Prairie Dog Policy ProposalFrom:Vanessa McCracken
To:OSBT-Web
Subject:Prairie Dog Policy Proposal
Date:Wednesday, July 12, 2023 11:52:59 AM
Attachments:BVLCD letter to OSBT re prairie dogs.pdf
External Sender
Good morning OSBT,
Please see the attached letter regarding the staff proposal related to prairie dog management.
Regards,
Vanessa
Vanessa McCracken | District Manager
Boulder Valley & Longmont Conservation Districts
M: 720-815-8842 | O: 720-378-5521
E: vanessa.mccracken@bvlcd.com
9595 Nelson Rd. Box D | Longmont, CO 80501
www.longmontcd.org
City of Boulder
Open Space Board of Trustees
Re: Prairie Dog Management
Dear Open Space Board of Trustees,
The Board Supervisors of the Boulder Valley and Longmont Conservation Districts discussed the OSMP staff
proposal for prairie dog management on City of Boulder agricultural lands at their most recent monthly meetings.
Thank you for taking the time to consider the below concerns from the Boulder Valley and Longmont Conservation
Districts:
1. Keeping agriculture viable for the long-term should be priority number one. Land which was purchased by
an open space program as agriculture should remain as productive agriculture. Losing productive acres
will forever have negative consequences for the agricultural community and the land. Agricultural
operations first need land. Everything else is secondary.
2. Allowing prairie dogs to overtake agricultural land is in direct opposition to conservation. The
Conservation Districts support practices which uphold the principles of soil health. Unchecked prairie dog
populations are contrary to the principles of keeping the soil covered, increasing diversity, keeping roots in
the ground, and minimizing soil disturbance. As proven time and time again, these properties lose
incredible amounts to topsoil to wind are water erosion. This is not an acceptable practice or use of open
space.
3. Reclassification of degraded ag lands to “conservation areas” for prairie dogs is not appropriate. Prairie
dogs need native grasslands. Reclassified properties will not sustain a healthy functioning ecosystem.
4. Prairie dog management is expensive, no doubt. But repairing land is even more expensive and in some
cases takes exponentially longer. The cost involved is not a good reason to give up on the land. OSMP has
been managing with lethal control for only a couple years. These properties are a long -term investment
and require a long-term commitment.
Please consider the following suggestions:
• Expand, not retract, lethal prairie dog control.
• Improve irrigation infrastructure on ALL irrigated parcels so each property can reach its full agricultural
potential.
• Be a good neighbor! Help neighbors out with barrier cost-sharing and effectively managing weeds while
working to lower and eliminate populations on OSMP parcels.
Regards,
Vanessa McCracken
Vanessa McCracken
District Manager
Boulder Valley and Longmont Conservation Districts