Upcoming wildfire risk reduction work is part of the city’s broader wildfire preparedness efforts
The City of Boulder has resumed mowing of open space areas next to neighborhoods as part of citywide efforts to reduce wildfire risks across the community.
The pilot program, launched last year, will focus on mowing a 30-foot strip of open space land next to the Dakota Ridge, Wonderland Lake, Chautauqua, Devil’s Thumb/Shanahan Ridge neighborhoods in Boulder. Mowing also will occur near the Sans Souci Mobile Home Park south of the city and Lake Valley Estates north of Boulder. The city, with the support of Boulder Bridge House crews, will mow grass to a height of 4 to 6 inches, with work scheduled for June/July and again in September/October. The city has selected these times to effectively reduce wildfire risk while limiting disruption to sensitive wildlife and native plants.
Like other city wildfire fuel reduction and ecosystem health projects, planned mowing is focused on the Wildland Urban Interface, the area where undeveloped lands meet places people live and work and where wildfire risks are higher. Mowing locations were selected based on several factors, including wildfire risk, ecological data, home structure density and home proximity to city-managed open space.
Planned mowing aligns with recommendations in the city’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan and will help support other wildfire resilience projects aimed at reducing risks on open space, including targeted cattle grazing, tree thinning, invasive weed removal, prescribed burning and vegetation management in agricultural ditches.
Wildfire resilience in the City of Boulder is a shared responsibility. The city has numerous projects that complement mowing and help reduce our wildfire risk. Learn more at Boulder Wildfire Projects.