DESCRIPTION

Our public agencies are facing increased pressure from extreme weather events and our elected officials’ goal to ensure life safety, protect property and reduce fire risk. With unprecedented weather conditions around Boulder in late 2025, the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) department was asked to close the entire 46,000 acre land system to visitor use with less than a 12-hour notice. This session highlights “Caring for the Commons” with critical lessons learned from multiple staff perspectives covering the “why” through the decision-making process behind implementing these closures, understanding the “how” through logistical and operational support of closing over 150 access locations, the “when” through proactive and reactive communication strategies and reopening protocols and safety inspections. This session applies to leadership, operations staff, communications staff, rangers and natural resource professionals. The presentation also discusses the development of "precautionary" management through a Department Emergency Response Team, enabling rangers to focus on emergency response rather than rescuing visitors in, or fighting fires caused in, high-risk, inaccessible areas. Attendees will learn about communication strategies for notifying the public about sudden, large-scale closures and the logistical challenges in enforcement across a vast wildland urban interface.

ADDITIONAL INFO:

EXPERIENCE LEVEL:

Entry Level/Early Career, Intermediate, or Expert