Category Archives: News

Open Space and Mountain Parks reopens the entire length of Chapman Drive

The City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) Department has reopened all of Chapman Drive west of Boulder to hikers, bikers and equestrians. The road was reopened today after crews completed temporary flood restoration work on the roadway and its nearby trailhead along Boulder Canyon.

While OSMP reopened the entire length of Chapman Drive to recreationists today, the road remains closed to vehicle traffic as the department works to reconstruct the roadway to its pre-flood condition. Bicyclists and equestrians accessing the road may find it difficult to traverse.

With today’s opening of Chapman Drive, OSMP has now reopened about 99 percent of its flood-damaged system. Visit www.osmp.org for the latest information about OSMP trails and climbing areas.

The Draft EIS for the Eldora Mountain Resort (EMR) has just been released. You can look for it at www.eldoraeis.com under Project Library. There is a 45-day comment period, which ends around April 14.

There will be two open houses, one in Nederland on March 25 (Nederland Community Center, 5-8pm) and one in Boulder on March 26 (Boulder West Senior Center, 5-8pm).

We might have expected them to expound on the need to protect things like narrowleaf moonworts and lesser panicled sedges, and to opine extensively on the need for new ski terrain.

But their proposed actions will be detrimental to summer trail-based recreation.

BATCO has repeatedly asked for:

1) improved — not reduced — access to the existing Jenny Creek Trail system and parking for it near Peterson Lake

2) more — not fewer — parking spaces at Hessie to access the Indian Peaks Wilderness

3) a trailhead at the Eldora ski area to accommodate oversized vehicles (e.g. horse trailers) and a trail to the Lost Lake area which would enable equestrians to access the National Forest.

The proposed EIS will make things worse — not better — in every instance.  Requests from the public to “accommodate dispersed recreation with additional parking in the EMR base area and a summer/winter trail… with a trail from the EMR parking lot to the current Hessie/Fourth of July Road trailhead… [which] would ease some of the parking issues at the current Hessie trailhead” were summarily dismissed in the Draft EIS because, the authors claim, “the concept does not address the identified Purpose and Need, the EMR parking lots are located on private land, and the issue is beyond the scope of this EIS and better addressed through trailhead management.”

We disagree.  To be fair, they haven’t (yet) chosen a Preferred Alternative. In fact, on page 2-79 they say “At this time, considering the environmental impacts to public lands and the opportunities for use of those lands that would benefit the most people over the longest term, the Responsible Official has not identified a preferred alternative. Following review of public and agency comments on this DEIS, the Responsible Official will make a final determination as to which alternative, in part or in whole, best serves the public interest on NFS lands. Based on public agency comments, modification of the preferred alternative may occur between Draft and Final EIS.”

Click here for maps with proposed trails

BATCO asks all trail advocates to write to the Forest Service (www.eldoraeis.com and/or eperault@fs.fed.us) and BCPOS (jatherton-wood@bouldercounty.org) supporting summer use of the Eldora Mountain Resort parking lot, a new trail to Lost Lake, and/or at least some trailer parking at Hessie, before it’s too late.

And please attend one of the open houses, and bring your friends. Remember, the world is run by those who show up!

The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) and Parks and Recreation departments will implement area closures beginning Saturday, March 15, to protect nesting osprey, burrowing owls, American bittern and northern harrier. No designated trails will be closed as part of this protective measure.

The following properties near the Boulder Reservoir, located at 5565 N. 51st St, will be closed from March 15 through Sept. 10, for the protection of osprey, American bittern and northern harrier:

• Northwest corner of the Boulder Reservoir, east of 51st Street. The Boulder Aeromodeling facility will remain open with modified flight restrictions;
• Axelson (northwest of the reservoir, west of 51st Street; portions of this property will be closed);
• Windsurfer’s Point (southwest reservoir wetland area);
• Coot Lake wetland immediately west of Coot Lake. The trail surrounding the wetland is open with voluntary leash recommendations in effect.

The following properties will be closed from March 15 through Oct. 31, for the protection of burrowing owls:

• Damyanovich / Yunker (north of Marshall Drive between Cherryvale Road and U.S. Highway 36);
• Cosslett / Knaus (south of Lookout Road and east of 75th Street);
• Jafay / Lynch (north of Lookout Road and east of 75th Street);
• Kelsall (north of High-Plains Trail, trail remains open);
• Mesa Sand and Gravel (east of 66th Street, south of Marshall Drive);
• Superior Associates (north of High-Plains Trail, which will remain open).

Trespass violations can result in a summons with penalties up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. Closures may be lifted early if monitoring indicates it is appropriate. Areas are monitored by city staff and wildlife volunteers throughout the season. OSMP rangers patrol closed areas on a regular basis.

More detailed information and maps can be found on the Open Space and Mountain Parks’ website: www.osmp.org or call 303-441-3440. For additional information on Parks and Recreation areas, please visit www.boulderparks-rec.org or call 303-413-7200.

The City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) Department today closed an area near Mount Sanitas to protect prairie falcons as they attempt to nest. OSMP will reopen the area if monitoring indicates that nesting has not occurred. No designated trails will be closed as part of this protective measure.

Trespass violations can result in a summons with penalties up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

For detailed maps on the area OSMP closed today, go to osmp.org.

All muddy trail closures have been lifted. Muddy spots remain, prevent trail damage by going through not around mud. Please check www.osmp.org for more information.