4B - Prairie Dog UpdateCITY Or BOULDER
• PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD AGENDA ITEM
MEETING DATE: March 18, 2002
(Agenda Item Preparation Date: March 12, 2002)
AGENDA TITLE: Prairie Dog Update
REQUESTING DEPARTMENT:
Jan Geden, CPRP, Director of Parks and Recreation
Ann Wichmann, Environmental Resources Manager
II FISCAL IMPACT: To be determined II
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this item is to provide the Board an update on prairie dog ielocation pro~ects
occurrmg on Parks and Recreation properhes.
• BACKGROUND:
The Department of Parks and Recreation is engaged m multiple prairie dog relocation projects.
These pro~ects are outlmed in the analysis section below and are mtended to provide a broad
overview of all of our current relocation efforts
ANALYSIS:
Valmont Park
Trapping of the prairie dogs west of the barrier is complete at Valmont City Park
Approximately 100 praine dogs were trapped by Wild Places, Inc and relocated to parks
property at N. 51" Street This effort mcluded trappmg prairie dogs located along the northern
boundary of the Goose Creek Channel, and construction of an additional prame dog barrier along
this boundary This barrier meets the existmg SW to NE barrier, although rt is bisected by the
bike path Environmental Resources is currently workmg with Parks Planumg to order
construchon of an additional pra~rie dog barrier which will extend the NE corner of the existmg
barrier in a southeasterly direchon When this is complete (hopefully within the next couple of
months - the contractor has not been nohfied), the northern and western portions of the south
Valmont parcel will be as well protected from prairie dog migrahon as is feasible
On the north side of Valmont City Park, approximately 30 prairie dogs inhabit the northwestern
corner of the pazcel Additional prairie dog barrier construcuon may be needed m this area to
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AGENDA ITEM # IV-B. PAGE 1
impede migrahon. Please see the attached map that identifies the location of prairie dog towns
and barriers at Valmont City Park. •
Tom Watson Park
Pazks and Recreahon Department Staff has been workmg extensively with the Open Space and
Mountam Parks Department to trap and relocate as many prairie dogs as possible from the Tom
Watson Park ballfields These prairie dogs were relocated to an Open Space Conservation ,
Easement (IBM property) located south of the developed park site Unfortunately, only 5 prairie
dogs were trapped durmg this effort Open Space and Mountam Parks will resume the trapping
effort on June ls`, 2002. The first half of the wooden barrier fence is complete, and the northern
half is under construction.
Boulder Reservoir Dams
Environmental Resources trapped and relocated prairie dogs withm both the south and north dam
buffer azeas in preparahon for the sprmg tree and shrub plantmg pro~ect. This plantmg pro~ect is
the first phase of developmg a vegetative barrier to discourage prairie dog migrauon but offer
other wildlife species enhanced habitat. Eight prairie dogs were trapped and relocated to parks
managed property at N 515~ Street, which clears the area for plantmg m April 2002.
Pleasant View Fields
Environmental Resources staff responded to complaznts from muntenance staff that prairie dogs •
were moving around the southern end of a prairie dog bazrier constructed on the east side of
Pleasant View Fields m 2001 Staff found that cyclone fence belonging to the Colorado
Deputment of Transportation (CDOT) had fallen into disrepair and was contributing to prairie
dog movement. Upon our request, CDOT has fixed the fence and we will be monitormg prairie
dog movement in this area Additional prairie dog barrier construction may be requ~red
Relocation Sites
Wild Places, Inc. trapped and relocated approximately 100 prairie dogs from Valmont City Park,
and also relocated 18 pra~rie dogs trapped by Environmental Resources staff from the west gate
of Boulder Reservoir and the bufFer areas of the dams at Boulder Reservoir. These prairie dogs
were relocated to an area near the aero-modelmg site and also to parks managed property on N
Sls` Street. Trenchmg was required on both sites Prairie dogs at both sites appear to be domg
well by visual observahon, and Environmental Resources staff has re-seeded the trenched areas
with native grass seed
PUBLIC COMMENT AND PROCESS:
This item ts bemg heard at this public meeting as advertised m the Daily Camera
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AGENDA ITEM # IV-B. PAGE 2
~ STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
This is an mformation item only
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Map of the south portion of Valmont City Park Prairie Dog Locations and Bamcrs
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AGENDA ITEM # IV-B. PAGE 3
Attachlnf~nt A
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Prairie Dog Locations
~ Prairie Dog Barrier
~ Proposed Barrier for Wildlife Corridor
~ City Parks Property
Tree Planting/Grove 3 nj
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AGENDA ITEP~I #~I( ' H> PAG~ T