08/30/2020
Good Morning, Friends,
This coming Tuesday, September 1st, Boulder City Council will be voting on a proposed plan for managing Prairie Dogs on City of Boulder Open Space.
As written, the plan grants authority to kill nearly 30,000 prairie dogs.
As a city known for innovative problem-solving and an appreciation for outdoor living, Boulder is uniquely-positioned to lead our State in establishing non-lethal, conservation-minded policies toward native wildlife.
We can and should do better.
I invite you to read my Op-Ed in today’s Daily Camera (link below), and I encourage Boulder County residents to contact the Boulder City Council and request five commonsense amendments be included in the plan. If you live outside of Boulder County, your letter will likely be added to the total number in support of Prairie Dogs, but it may hold less sway with City Council.
Op-Ed:
https://www.dailycamera.com/2020/08/29/guest-opinion-marlon-reis-non-lethal-control-best-path-forward-for-prairie-dogs/
E-Mail Boulder City Council:
[email protected]
Register to Speak Virtually to Boulder City Council on Tuesday, September 1st:
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__bouldercolorado.gov_city-2Dcouncil_participate-2Din-2Dcity-2Dcouncil-2Dmeetings&d=DwMFaQ&c=sdnEM9SRGFuMt5z5w3AhsPNahmNicq64TgF1JwNR0cs&r=lraR9qjo75wuK_SbZgIXhE1NfOXU68I9e8Di1phoo9s&m=tPg6lNkNAPevONdEa0N1BjU7UvEw7Lj9ESWc00OKiOE&s=IOPlBXCwEfl6JUwGuuaU9KF7VqP8FNHO423pQ5kdCtU&e=
Request Boulder City Council include the following Commonsense Amendments to OSMP’s Expedited Plan for Prairie Dogs on Irrigated Agricultural Lands (NOTE: feel free to copy and paste these into your e-mail to Boulder City Council):
1. Reduce the 967-acre Project Area to 406 acres by removing (a) properties where agricultural uses can co-exist with prairie dogs; (b) OSMP-designated Prairie Dog Conservation Areas; and, (c) OSMP-designated Grassland Preserves.
2. Prior to implementation of any lethal control on properties within the Reduced Project Area, perform an analysis on each property, with knowledgeable stakeholders to collect baseline data on each parcel for research on soil health, co-existence strategies, and carbon sequestration.
3. Ask the City Manager to authorize a Special Use Permit for use only on the properties within the 2021 and 2022 prioritized removal and transition areas that have been identified for lethal control through a parcel-by-parcel analysis with staff and stakeholders. Apply for a second permit in early 2023, only if it has been determined necessary after the Plan is reviewed by staff and stakeholders.
4. Work with other entities including the state office to consider outside funding and resources to increase annual relocations and coexistence techniques if they become available.
5. Release relocated prairie dogs to the city’s Southern Grasslands where there is historic unoccupied habitat, a larger landscape, and only 3% occupancy to create sustainable prairie dog populations alongside our Boulder County & USFWS neighbors.