Environmental News
Environmental News from Boulder, Colorado
Coalton Trailhead parking closed Dec. 6-Jan. 14
Dec 4th
Boulder County, Colo. – Due to ongoing construction of the Coalton Trailhead, the parking lot will be closed from Monday, Dec. 6 through Jan. 14.
Alternate parking will be available at a basketball court located about one-quarter mile east of the trailhead. Signs have been placed alongside the road to mark the alternate lot at the northeast corner of the intersection of Coalton Road and Indiana Street.
Alternate parking lot map
County seeking input for Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Dec 1st
Boulder County, Colo. – Boulder County is in the process of developing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan to help mitigate the impact of future wildfires. The plan will contain recommendations for policies, programs, and other actions to reduce the negative effects of wildfires.
The county and its partners are seeking resident input in the form of recommendations to be included in the CWPP and volunteers to serve on the CWPP Advisory Team.
“This is an excellent opportunity for community members who want to make a difference in the aftermath of the Fourmile Canyon Fire,” said Brett Haberstick, Sunshine Fire Protection District Chief and CWPP team member. “Being involved in groups like the CWPP Advisory Team can translate into fewer homes lost and more lives saved during the next fire.”
Recommendations
Guidelines and a submission form are available online. “County residents have many good ideas for how best to protect their community,” said Jim Webster, Community Wildfire Protection Planner in the Boulder County Land Use Department. “We want the plan to include new, original ideas from residents.”
Advisory Team
The team will collect and prioritize the recommendations that are submitted. “In order to be successful, our planning process needs to engage a large number of residents,” Webster said. “Many people would like to serve on a board or committee, but they have never been asked. We are asking interested residents to volunteer for this effort and help their community.”
Members of the advisory team must attend four Wednesday night meetings and complete clearly defined “homework” assignments over a four-month period. More information and application instructions are also available online. No previous wildfire experience is required.
Recommendations and advisory team applications will be accepted until Jan. 12.
SOURCE: BOULDER COUNTY PRESS RELEASE
Open Space and Mountain Parks to host open house to discuss community management proposals for land west of Boulder
Dec 1st
The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) department invites members of the community to an open house on Monday, Dec. 6. The purpose of this meeting is to share information and gather feedback about a set of recommendations for management of the West Trail Study Area (West TSA). The open house will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the East Boulder Community Center, 5660 Sioux Drive in Boulder.
A group of local residents interested in recreation and resource conservation has been working with city staff since September 2009 to develop recommendations on practical and feasible ways to improve community services in the West TSA. This Community Collaborative Group (CCG) includes representatives from recreation, conservation, and cultural resource interests as well as neighborhoods adjacent to the West TSA. After 14 months of meetings and field trips, the CCG has released its preliminary proposals and is seeking input from the public.
The CCG’s proposals will guide the West TSA Plan. The plan will provide management direction for OSMP lands north of Eldorado Springs Drive, south of Linden Avenue and west of Broadway/Colorado Highway 93 for the next ten years. Background documents, including the CCG’s recommendations, are available at the West TSA website, www.westtsa.org.
“We are very grateful for the time, energy and creativity contributed by CCG members. They deliberated over many difficult issues and are proposing an extensive and well‑balanced mix of recommendations,” said Steve Armstead, project manager for OSMP. “The group’s input has broadened our perspectives and provided a strong grassroots foundation for the West TSA plan.”
For information on OSMP planning processes or to learn how to get involved, please visit www.westtsa.org or call 303-441-3440.
SOURCE: CITY PRESS RELEASE
