Good Friday morning, Boulder. Today’s edition of BRL Today is sponsored by EFAA. Head to Friend Fest at The Raybackon this Sunday, April 26, supporting EFAA’s mission of helping Boulder County families meet basic needs.
Leading today: Boulder City Council last night directed city officials to keep Boulder Municipal Airport open “indefinitely” through a 5-4 straw poll rather than a formal vote that would have required public comment. The move would unlock FAA funding for maintenance but make it far harder to repurpose the land for housing in the future. John Herrick reports.
Also today: Boulder County is already in extreme drought, but Boulder’s water system is expected to hold for now without mandatory restrictions. Snowpack in key basins is at historic lows, one watershed has already melted out weeks early, and reservoirs may not fully refill this spring. A clearer answer on possible water cuts is expected in May. Por Jaijongkit reports.
And lastly: More than 60 firms have shown early interest in Boulder’s license plate reader contract as the city reconsiders Flock after privacy concerns. Proposals are due in May. Brooke Stephenson reports.
Plus more, Below the Fold:
- BoulderCAST: Final Red Flag day before cooler, wetter weekend.
- Wildfire risk: County opens mitigation grants amid dry conditions.
- Transit plan: Input sought as ridership remains below 1%.
- Reuse hub: New tool maps repair, refill and resale options.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
Since 1918, Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA) has served as Boulder’s community safety net, helping thousands of families and individuals navigate through times of need. This past year, EFAA provided support to 8,000 Boulder residents with food, financial assistance, and other essential resources. Join us for Friend Fest at The Rayback on Sunday, April 26, from 3-6 p.m. Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon for adults and children alike, while supporting EFAA’s mission. Learn More.
Boulder City Council moves to keep airport open indefinitely, limiting future housing options
Councilmembers this week directed city officials to draft a resolution outlining that approach, likely deciding one of the city’s most contentious issues through an informal vote. Continue reading…
Boulder’s water supply hangs on for now amid historic drought conditions
Snowpack is at historically low levels, one key watershed has already melted out, and reservoirs may not fully refill this spring. Continue reading…
Boulder opens bidding for license plate reader contract, inviting competitors to Flock
City officials opened the bidding process after privacy concerns, with proposals due in May and a pilot program planned for this summer. Continue reading…
One final Red Flag day, relief arrives tonight
For the third straight day, Boulder will deal with critical fire danger. Afternoon winds will kick up again with 25 to 35 mph gusts as temperatures climb into the lower 70s. The air is about as dry as it gets in April — humidity dropping below 10% — so fire concerns will stay front and center. A Red Flag Warning is in effect until 8 p.m.
A backdoor cold front will finally slide in sometime this evening or overnight, bringing cooler, moister air that will help ease fire danger heading into the weekend.
Lows tonight will dip into the mid-30s, bringing patchy frost.
Saturday starts off cooler and sunny, but our attention quickly shifts to a Pacific disturbance arriving from the southwest. The prime window for rain appears to be from late Saturday through Sunday. Boulder County has a decent chance of around half an inch of moisture between now and the middle of next week, a welcome change after such a dry, windy stretch.
Boulder County opens wildfire mitigation grants as dry conditions raise risk
Boulder County is accepting spring grant applications for the Strategic Fuels Mitigation Grant Program. Fuels across the county are extremely dry and primed to burn, increasing wildfire risk. Fuel mitigation projects can help reduce that risk.
Since the program launched in fall 2023, the county has awarded about $5.5 million, with over 1,000 acres of land treated.
“Over the past two years, these projects have helped reduce wildfire risk, protect our communities and natural resources, and strengthen the partnerships that make this work possible,” said Meg Halford, forest and grasslands coordinator with Boulder County Wildfire Partners, in a press release.
Eligible applicants include nonprofits, fire protection districts and HOAs. For more information, contact Halford at mhalford@bouldercounty.gov.
County seeks input on transit plan as ridership remains low
Boulder County is seeking community feedback on its first countywide transit plan, with an online survey open through May 31. Titled Linking Boulder County, the plan aims to improve travel options and increase ridership. The project is now in the second phase of public engagement.
Residents are invited to review findings from the State of Transit Report and share feedback. According to the report, less than 1% of trips in the county are made by transit, a figure that has dropped by half since 2019. Previous community feedback emphasized more frequent Flatiron Flyer and airport service, better connections to grocery stores and schools, and expanded early morning and late evening options.
For more information, contact Alex Hyde-Wright, regional multimodal planning division manager, at ahyde-wright@bouldercounty.gov.
New Front Range reuse hub connects residents to repair, refill and resale options
Local nonprofit recycler Eco-Cycle and the City of Boulder have launched a new tool, the Reuse Hub for Boulder and Beyond, designed to connect residents with reuse options from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs. Listings include thrift stores, zero-waste groceries, repair services, local refill sites and more. Businesses can also add their own resources to the hub.
Reuse — including repair and resale — aims to reduce resource consumption and strain on natural systems.
“Community members and businesses in our region have already begun embracing reuse,” said City of Boulder Sustainability Senior Manager Jamie Harkins in a news release. “The Reuse Hub brings it all together in one place, making reuse easier for both the shopper and the business.”
Boulder built its own climate models. Here’s what they say about the next 25 years.
By 2030, Boulder could see 28 days over 95 degrees and nearly 200 high fire-risk days annually. By 2050, those numbers rise even higher. The city says it’s expanding tree canopy and focusing cooling efforts on low-income neighborhoods most at risk. Continue reading…
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