Environmental News
Environmental News from Boulder, Colorado
Bear facts: Feed them and they will come
Apr 26th
Pilot program increasing education and enforcement on bear attractants begins this week
The City of Boulder and the Colorado Parks and Wildlife are partnering on an Urban Black Bear Education and Enforcement pilot program that begins on Saturday, April 28. The purpose of the program is to explore the effectiveness of education and enforcement on improving the ways residential trash is secured and other bear attractants are minimized in western Boulder. The pilot neighborhood includes approximately 600 residences west of Ninth Street, north of Baseline Road and south of Arapahoe Avenue.
On Saturday, April 28, staff and volunteers will begin going door-to-door in the pilot neighborhood and provide residents with information on removing bear attractants from their property. They will also discuss the existing state and city laws requiring trash to be secured from bears. Increased enforcement of the trash regulations will begin in June.
A public open house to provide information and answer questions about the pilot program will be held on Monday, April 30, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Flatirons Elementary School, 1150 Seventh St.
Residents are encouraged to participate in an online survey to help determine effective strategies to keep bears out of trash at www.boulderwildlifeplan.net.
Some tips for preventing human-bear conflicts include the following:
- Store trash indoors or in a way that does not allow bears to scatter it. (This is required by city ordinance.)
- Store birdfeeders indoors at night from April to November.
- Store pet food inside.
- Keep BBQ grills clean.
- Keep garage and home doors closed.
For more information about the pilot program, contact Val Matheson, City of Boulder Urban Wildlife, 303-441-3004.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers information on how to safely coexist with bears. For more information, visit http://www.wildlife.state.co.us/bears.
If you experience problems with bears or other wildlife, call Boulder Police Department 303-441-3333 or Colorado Parks and Wildlife 303-291-7227.
Boulder pooch poo-poo park closing for upgrade
Apr 23rd
Valmont Dog Park closing May 7 for three-month renovation
The dog park at Valmont City Park, located at 5275 Valmont Road, will close May 7 for major renovations and improvements. The dog park is scheduled to re-open in August (contingent upon weather-related construction progress).
Improvements at the dog park will include widening parking lot access, a new entry plaza, fencing, surfacing, landscaping and water hydrants. A portion of the new park will also include an enclosed, irrigated turf area, low berms, a new 16-foot square shade shelter, and two smaller shelters. The shelters are funded by the Capital Improvement Bond passed in November 2011.
To view the construction plans for Valmont Dog Park, please visit: www.BoulderParks-Rec.org and click on the “Parks” link on the left side, and scroll down to “Dog Parks.”
While under construction, dog guardians are encouraged to use the city’s other dog parks at:
- Foothills Community Dog Park, 7th Street and Silver Lake (between Locust and Lee Hill);
- East Boulder Community Park, 55th Street and Sioux Drive (south of the Community Center);
- Howard Heuston Dog Park, 34th Street, south of Iris Avenue (un-fenced dog park – voice and sight control required).
For more information, call Jennifer Bray, Parks and Recreation, at 303-441-4160.
Boulder to ban disposable bags?
Apr 14th
City to collect input/host public meeting on disposable bag use
The city’s Local Environmental Action Division (LEAD) is evaluating a variety of options for reducing disposable plastic and paper bag use in Boulder. Spurred by community concerns, City Council requested that staff develop potential options to reduce the use of disposable checkout bags in the city.
The potential options under development include bag bans; bag fees; or a combination of both.
The city is currently seeking public feedback. Residents can provide input in
two ways:
- Take the Bag Use in Boulder Survey; and/or
- Attend the Bag Use in Boulder public meeting (details below).
The Bag Use in Boulder public meeting is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 23, in the Creekside Room of the West Boulder Senior Center, 909 Arapahoe Ave. At the meeting, residents will have the opportunity to review and provide feedback on the proposed options. Meeting materials will be posted to the project website for those unable to attend.
Potential options will be presented to the Environmental Advisory Board (EAB) on Thursday, April 26. The EAB will then make a recommendation to City Council.
For more information, visit www.bouldercolorado.gov/LEAD and click on the “Bag Use in Boulder” image or contactJamie Harkins at 303-441-1846.
