Trustees of the City of Boulder Open Space Board of Trustees on Feb. 12 reviewed data and public testimony showing expanded prairie dog occupancy on OSMP lands and discussed whether to seek a change to the city'adopted seasonal moratorium that pauses lethal control during the prairie dog breeding season.

Board chair Michelle Estrella opened the discussion after public comments flagged soil erosion and crop losses on irrigated parcels. "Please be brave and direct staff to deal with excessive prairie dog populations, which are destroying our open space lands," Elizabeth Black told the trustees during public comment, and Paula Schuler, a long‑time local farmer, urged the board to "initiate a serious conversation and then initiate actions to remove the seasonal moratorium for lethal control on irrigated parcels."

Why it matters: OSMP staff reported that prairie dog–occupied acres rose in 2024 and that the increase included both irrigated agricultural parcels and protected prairie dog areas. The board'level discussion focused on what local policy can change, operational limits on staff capacity and temporary crews, and the formal approval steps needed to alter council‑level direction embedded in prior guidance.

What staff said: OSMP staff described several factors behind 2024's expansion, including historically dry conditions and contractor availability. Tori Poulton (staff) and other OSMP speakers told trustees the seasonal moratorium is a city‑level practice embedded in council guidance from the 2019–2020 planning package; changing it would require returning to City Council. Staff also said bringing lethal control in‑house in 2024 introduced a learning curve but could become more effective over time. One staff member noted operational constraints: "our in house prairie dog crew seasonals are required to take a 12 week break in service each year," which has historically coincided with the moratorium.

Board members pressed both technical and policy points. Trustee John asked whether the moratorium is an Open Space policy or a city requirement; staff answered the moratorium traces to council guidance. Trustee Brady said he supported revisiting the moratorium to give staff discretion and to reflect changed conditions since earlier community conversations.

Data and scale: Speakers quoted OSMP mapping numbers provided in the packet: OSMP mapped about 5,500 occupied acres systemwide in 2024, including roughly 4,657 acres in protected status — above OSMP's stated management range of about 800 to 3,100 acres. Staff also told trustees that on irrigated parcels subject to lethal control, occupied acres rose from 640 acres in 2023 to 852 acres in 2024.

Next steps and constraints: Staff outlined operational steps they are already pursuing to improve effectiveness (re‑evaluating barriers, expanding contractor options, coordinating post‑removal management with lessees). They also said that a formal change to the breeding‑season moratorium would likely require direction from City Council, and noted community conversations in 2019–2020 had consistently opposed lethal control during the "popping" season. Several trustees asked staff to bring options back for discussion; staff said they would explore changes but cautioned the moratorium was not identified as a high‑priority item in the 2023 program review.

Public comment and context: Multiple public commenters urged more aggressive lethal control on irrigated parcels and cited soil erosion, agricultural damage and wildfire risk. Others urged caution because of welfare concerns for juvenile prairie dogs. Trustee Carmen noted the scale of the increase — "5,500 acres is, like, 12% of the entire open space portfolio" — and suggested considering an exigent action to reduce population levels with a plan to reintroduce protections afterward.

Ending: Trustees did not take a formal vote on policy changes at the Feb. 12 meeting. Staff said they will continue implementation improvements and return with options and data; any formal change to the seasonal moratorium would require City Council action.