(Boulder, CO) On Tues Feb. 2 at 5 p.m. Boulder City Council and the Planning Board will meet to discuss one of the biggest environmental controversies in the history of Boulder. Elected officials are being cautioned on the quality of information being provided by Boulder County Parks and Open Space, which seems to be acting as an advocate for development. “A Colorado Open Records Act request has revealed a secret deal by Boulder County Parks and Open Space (POS) to trade open space adjacent to Twin Lakes to facilitate development on the site of the proposed Great Horned Owl Preserve,” explains Ken Beitel, chair of wilderness conservation for the preserve. “We also believe that Parks and Open Space is misleading the public and elected officials by claiming there will be no impact on the nesting great horned owl family that lives just 65 feet from the area proposed to be bulldozed. In reality, not a single wildlife impact study has been conducted.” (click to see POS email release forced by CORA request: http://boulderowlpreserve.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/CORA-POS-Oct-15-2015.pdf) Parks and Open Space’s policies have never before supported annexation of open space so that other properties could be annexed and developed. Rather than having a biologist’s background, Parks and Open Space Director Ron Stewart served two terms in the Colorado Senate and 20 years as a Boulder County Commissioner (1985 to 2005). In a controversial political appointment, Ron Stewart was granted the position of Parks and Open Space Director in 1999. For five years Stewart served as both a Boulder County Commissioner and the Director of Parks and Open Space. Now questions are swirling as to whether Stewart is truly acting as a guardian of public lands. In the only wildlife consideration to date, POS biologist Dave Hoerath in October 2015 did a quick walk-through on the site of the proposed owl preserve and described the owl hunting meadow as a “sterile environment” but then noted multiple uses by foxes and coyotes and use of the meadow by birds of prey (click to see POS Oct 14-15 memo: http://boulderowlpreserve.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/POS-Hoerath-twin.lakes_.parcels.mem_.10-14-15.pdf). In Nov 2015, Boulder County Parks and Open Space Communications Specialist Vivienne Jannatpour removed all positive statements of birds of prey and mammal activity and falsely summarized Hoerath’s findings by stating the area was “largely devoid of wildlife.” The developer, Boulder County Housing Authority, then circulated the “largely devoid of wildlife” claim on social media and to elected officials, including County Commissioners and Boulder City Council. (click to see Dec 3-2015 POS/BCHA scrubbed memo Page 2: http://boulderowlpreserve.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/BCHA_2015.12.03-bvcp-date-changes-and-informational-update.pdf) “City Council should question the poor quality of information they are receiving from Parks and Open Space. This 20-acre meadow is critical habitat for nesting great horned owls and a broad range of wildlife—it is hardly ‘devoid of wildlife,’” says Beitel. “The misinformation from Parks and Open Space could mislead City Council into approving the destruction of the top great horned owl viewing site in all of Colorado.” The deal to trade Boulder County Open Space was approved by POS Director Ron Stewart at least by October 2015, likely earlier. Under the known terms of the deal, Boulder County Open Space adjacent to Twin Lakes would be given to the City of Boulder, which would then annex both the open space and the area of the proposed development. Yet months after Ron Stewart had agreed to the open space trade, at the Dec. 17, 2015, POS Advisory Committee public meeting, POS Resource Management Manager, Therese Glowacki, stated that a trade of open space had not “really been discussed.” Glowacki assumed many of Director’s duties in spring of 2015 when Stewart went half time. (click for transcripts and audio of Dec 17-2015 POSAC meeting: http://boulderowlpreserve.org/wp-admin/upload.php?item=266 http://boulderowlpreserve.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/POSAC-Audio-12-17-2015-Public-Meeting.mp3) “We are disturbed that without conducting a single wildlife impact study, Boulder County POS is willing to give away open space adjacent to wetlands to facilitate high-density development,” concludes Beitel. “There are alternative locations for this development that would better serve the transportation and human services needs of residents. We are urging City Council to quickly reject this development proposal that would destroy critical great horned owl habitat and the home of Colorado’s most famous owls.” -30- Media Kit · High-resolution owl, owl baby photos and video are available for print, TV display and web publication: http://boulderowlpreserve.org/mediakit/ Media Contact: Ken J. Beitel - spokesperson, Boulder Great Horned Owl Preserve.org email: info@BoulderOwlPreserve.org m: 720 436 2465 web: www.BoulderOwlPreserve.org Supporters of the Great Horned Owl Preserve to Date: · Boulder Owl Preserve – www.BoulderOwlPreserve.org · Sacred House - http://www.sacredhouse.org/ · Wildlands Defense - http://wildlandsdefense.org · ProTrails.com – www.ProTrails.com · Boulder Colorado Hiking and Outdoor Club (1,600 members, approved by steering committee)