The Boulder County Parks and Open Space Department has delayed the Middle Boulder Creek Fuel Reduction Project due to unusually warm temperatures and low snowpack.
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Even the deep woods are bare this winter. The ponds and creeks are frozen but there is no ground cover to speak of. Fuel reduction projects on the open space west and adjacent to Nederland have been paused. Residents in western Nederland should already have their grab-n-go bags prepped.
It was been an extrordinary dry year in the Eldora valley and the Boulder open space west of Nederland. Planned fuel reduction efforts in the Tucker and Elk Draw projects have been paused due to a lack of snow.
BOULDER — The Boulder County Parks and Open Space Department has delayed the Middle Boulder Creek Fuel Reduction Project due to unusually warm temperatures and low snowpack. The contracting process will resume this summer, with mechanical operations scheduled for next winter.
Shane Milne, who took over the forestry supervisor and project manager position from the retiring Scott Golden, wrote that the current weather patterns were not suitable for mitigation operations this winter.
“We have not sent out the Informal Request for Quotation (IRFQ) for the project yet, so no pre-bid meeting has happened," Milne said. "Because of the warm temps and lack of snowpack, we decided to hold off on that step and plan to send the IRFQ out in the summer.
Work cannot begin until the ground is frozen and one foot of snow has accumulated, according to Milne.
“If they want, we will allow hand cutting during August and September. So, we’re in a holding pattern right now.”
More information about the project can be found at bouldercounty.gov/open-space/management/middle-boulder-creek.
The Mountain-Ear would like to issue a correction to the article titled "Fuel Reduction Project Delayed" that was published on February 19, 2026.
The paragraph: "Work cannot begin until the ground is frozen and one inch of snow has accumulated, according to Milne." should be changed to "Work cannot begin until the ground is frozen and one foot of snow has accumulated, according to Milne."
