BOULDER, Colo.-
A criminal investigation is under way into whether crews doing drainage work for the city illegally damaged prairie dogs and wetlands.
City Attorney Ariel Calonne said Friday that the investigation should be completed in about 10 days.
Calonne declined a request from the Daily Camera newspaper for copies of the records of the work. She said the records won’t be released until the investigation is complete.
The city is looking into whether ordinances were followed when crews widened a creek channel in southeast Boulder. An ordinance bars the killing of prairie dogs or destruction of their burrows without considering alternatives, such as relocation.
Another ordinance limits development and construction in environmentally sensitive areas.
Dave Crawford of the advocacy group Rocky Mountain Animal Defense said it looks like prairie dog burrows were affected. He said he’s looking forward to hearing whether the crew followed city ordinances.
“They should be able to meet the standard they’ve set for themselves,” Crawford said.
