Good Monday morning, Boulder — what a gorgeous weekend it was to catch the fall colors. We’re re-upping a story from last year on the seven best spots near Boulder for fall leaf peeping, just in time to catch the aspens at their peak.
Leading today’s edition: If you’ve been a BRL reader for some time, you may remember our monthslong investigation with CU graduate students that first documented how coal ash at the Valmont Power Station, right on Boulder’s edge, was in contact with groundwater and migrating underground. Coal ash is laced with toxic heavy metals, and some nearby residents were already paying to have water shipped in, our reporting revealed.
Now, Por Jaijongkit is following up on the cleanup plan for the massive site — a project to extract more than a million tons of ash, restore groundwater and reuse the material for cement. It’s a complicated plan with major environmental implications: disturbing the ash could release harmful dust into surrounding neighborhoods. State health officials recently flagged Xcel Energy’s initial proposal as inadequate, citing weak safeguards. Xcel says the state hasn’t rejected its plan, but rather has asked for revisions, and the company insists it will follow stringent dust controls and regulatory requirements.
Plus, more, Below the Fold:
- Boulder Junction park: Quarter-acre site set to open in 2027.
- FAA memo: Rocky Mountain airport leads nation in safety incidents.
- Marshall Fire funds: Hearing Wednesday on $12.3M recovery plan.
- Poynter exhibit: Journalism at CU Boulder through Oct. 9.
- Trail closures: LoBo and Twin Lakes shut down for resurfacing.
- Things to do: Feast on a farm, honor Andrea Gibson, jam to bluegrass, music festivals, wander art studios + more.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
As your Councilman, Matt Benjamin has delivered progress on housing, homelessness, climate action, public safety, and good governance. He leads with transparency, equity, and accountability to reflect Boulder’s values. With momentum underway and challenges ahead, Matt is ready to keep leading. Re-elect Matt Benjamin for Boulder City Council to keep pushing for progress and building a Boulder that’s inclusive, resilient, and vibrant.
Colorado denies Xcel’s initial Boulder coal ash cleanup plan, citing health and safety risks
Officials said Xcel’s proposal lacked safeguards and failed to address public concerns. Neighbors fear disturbing the ash could spread toxic dust into Boulder neighborhoods. Continue reading…
7 best spots near Boulder for fall leaf peeping
From Caribou Ranch to Glacier Gorge, explore the best places around Boulder for peak aspen viewing. Continue reading…
Partly sunny skies and a taste of summer linger
After a warm weekend, today will stay partly sunny with highs near 76. A few showers or thunderstorms could pop up in the afternoon.
Tuesday looks even better: plenty of sunshine and highs pushing 79, a classic Colorado fall day that feels like a bonus round of summer. Nights will dip into the low 50s.
New park planned for the Boulder Junction area
Boulder Parks and Recreation is designing a new quarter-acre park at Junction Place, across from the now-closed Roadhouse Boulder Depot and along Goose Creek, with play areas, sitting and gathering spaces, and a small food truck plaza.
An update at the Sept. 17 Boulder Junction Access District meeting revealed the park is currently in the schematic design stage after staffing and budgeting delays earlier this year. Construction drawings are expected by early 2026 and will involve public input. The central, iconic motor play structure is expected to cost around $200,000, with the rest of the park estimated at around $450,000. Parks and Recreation senior planning manager Mark Davison expects the park to open in late 2027.
FAA memo shows Rocky Mountain Airport tops nation for safety incidents
Superior Mayor Mark Lacis said his town recently obtained an FAA memorandum through a public records request showing Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (RMMA) in Broomfield had the most “potentially significant events,” or PSEs, of any airport in the country. The June 2025 memo cited runway incursions and airborne safety issues. Superior sits less than a mile from the airport. “The PSE count list isn’t one you want to win,” Lacis told Boulder Reporting Lab.
CPR, citing the same FAA memo, reported that RMMA logged more of these incidents than Denver International Airport, one of the busiest in the world. CPR also noted the memo came out weeks after a fatal plane crash shortly after takeoff from RMMA in May, and that the airport is the fourth busiest in Colorado, with a takeoff or landing every three minutes on average in 2022.
The findings add fuel to long-running community frustrations. Superior and Boulder County sued Jefferson County, which owns the airport, in 2024 to try to limit touch-and-go training flights, citing noise and safety concerns. That case was dismissed earlier this year after a judge ruled such restrictions fall under federal authority, though the court noted Jefferson County could act if it chose to. Read on BRL.
Public hearing this week on Marshall Fire recovery funds
Boulder County is inviting the public to a virtual hearing to review proposed changes to Colorado’s Recovery Action Plan for the Marshall Fire, including damage from the hurricane-force winds. The hearing is part of a 30-day comment period that will shape how $12.3 million in federal disaster recovery funds are allocated for housing, infrastructure, economic development, and resilience.
The timing comes just days after Xcel Energy and two telecom companies agreed to a $640 million settlement in lawsuits over the Marshall Fire. While the deal avoids a lengthy trial, fire survivors are still uncertain how or when settlement money will reach them, whether payments will be taxed, or how they could affect federal disaster aid already received.
The latest changes to the state’s Recovery Action Plan would shift some funding toward a new program to help with construction site prep. Officials say it’s aimed at addressing ongoing unmet needs nearly four years after the fire. The draft plan is posted online, and comments are open through Oct. 9.
Want to weigh in? You can fill out an online form or contact program manager Will Cundiff by email (will.cundiff@state.co.us.) phone (303-864-8477), or mail (1313 Sherman St., Suite 521, Denver, CO 80203).
The hearing is Wednesday, Oct. 1, from 6-7:30 p.m. Spanish translation and ASL interpretation will be available.
Global journalism leader Poynter brings 50th anniversary exhibit to Boulder
The Poynter Institute — a global leader in journalism — is marking its 50th anniversary with a national traveling exhibit that stops in Boulder this month.
“Moments of Truth: An Exploration of Journalism’s Past, Present and Future” runs Sept. 23-Oct. 9 at CU Boulder’s Norlin Library. The 12-panel pop-up exhibit traces U.S. journalism from colonial print to the AI era, with interactive tools and artifacts.
The series extends beyond campus, with a Sept. 30 panel at the Boulder Public Library’s Canyon Theater focused on environmental reporting and intergenerational storytelling, and an Oct. 1 journalism-themed trivia night at the Denver Press Club, hosted with CU’s College of Communication, Media, Design and Information. All events are free and open to the public.
LoBo and Twin Lakes trail closures start today
Parts of the Longmont-to-Boulder (LoBo) trail will close beginning today, Sept. 29, for resurfacing. The stretch between Monarch and Mineral roads is the first to shut down, with a detour available along N. 79th Street. A second phase will later close another section of Mineral Road. Work is expected to wrap up by Nov. 26.
Resurfacing is also planned at Twin Lakes, where trail closures will occur in phases. The West Lake Trail will be closed 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sept. 29-Oct. 2 and Oct. 6-9. A section south of East Lake will be closed 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Oct. 14-16.
☀️ Explore events in Boulder and use the self-submission form on our events page to reach thousands in our community — for free! To have your event featured on our Monday to-do list, make sure to submit it to our events calendar.
Geology Tour: Tuesday, Sept. 30, 10:00 a.m., Academic Hall, 298 Morning Glory Rd. Alternate dates: Oct. 14 and 28. Read More
Come See Me in the Good Light | A Tribute to Andrea Gibson: Tuesday, Sept. 30, 7:00 p.m., Chautauqua Picnic Shelter, 900 Baseline Rd. Read More
The Talk of Our Town with Jim Guercio: Tuesday, Sept. 30, 7:00-8:30 p.m., eTown, 1535 Spruce St. Read More
Blackbelly Farm Dinner: Wednesday, Oct. 1, 5:30-9:00 p.m., The Old Elm, 8912 Arapahoe Rd. Read More
Oh Snap!: Wednesday, Oct. 1, 7:30 p.m., The Muse Performance Space, 200 E. South Boulder Rd., Lafayette. Read More
Open Bluegrass Jam: Thursday, Oct. 2, 5:00-6:00 p.m., Asher Brewing, 4699 Nautilus Ct S Suite 104. Read More
Fall Fest at Boulder Social: Friday, Oct. 3, 3:00-8:30 p.m., Boulder Social, 1600 38th St. Read More
MaMuse & Amuse: Friday, Oct. 3, 7:00 p.m., eTown, 1535 Spruce St. Read More
Pride and Prejudice: By Kate Hamill: Friday, Oct. 3, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Roe Green Theater, University Theater Building, 1515 Central Campus Mall. Additional dates: Oct. 4, 8, 10, 11, same time; Oct. 5, 12, 2:00-4:00 p.m., Oct. 11, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Read More
Lafayette Music Fest: Saturday, Oct. 4, 11:00 a.m.-11:59 p.m., at 8 stages across Lafayette. Read More
Boulder County Open Studios Tour: Saturday, Oct. 4, 12:00-5:00 p.m., locations across Boulder County. Additional dates: every weekend through Oct. 19. Read More
PAIZLEY PARK: A Tribute to Prince: Saturday, Oct. 4, 8:00-11:00 p.m., The Louisville Underground, 640 Main St, Louisville. Read More
Barn Ghost: Saturday, Oct. 4, 11:30 a.m., Pearl Street Mall, 1303 Pearl St. Read More
Cuban Music Fundraiser & Info Night Sunday, Oct. 5, 4:00 p.m., Roots Music Project, 4747 Pearl St Suite V3A. Read More