Good Tuesday morning, Boulder. A frosty start to today has officially ended the growing season, but sunshine will quickly warm us up.
Leading today’s edition: The future of Boulder’s airport remains uncertain amid ongoing legal disputes, but one thing is clear: The lead will have to go. A new state law gives the city until 2030 to at least begin its transition to unleaded aviation fuel — or risk losing state funding — as part of a broader effort to eliminate one of the last major sources of airborne lead. City officials are drafting a transition plan, due in January, as residents and researchers raise concerns about exposure risks in nearby neighborhoods. Health experts say there is no safe level of lead in the body. Por Jaijongkit reports.
Also today in BRL Opinion: Columnist Bob Yates urges Boulder County commissioners to preserve the Iris Ball Fields at Broadway and Iris, arguing the longtime neighborhood park and Little League site should be protected, not sold for development.
More, Below the Fold:
- BoulderCAST: Growing season officially ends after cold start.
- Skunk Canyon fire: Crews contain small wildfire in rugged terrain.
- CU South fight: Residents appeal ruling over flood project funding.
- Transit vision: County wants your input on first-ever transit plan.
- Water works: Boulder to pour millions into aging infrastructure.
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.
Boulder begins planning to transition away from toxic leaded fuel at city airport
Boulder’s airport faces a looming deadline to at least begin facilitating a switch to unleaded fuel, or risk losing state funding, amid growing community concern. Continue reading…
Bob Yates: Make good choices for Boulder — save the Iris Fields from development
An open letter to the Boulder County commissioners. Continue reading…
A cold start, but the sun will quickly warm us up
Most of us are waking up to near or slightly below freezing temperatures this morning for the first time since mid-April, officially ending the 2025 growing season for Boulder, about two weeks later than usual. It’s a crisp kickoff to the day, but the sun will work quickly.
Expect a swift rebound into the mid-60s by afternoon, with light winds and plenty of blue sky. That mellow October vibe will stick around all week, keeping daytime highs comfortably in the 60s.
Overnight temps will nudge a bit warmer, settling between 35 and 40. Still, outlying areas could see a few more frosty mornings this week, so keep sensitive plants protected if needed.
Small wildfire in Skunk Canyon quickly contained
Fire crews responded Monday evening to a small wildfire in Skunk Canyon, located in rugged terrain southwest of Boulder. The fire has since been contained.
Eleven firefighters hiked in from a nearby access road to reach the blaze, Boulder Fire-Rescue said. Responding agencies included Boulder Fire-Rescue, Mountain View Fire Rescue, Louisville Fire and the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office Fire Management Team.
At approximately 6:40 a.m., the fire was declared contained. Crews were working to mop up remaining hot spots.
Boulder residents appeal court ruling on CU South flood project funding
A group of residents challenging the city’s funding plan for the CU South flood mitigation project has filed an appeal of a district court ruling against them, extending years of litigation over a project that was originally set to break ground earlier this year.
The flood project, located on the CU South property, is a centerpiece of a 2021 annexation agreement between the city and CU Boulder. It includes a concrete spillway and detention pond designed to reduce flood risk for about 2,300 residents in the South Boulder Creek floodplain. Opponents have long raised concerns about environmental impacts and the loss of informal open space. The lawsuit by Save South Boulder is the latest flashpoint in a decades-long debate over how to protect the area from flooding.
The group’s lawsuit argues that the city’s stormwater utility fees require voter approval under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR). It also challenges city council’s authorization of $66 million in bonds to fund the project. A Boulder County District Court judge dismissed the claims earlier this year. Read more on BRL.
Have a say in Boulder County’s first transit plan
Boulder County is developing its first countywide transit plan — Linking Boulder County — and wants community input to help shape it. The plan aims to make it easier for residents, workers and visitors to get around using RTD buses, park and mountain shuttles, Ride Free Lafayette and paratransit.
A Transit Needs Survey is open through Nov. 20, and a virtual open house is scheduled for Nov. 6 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Pop-up events will also be held throughout the county this fall.
This first phase will help set the plan’s vision and goals. In 2026, the county expects to roll out upgrades such as better stops and amenities, more frequent service and new routes. Learn more or sign up for updates.
Boulder to see large water infrastructure updates in coming years
Boulder is planning major upgrades to its water infrastructure over the next several years as existing systems age and capacity needs grow. About 44% of the city’s 2026-2031 Capital Improvement Program will be dedicated to water-related projects.
Utilities Engineering Senior Manager Chris Douglas said the city’s long-term infrastructure, much of it built in the 1960s and 1970s, is reaching the end of its useful life. “We’re having things coming to the end of their useful life,” he told the Planning Board last month. He added that Boulder’s growing needs are also driving the work: “So the pipe may be old, but guess what, it’s too small now, too.”
Because of the sheer magnitude of the infrastructure, Douglas expects high investments in water for decades to come. “We need to be going after these projects now [so] that we can handle the risk and mitigating things as we’re coming forward,” Douglas said.
Planned projects include upgrades to the water transmission system pipelines on 63rd Street and South Broadway, improvements to storage tanks and replacement of worn-out equipment at the Water Resource Recovery Facility to enhance wastewater treatment. The transmission system project alone is expected to cost about $46 million over the next five years.
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