Plan To Build Pipeline Through Prairie Dog Conservation Area Of Cherry Creek State Park Approved
(CBS4) - Leaders in Arapahoe County on Tuesday gave unanimous approval to a proposal to build an Xcel Energy natural gas pipeline through a conservation area for prairie dogs. Officials at Xcel want to replace an existing pipeline and put the new one through Cherry Creek State Park.
The county will be putting the following requirements in place:
- The plan must meet Tri-County Health Department requirements.
- Xcel Energy must work with an ethical, non-lethal prairie dog specialist.
A total of 14 prairie dog colonies will be impacted by the pipeline and opponents say it could majorly disrupt those colonies and the aquatics in the area.
A CPW official weighed in during Tuesday's Arapahoe County meeting, saying the work should be done immediately to make sure the prairie dogs are as protected as possible, before temperatures start to get colder and regular freezes begin.
Xcel says it plans to start the project in the coming weeks.
