Position Statement of BCNA on the 
Dog Moratorium on North Foothills Open Space

The Boulder County Nature Association (BCNA) offers its support to the recommendation of the Open Space Staff that the current dog moratorium on North Foothills Open Space (NFOS) be adopted as a permanent policy. We concur that "the combination of low compliance with the leash regulation and the significant wildlife resource found on NFOS lead staff to believe that biodiversity of the area will suffer negative impacts if dogs are allowed on these properties."

Dog advocates will argue that compliance has improved and we are grateful for their efforts. Nevertheless, nearly 25% of dog owners still ignore leash laws on County OS. With the opening of the Heil Ranch and the dramatic increase NFOS is receiving from people throughout the Front Range, we can expect several thousand dogs a year running loose on these lands if a permanent moratorium is not put in place. It's also relevant to point out that the improved compliance has resulted from a very concerted effort via education, enforcement, and publicity in various media, and that such an effort can probably not be maintained indefinitely.

Some residents of Lyons will argue for opening up NFOS to dogs. In fact they have many areas already available including County OS on Rabbit Mountain, Forest Service lands west of town, and in parks in Lyons (where the leash law is not enforced). The only areas in northern Boulder County closed to dogs are Wild Basin and the proposed NFOS.

BCNA supports a permanent ban on dogs on NFOS. There is no doubt that the impact of a hiker (an animal) with a dog (another animal) is greater than the impact of a single animal. Dogs off leash do chase wildlife and disturb small animals and birds. Dogs on leash or off also have impacts via scenting and through the concentration of their excrement along heavily used trails. The former sends a "domestic" signal to wildlife and the latter provide nitrogen-rich sites that often favor non-native plants.

NFOS hold special value due to their context in the broader landscape. For nearly two decades BCNA has advanced a vision for the northern county that includes a system of semi-wildlands extending from Wild Basin, through the North St. Vrain, and down to the foothills and plains. With the designation of the North St. Vrain as a Research Natural Area and the purchase of the Hall and Heil ranches this vision has approached reality. NFOS should be managed with special care for the natural values they harbor and for the wildlife populations that depend upon these lands for their long term viability.

Finally, while BCNA's position is grounded in ecological impacts, we do not overlook the fact that many citizens of Boulder County would simply like an area where they can go without having to deal with dogs. User groups can be very vocal and intimidating at times, but the fact of the matter is that most people just want a place they can go for a quiet walk and see the occasional coyote – there is nothing elitist or restrictive about that.