Boulder's open space planners are calling for the intervention of different interest groups, including dog lovers, equestrians and hikers, to set rules for the city's most popular trails.
"Beginning next month, the city's Open Space and Mountain Parks division will select up to 18 Boulder residents, representing various interest groups and viewpoints, and ask them to reach a consensus on how Boulder's most expansive and heavily trafficked trails should be used.
The Community Collaborative Group, as it's being called, would be charged with deciding whether hiking, cycling, horse riding, dog walking or conservation efforts are appropriate uses within the West Trail Study Area -- generally located north of Eldorado Springs Drive, south of Linden Avenue and west of Broadway.
The area includes dozens of Boulder's most popular outdoor attractions -- including the Flatirons, Mesa Trail, Chautauqua Park, Shannahan Ridge, Big Bluestem Loop, Skunk Canyon, Enchanted Mesa, Shadow Canyon and Saddle Rock."
FULL STORY: Boulder asking bikers, dog walkers, environmentalists to set trail rules

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods
A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.

California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.

HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
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