  Trained fire personnel and natural resource advisors will be on site during this activity.

 

For questions about prescribed burning on OSMP properties, please call 303-441-3440 or visit www.OSMP.org.