Boulder County commissioners have cut funding for an air monitoring program at Boulder Reservoir, ending a longstanding data record used to track local air pollution and climate trends, analyze health impacts from local oil and gas developments, and provide evidence to challenge fossil fuel projects.
Operated by Boulder AIR since 2017, the program monitored methane, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), offering scientific insights into the sources of Boulder County’s air pollution. Its last day of data collection was Dec. 31. Ground-level ozone monitoring, managed by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), will continue at the site.
The decision, made during the 2025 budgeting process, has drawn public backlash. Residents, environmental scientists and advocates have criticized the move in public comments and letters, calling the independently generated data crucial for understanding and reducing local air pollution. Boulder AIR CEO Detlev Helmig said he received multiple letters from community members worried about losing access to the data.
“People are surprised because it was never announced,” Helmig told Boulder Reporting Lab.
Critics have also pointed to the program’s relatively low cost compared to the county’s $708 million budget, and its significant impact. Funded by the county’s sustainability tax, the program would have cost around $177,000 in 2025, according to a budget presentation.
Over the years, data from the Boulder Reservoir station has been pivotal in identifying oil and gas drilling in Weld County as a major source of ground-level ozone in Boulder County, which poses public health risks. Recently, this data was used to oppose a fracking proposal near Erie. Local governments have also leveraged it to push state regulators for stricter drilling controls to improve air quality and address climate concerns. According to Boulder AIR, the data has influenced state air pollution laws, including granting local governments more control over oil and gas development and establishing an air quality research program.
The program’s termination did not involve a formal vote. The budget was approved without funding it. During a Sept. 5 budget hearing, Commissioner Marta Loachamin questioned whether funding for the Boulder AIR program was a statutory requirement, which it is not. “I’m not saying we don’t want to do monitoring ever again,” Lochamin said. “But I am curious, because my understanding is there are other air monitoring functions and programs.”
The commissioners directed requests for comment to their communications director, Gloria Handyside. In a statement, Handyside said state air quality regulations have strengthened since 2017, and other air monitoring programs have been implemented. Boulder County Public Health, she added, will “begin exploring new innovative investment opportunities based on additional pressing community and environmental needs.”
One of the program’s primary goals was to provide granular data on ground-level ozone, which remains a significant concern for the Front Range. The region has long been out of compliance with federal limits. Unlike ozone in the upper atmosphere, which protects against solar radiation, ground-level ozone is a harmful pollutant formed when VOCs, nitrogen oxides and other emissions from oil and gas operations, vehicles and wildfires react with sunlight. This toxic gas is linked to respiratory illnesses, heart attacks and strokes.
Although CDPHE will continue monitoring ozone at Boulder Reservoir, Boulder AIR’s more detailed measurements of specific VOCs, including benzene and propane, and nitrogen oxides — key contributors to ozone formation — will no longer be available. These measurements helped fingerprint and identify local pollution sources contributing to ozone formation, such as fracking infrastructure or traffic.
Unlike state-run programs, Boulder AIR also provided higher-frequency measurements, Helmig said. For instance, the station recorded methane, a potent greenhouse gas, hourly, compared to the state’s once-every-six-days sampling—a difference of more than 8,500 data points annually versus 60. He also highlighted the Boulder Reservoir station’s location — situated between residential areas, oil and gas development, and the clean air of nearby mountains — which made it a unique resource.
“We have this clean air comparison. So we can see the air that’s being transported into the area versus the air that’s coming from urban [areas] and oil and gas,” he said. “It’s the anchor site. It’s the first one and it’s got the longest record.”
Boulder AIR operates additional air monitoring programs in Longmont, Broomfield and Erie, which Handyside said are closer to active oil and gas sites. She said the county will continue working with those programs to communicate findings during policy processes, and will rely on the seven years of data collected at the Boulder Reservoir station, which she credited with informing statewide oil and gas legislation and regulations.
Helmig and other scientists, however, argue this isn’t enough. They emphasized the importance of continuous data to track trends and measure the effectiveness of newer oil and gas regulations. He compared discontinuing monitoring to changing doctors mid-treatment.
“You’d want to see the same cardiologist who knows you through all the treatments – [your] particular medications and understands your health conditions,” Helmig said. “To stop at this time, it’s such a loss.”
Rick Casey, an air quality advocate, spoke at a public commissioners meeting in December to stress the need for robust air monitoring. Casey, who lived in Boulder for almost 40 years before moving to Fort Collins, is now advocating for a Boulder AIR monitoring program there. He mentioned the Trump administration’s plans to double down on fossil fuel production.
“If anything, we need to worry about this new administration and what’s going to happen out in Weld County,” Casey said. “Until the number of wells in Weld County goes down dramatically, we’re going to need all the air quality monitoring we can get.”
Lisa Darby, a former NOAA scientist, said discontinuing Boulder AIR’s program would undermine the county’s leadership in climate assessment and adaptation, as well as its public health efforts.
“Eliminating these measurements would create a significant gap in the regional dataset” on air quality, she wrote to the commissioners, “and signal a lack of commitment to addressing climate challenges.”
The program also served the broader community, Helmig said. Residents with asthma relied on real-time data, available on Boulder AIR’s website, to assess outdoor air quality, he said. Rowers used the station’s live camera overlooking the reservoir to check for crowding or icy conditions before heading out.
Helmig has not secured alternative funding to continue the Boulder Reservoir station. As a small company, Boulder AIR faces challenges balancing scientific research with sustaining its business and employees. “We’re a small company. We have to get paid for this,” Helmig said.
It’s disappointing that this important information source was discontinued without wider public discussion. I’m inclined to say we NEED that monitoring, and I’d certainly like to hear in more detail why the commissioners decided it wasn’t a priority. I wish I’d known about opportunities to speak up before the decision was made. If the commissioners actively sought public input on this specific issue, good for them. If not, I hope they’ll realize in the future how important public comment on air quality issues is, particularly in an era of increased wildfires, nearby oil and gas production, and ground-level ozone noncompliance.
The cost of $177,000 may seem modest to some, to many that is several years salary and / or tax payments. It depends who’s wallet it’s being taken from. Yes, it does come from someone’s wallet- there is no such thing as “Government Money” or “Someone else’s” taxes.
I’m sorry, but trying to sane-wash this through the idea of fiscal austerity is absurd. Unless, of course, are also worried about how the ‘guvmint is spending every 1/50th of a penny for every dollar it gets from all the city and unincorporated taxpayers across Boulder County. Please check my “modest” math though, I’ll wait…
I agree with you in SOME respect, Gary. Colorado just did a free energy retrofit for me which included a $25K air handler that could have been done with a $7K minisplit. A grevious misused of the taxpayers funds. And it impeded me from applying solar to my place. But Xcel wants to satisfy it’s shareholders with rate cases to the customers for transmission, not distributive solar.
There are 800 Coloradoan lives lost every year from ozone and other air pollution. The problem is getting worse due to increases in population density, wildfires, and oil and gas operations in confluence with climate change.
The data is needed to allow attribution to human health and mortality, and to evaluate the effects of mitigations. There are no other models or data sources that can replace direct measurements for effective and definitive information at present.
This is just another case of pathological arbitrage that echoes the “if we stop testing, the deaths will stop” that became so popular for the intellectually unequipped during the 2020 epidemic.
The funding was a deleverage choice, and will have consequences for the residents of Boulder County. The ability to prosecute the fight for clean air with data is exactly the kind of thing that views like those of “Gary Fields” are more than willing to sacrifice. Perhaps they would also view clean water as optional, or see our law enforcement’s DUI or speeding enforcement as unnecessary or an overreach. They are taking money from their wallet to directly impact public safety as well.
$177K v. $708M is the more representative figure, Gary. My mom’s life at 38 years old was the price our family paid.
Read between the lines, people and realize the true intent of these County Commissioners. Because (independent) high-resolution air pollution data harms real estate value, reveals the fugitive emissions of the the Oil & Gas Industry, and exposes any incongruity or bias of state-run monitoring programs. So look no further than the profiles of those involved, who are merely shilling for their respective special interests…perhaps to fulfill campaign funding obligations. Both somehow also proudly claim to care about the environment and justice; yet quietly vote without any public discussion to cut these kinds of critical programs that are but only a pittance (.0002%) of the total budget. So where else would this money be best served?
Please tell us, because there is a long history of Dr. Helmig being a victim of a coordinated campaign of defunding and discrediting by O&G. First orchestrated by a crony and former CU President, who directed a flimflam investigation that had as much credibility as a fart in the wind.
Garrett, I guess it must be obvious that Commissioners Clair Levy, Marta Loachamin, and Ashley Stolzman are in cahoots with the oil and gas industry, and/or are dupes of it. I’m sure they must have conspired with that CU President to discredit Dr. Helmig. Their true intent couldn’t possibly be protecting Planet Earth and helping the people of Boulder County. Their primary goal is to increase our real estate prices, right? They only do what big money people say they should do, eh?
What can I say to somebody so desperate to answer their own pedantic line of rhetorical questions? As am not even sure what rambling point you’re trying to make here; but if it’s an argument for money over sense, then it appears are wholly lacking the latter.
Very unfortunate move by the County. Hopefully people spend time emailing and calling their offices to ask for the funding. Direct democracy is importantmore than ever… As a backup perhaps there is an opportunity for someone creating a revolving fund or foundation to keep this operating. Better to be independent and self directed these days.
If you can’t measure it, how can you improve it?
And, in the eyes of the oil and gas industry, if you don’t measure it, it is not a problem.
$ 180K / year is well within the sustainability tax budget.
Maybe there could be some cost reduction, I have no idea what the costs of equipment, service, telemetry is.
But to cut this service completely is a disservive to all of us that are suffering from the poor air quality here in the Front Range.
Start a fundraiser. It’s not that much and we all feel compelled to keep it!
This is a great idea! It’s July 4, 2025 now, is it too late? And, even if funds are raised, is there now a legal or other prohibition against reopening it?
Looks like you have decision makers who are protecting fracking.
It is a huge loss. I support keeping the monitoring program.
On the other hand, if the county isn’t willing to cut down on the sources of pollution, then part of me says what’s the point?
I don’t know about you all, but I moved to Boulder because I thought we’d do innovative things, be willing to stand up to powerful interests to protect the environment and people’s health. Our county commissions are generally smart people with experience in local and state politics yet the results are frequently pathetic and feckless.
Even if the County can’t/won’t take action to reduce pollution, monitoring at least informs individuals, who can possibly take steps to better protect themselves (e.g. stay inside on certain days, wear a mask, etc.)
I inquired with Ashley Stolzmann and she said she voted with the others against the continuation of Boulder AIR because it came with the entire budget. The cost of compromise. And the reason we have the Trump administration.
A big loss. Hard to understand comments above this funding taking money from someone else’s check or tax payment. It is about your health and protection from polluters. At this time it does not look like fed or state will protect you. Who else but the county or city?
Funding that primarily filters into the coffers of local government which originates from Federal Funding will ultimately be affected in some way in varying degrees. Without clearly knowing the base funding source of this program it appears that Boulder County and local Boulder City governments core commitments will be tested. When the money dries up so does commitment. There’s always “GO FUND ME” if the County/City does not have an unwavering commitment to its constituents to live in a clean and healthy environment. We all know especially now that the tainting of scientific facts will become the norm especially at the Federal Level of establishing acceptable levels.