I have a unique method for handling such a thing. 😛 I tell the Devs when I'm going to do the refresh and that they have until then to copy anything they haven't checked into source control. That includes any test data that they should BCP out.

I make a backup of the dev database and then I overwrite it from a prod backup at the appointed time. The rule is that any requests to recover anything from that dev backup must be written on a $20 bill and wrapped around a "Jimmy John's" #9 sandwich for each object recovered from that backup.

We also don't allow "promotion by accident". All changes to all objects/data must be submitted in the form of a script that must also pass peer review and DBA review. It then get's successively promoted to QA, then UAT, and finally Prod.