Dec. 18—Louisville has reviewed how the 2023 approval of the open space tax increase has helped open space management and wildfire mitigation.
During the Tuesday Louisville City Council meeting, Open Space Superintendent Ember Brignull presented an update to the city’s open space operations to the council. Louisville currently has 17 city-owned open space properties and 12 jointly-owned properties, with over 30 miles of trails.
In 2023, Louisville voters approved Ballot Issue 2C which allowed for the open space and parks sales tax to increase, with the funds from the tax going to acquire, preserve and maintain open space and mitigate wildfire risks, as well as continue to manage open space. The tax increase is just one of the funding sources the city has for open space management. The tax generates approximately $2.85 million annually in the open space fund.
Brignull said the open space sales tax helped fund improvements at Hecla Lake, including habitat fencing and restoration, as well as the trail master plan, obtaining restoration equipment and hiring two new open space staff members.
When Louisville residents are asked what open space means to them, Brignull said a range of answers are given. From trails and biking to peace and solitude, she said the Louisville community values open space.
“The one thing all of our residents agree on is that they love open space. They feel like open space is one of the networks that makes Louisville what it is,” Brigull said.
One of the main focuses for the department this year was natural resources and fire mitigation. In October 2023, the Wildfire Risk Assessment report was presented to the council, which highlighted tasks the city should complete to reduce wildfire risk concerns. Brignull said the open space department has completed 86% of those tasks assigned, and all high-priority tasks have also been completed.
She said that removal of shrubs, trees and woody materials has been completed, but there are other tasks that the city will need to complete annually to reduce wildfire risks. Removal of grasses and planting of low-flammability plants will need to be completed annually.
Open space grazing, the process of using cattle to help graze on open space vegetation to manage the vegetation and reduce wildfire fuel, accounted for over 156 acres of property managed.
“Grazing is not just used as a fire mitigation tool, it is really used to implement natural resource management,” Brignull said.
She said grazing helps restore habitats, while also reducing wildfire fuels.
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