Climate Change and Open Space

Boulder is already experiencing the impacts of the climate crisis on its shared diverse and sensitive natural areas.

With more frequent and extreme natural disasters as a reality, here’s what we’re seeing:

• Flooding: The 2013 flood caused millions of dollars in damage to trails, farms, and natural areas on open space.
• Wildfire: Fires like the 2020 Calwood Fire burned more than 10,000 acres, damaging forests and soils.
• Drought: Hotter temperatures and earlier snowmelt mean less reliable water and drier conditions.
• Plants & wildlife: Shifts in where plants grow, when birds migrate, and the spread of weeds and pests are already happening.
• Visitors: Climate change also affects people’s experience—hotter days, smoky skies, muddy trails, and fewer wildlife sightings.

But, it’s not all doom and gloom; OSMP is preparing for these impacts, and you can help!

City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) – which manages 46,000 acres of open space – is addressing the global climate crisis through resilience and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Discover example projects and how OSMP is tracking emissions, storing carbon, managing wildfire resilience, and planning for a climate-resilient future using interactive maps and visuals by exploring OSMP’s Climate Resilience Interactive StoryMap.

We acknowledge with respect and gratitude that this work is done on the ancestral homelands and unceded territory of Indigenous Peoples who have traversed, lived in and stewarded lands in the Boulder Valley since time immemorial: Full Land Acknowledgement

• Walk, run, bus, carpool or bike to trailheads to reduce emissions.
• Use the live parking-lot camera feed to plan visits and avoid crowds.
• Plan for hot conditions: Bring ample water for yourselves and your pets.
• Do not create flames or ignite wildfires and help others be cautious about fire.
• Stay on designated trails and control dogs to reduce stress on wildlife, prevent trampling of native plants, prevent the spread of undesirable species, and keep trails narrow.
• While on open space, imagine how what you are seeing and experiencing might be different in 20 years? 50 years? 100 years?
• Volunteer to help collect and save native plant seeds.
• Volunteer to work on habitat restoration.
• Support local agriculture.
• Reduce/reuse/recycle.
• Conserve water.
• Talk about climate change with your friends and family. Learn from our stories, maps, and impact details in the interactive OSMP Climate Resilience StoryMap, on the ways we are strengthening and protecting Boulder’s open spaces.

Small steps by each of us add up.

Society is approaching a critical juncture in confronting the climate crisis, and the Boulder community has an important role to play. Building on the community’s history of environmental action and on the lessons learned in more than 20 years of climate work, now is the moment to ensure that the city’s climate action efforts amplify the global effort. The city's Climate Initiatives Department drives the city's efforts to slow climate change and build a more resilient community for all. Our work focuses on three action areas: energy systems, circular economy and nature-based climate solutions.

Learn more about what the City of Boulder is doing to attack systemic drivers of climate change, including work to:

• Act beyond its boundaries, collaborating with partners, other cities, and government agencies to achieve impact at a larger scale, on topics within the city’s sphere of influence.
• Support of achieving larger regional and national climate targets.
• Build resilience and strengthening community capacity to adapt and thrive.
• Bring the community together with renewed urgency to address the climate emergency and achieve clarity on the required next steps.

Explore the interactive StoryMap on the city's community Climate Action Plan.