Can you take an hour or so to help defend Boulder Open Space by attending a critical public hearing or by sending the email below?

Pro development forces on City Council and the University of Colorado are attempting to "dispose" of Open Space in South Boulder in order to construct new CU sporting fields and more than a thousand apartments and condos on the adjacent habitat area.

This is a terrible precedent that puts all Boulder Open Space areas at risk of development by developers hungry for profit.

A critical meeting happens Weds Sept 11, 2019 at 6pm to explore Boulder Open Space disposal. This public meeting will happen at the Boulder Council Chambers at Broadway and Canyon by the public library.

Attending for an hour will help give Boulder City Council and the Open Space Board of Trustees the support they need to say NO to the University of Colorado - despite immense political pressure and bullying from the University to allow bulldozing of the wetlands.

Thank you for attending this meeting - there is also the option to speak for two minutes- but just being there will be tremendously beneficial to show that the people of Boulder care and stand up for our Open Space, our hiking trails and our quality of life.

Thank you so much.

Ken Beitel - Chair of Wilderness Conservation at the proposed Meadowlark Open Space
m. 720 436 2465
(please text if you would like to volunteer with the campaign to help create the Meadowlark - Jumping Mouse Open Space. Events/Communication and Legal teams have urgent openings.)

Can you take a minute to send the email below. Thank you deeply!

(copy/paste below email - add name at bottom)

Subject: Please Protect Boulder Open Space

Send to: OSBT-Web@bouldercolorado.gov; council@bouldercolorado.gov; OSMPMasterPlan@bouldercolorado.gov; meadowlarkopenspace@gmail.com

-- Email --

Honorable Open Space Board of Trustees,

On behalf of the tens of thousands of Boulder community members that love and appreciate Boulder Open Space - at the Sept 11, 2019 Open Space Meeting we humbly ask you to reject the request to dispose and develop 5 acres of critically important wetlands in the South Boulder Creek Open Space and State Natural Area.

The proposed University of Colorado 30 foot tall high hazard dam has been engineered to maximize buildable land for the proposed adjacent CU apartments and condos and to protect sporting fields.

The high hazard dam represents a massive risk for downstream communities as climate driven storms worsen. If the high hazard dam overtops and breaches, hundreds of Boulder lives could be lost in minutes.

What is the best alternative?

With 308 acres of undeveloped land available to absorb and retain vast amounts of water, a newly created open space requires only a low earthen dam to safeguard downstream homes.

An environmentally friendly proposal has CU build on existing CU parking lots with the addition of underground parking vs bulldozing wetlands and meadow habitat.

Why is it important that the Open Space Board of Trustees act as a check and balance and reject the request for open space disposal?

Despite requests from hundreds of Boulder citizens, pro development forces on Council have blocked the study of a flood engineering option at CU South supported by 308 acres of protected Open Space.

Council has also rejected in person and written requests that an Environmental Impact Assessment be conducted at CU South which is required to protect the globally endangered Preble's Jumping Mouse and other rare animal and wetland plant species.

The recent Open Space Master Plan survey shows protection of existing and creation of new Open Space is a key priority for the people of Boulder.

As faithful guardians of Boulder's Open Space, we respectfully urge you to reject the request to dispose and develop 5 acres of critical wetlands habitat in the South Boulder Creek Open Space and State Natural Area.

Thank you,

(add name here)