CNHP Blog

Botanists on the prairie

2012-01-26T10:00:00.000-07:00

Some days the shortgrass prairie doesn’t seem to hold much of interest to botanists. It’s hot, windy, dry, and grazed as far as the eye can see. CNHP Botanist Pam Smith sent these photos of a 2011 prairie bioblitz.

How hot was it? Check out the temperature on the speedometer!

In situations like this one last summer, it isn't too surprising that the searchers were drawn to a couple of the prairie’s biggest plants - not that much shade was available.

CSU herbarium manager Jennifer Ackerfield and CNHP's Renée Rondeau

with Asclepias latifolia, the broadleaf milkweed.

Ipomoea leptophylla, the bush morning-glory.

Pam, Jennifer, and Renée managed to add 33 new plants to the list of documented species at Brett Gray Ranch. Thanks for the report, Pam!

And the Wetland Mapping Continues...

2012-01-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

by Erick Carlson

The Colorado Natural Heritage Program has been active in generating wetlands maps for the state of Colorado for several years. The wetland ecologists and GIS mapping technicians team up to produce the best quality maps, for the largest area possible, as fast as we can. Colorado lags behind other western states in the amount of the state with wetland maps available in a digital (GIS) environment. The entire state of Colorado was initially mapped in the late 1970’s/early 1980’s when the National Wetlands Inventory program was initiated by the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. The original effort produced paper maps with wetland boundaries and information about the type of wetland. Unfortunately, this is about as far as they got for several decades. As computerized mapping software became a daily tool used by natural resource planning professionals, it became necessary to take those paper maps and make them digital. As we began the process of converting the maps to digital files, it became apparent that much of the landscape had changed in the previous 30+ years. While a straight conversion from paper to digital is cheap and fast, working on updating the wetlands boundaries takes much longer.

The cost and time associated with creating new wetland maps requires a more focused approach on a project by project basis, as the need and funds arise. Our most recent effort focused on Park County, Colorado. The South Platte River headwaters are located here as well as some unique saline flats and large high elevation fen complexes. Above is a map showing the extent of the project area and the extent of wetlands on the landscape.

To create a new wetland map, the mapping technicians look at several pieces of information to decide where a wetland exists and what type it is. The characteristics considered include the cover type (forest, herbs, sand, open water), the frequency of flooding (temporarily, permanently, seasonally) and if there are any modifications made by humans (canals, dams). For the Park County project area aerial photographs from the summer of 2009 and 2005 were viewed:

Summer 2005 on the left and summer 2009 on the right.

Possible fen identified on topographic map.

We also use the original effort from the NWI as the information can still be relevant. This can be especially helpful when deciding how often a wetland is likely to be flooded.

Original NWI mapping example.

Project numbers so far:

The total number of individual wetland polygons created – 23,788

The total acres of wetlands delineated – 69,914.7

The number of USGS 1:24,000 quadrangles mapped - 37

And now some pictures from field visits to sites to verify that what we were seeing on the aerial photographs matched what was on the ground. There were some tricky photo signatures that needed to be checked.

First a saline wetland, very interesting, with limited plant species diversity as there was a ¼ to 1” layer of salt on the soil surface - tough conditions.

A shrubby riparian area, with lots of saturated spots was common in the higher elevations; and a close up of the mossy, sedgy, grassy under story.

The ever dynamic beaver created ponds were easy to spot from aerial photographs or when we were perched above them on roads.

Lots of water for irrigation this year for hay pastures.

Wetlands can be different sizes and shapes, just like horses. We saw these little (and big) fellas while cruising area looking for wetlands.

A big thanks to Gabrielle Smith for putting up with me in the car, forcing her to camp in the cold, rain and mosquito filled South Park area. She was silly enough to accompany me up there twice!

Ecological Systems: Southern Rocky Mountain Pinyon-Juniper

2012-01-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

The Southern Rocky Mountain Pinyon-Juniper ecological system is similar to the Colorado Plateau Pinyon-Juniper system, but with a more restricted distribution in south central Colorado. In Colorado, the southern Rocky Mountain pinyon-juniper woodlands are found in the south central part of the state, around the San Luis Valley, southern mountain front east to Mesa de Maya, and north to the Arkansas River Valley and Palmer divide. Elevations range from about 5,000 to 9,000 feet. Pinyon-juniper also occurs in a limited distribution on the eastern plains near the Purgatoire River. These are open woodlands of warm, dry sites on mountain slopes, mesas, plateaus, and ridges. Pinyon pine and/or one-seed juniper dominate the tree layer, and Rocky Mountain juniper may be present at higher elevations. In the canyons and tablelands to the east, pinyon is absent, and this system is replaced by the Southern Rocky Mountain Juniper Woodland and Savanna system. Understory layers are variable and may be dominated by shrubs, grasses, sparse vegetation, or bare ground.

Southern Rocky Mountain pinyon-juniper covers some 1.25 million acres in Colorado. Ownership is divided about equally between private and public ownership, with the Bureau of Land Management responsible for the majority of federal holdings. Pinyon-juniper ecological systems have declined in both extent and quality compared to historic norms, although there are a number of very large patches remaining. Threats include urban development, recreation (especially motorized recreation), invasive species (most notably an increase in cheatgrass in the understory, which has led to increasing fire ignitions), and energy development.

Overall biodiversity, threat, and protection status scores for

Colorado Plateau Pinyon-Juniper in Colorado.

A "windrose" graph depicting Colorado Plateau Pinyon-Juniper status for individual scoring factors.

Botany A to Z: Cirsium

2012-01-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

by Karin Decker

is for Cirsium

Cirsiums are thistles, and are members of the sunflower family (Asteraceae). Although the thistle is the national emblem of Scotland, most people probably regard them as unwelcome pest plants. You are probably familiar with troublesome weed species like Scotch thistle, Canada thistle, and musk thistle. These non-native thistles are often able to grow and spread into disturbed environments where their natural predators are absent, and may form large single-species stands that crowd out other plants.

Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium), a long way from Scotland.

“What are you looking at me for? I’m not even a Cirsium!”

Thick stand of Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense).

Who wants to go pick up the other end of the measuring tape?

Native thistle species do not typically pose problems because they are co-evolved members of naturally occuring plant communities, and are kept in check by natural processes. Colorado has several dozen native species of Cirsium, and most are fairly common. Unfortunately, all of our native thistles are potentially threatened by being mistaken for non-natives during weed control efforts.

Mountain thistle (Cirsium scopulorum), thriving amidst the talus and columbines.

Barnaby's thistle (Cirsium barnabyi)

CNHP keeps documented location records for three of Colorado’s rarest Cirsium species: Ownbey’s thistle (Cirsium ownbeyi), adobe thistle (Cirsium perplexans), and mountain-slope thistle (Cirsium scapanolepis).

Adobe thistle

Ecological Systems: Lodgepole Pine

2012-01-03T13:00:00.000-07:00

In Colorado, the lodgepole pine ecological system is widespread between 8,000-10,000 feet in elevation, on gentle to steep slopes of the Rocky Mountains in the northern part of the state. Stands may be pure lodgepole pine, or mixed with other conifer species. Following stand-replacing fires, lodgepole pine rapidly colonizes and develops into dense, even-aged stands (sometimes referred to as “dog hair” stands). Lodgepole pine forests typically have shrub, grass, or barren understories, sometimes intermingled with aspen. Shrub and groundcover layers are often sparse in lodgepole pine forests. Diversity of plant species is also low, perhaps as a result of the uniform age and dense canopy of many stands.

Lodgepole forests cover more than two million acres in Colorado. Although these forests are common across Colorado, most are experiencing widespread damage from a severe outbreak of mountain pine beetle. The pine beetle is a native species, and periodic outbreaks of this insect are part of the natural cycle that maintains our mountain forests. Climate change, however, may enhance the scope and severity of the outbreaks.

Lodgepole pine stands hit by the mountain pine beetle.

Common mammal species in these forests include the pine squirrel (also called chickaree), porcupine, mule deer, and elk. Typical birds are the Mountain Chickadee, Pine Siskin, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and Yellow-rumped Warbler. Rarer species include the Three-toed Woodpecker and Williamson’s Sapsucker. These forests are used occasionally by lynx.

A porcupine contemplating the status of lodgepole forests.

Most of our lodgepole forests are on federally owned lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, or National Park Service. Most are not completely within wilderness areas, although they may be present along the boundaries of these areas. Lodgepole pine forests in Colorado generally have good conservation status. Natural processes such as fire and pine beetle infestation are the most obvious impacts to these forests. Fire suppression and logging have affected some areas.

Overall biodiversity, threat, and protection status scores for lodgepole pine in Colorado.

A "windrose" graph depicting lodgepole status for individual scoring factors.

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-22T15:00:00.000-07:00

It's getting pretty quiet around CNHP at the moment, as we all head home for the end of the year.

Best wishes from all of us to all of you for happy holidays and a great new year - see you then!

Winter scene near Charles Peak, Eagle County, Colorado.

Photo by Renée Rondeau

(click on photo to enlarge)

Botany A to Z: Brassicaceae

2011-12-14T10:00:00.000-07:00

By Karin Decker

is for Brassicaceae

Brassicaceae is the third most frequent family on the list of rare plants tracked by CNHP. This is the mustard family, formerly known as Cruciferae, for the cross-shaped, four-petaled flowers that distinguish its member species. Most people are familiar with common cultivated species in this family including broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and of course, that ubiquitous condiment, mustard.

CNHP tracks more than 50 rare species in the mustard family, including what may be the rarest of all Colorado plants, Draba weberi. Our rare species are found in many different habitats, from lower elevations on the plains up to the highest alpine areas.

Most members of the mustard family are small and not particularly showy unless accompanied by several thousand of their closest relatives.

A couple hundred individuals of Lesquerella congesta (Dudley Bluffs bladderpod), trying to put on a show. Not really working, is it.

One exception is the desert prince’s plume, Stanleya pinnata, a common component of the spring flower show in desert areas.

Stanleya pinnata showing off.

As with the milkvetch genus (Astragalus), mustard family species are identified by the characteristics of their fruits. In fact, fruits of this family have a special name: silique. So, if you want to key out a mustard, remember to get a sample of the fruits or you won’t get far.

Fendler's bladderpod (Lesquerella fendleri), with a nice view of both the four-petaled flower and the inflated silique.

Dudley Bluffs bladderpod with a fine crop of fruit - the whole plant is about 2 inches across. Hard to believe something this small can make so many fruits!

Not all mustard-family species have yellow flowers - we just didn't have many good pictures of species with other colors, which include white, purple or pink flowers.

2011 Wetland Condition Assessments – Successfully Profiling a Broad Range of Wetland Conditions

2011-12-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

by Laurie Gilligan

During the 2011 field season, crews from CNHP Ecology Team successfully conducted 82 wetland condition assessment surveys in three project areas for three different objectives:

34 wetlands were assessed in the northern Front Range to inform wetland mitigation decisions along the Front Range corridor,
17 wetlands were assessed in western Routt National Forest for targeted monitoring and resampling of riparian wetlands, and
31 wetlands were assessed throughout Colorado and Wyoming as part of the first National Wetland Condition Assessment.

These assessments included detailed vegetation surveys to calculate a floristic quality index and an assessment of each site’s landscape context, physiochemistry, and hydrologic integrity. The 2011 surveys spanned a wide range of wetland types and condition. The results will be compiled into reports to inform land managers and other stakeholders about the condition of their valued aquatic resources, leading to more effective conservation and management.

A typical site in the Front Range was located adjacent to urban influences, such as oil and gas well platforms, center-pivot irrigation crop fields, or along reservoir shores within suburban housing developments. Nearly one-half (15 of 34) of the wetlands surveyed using a randomized study design were dominated by cattail species (Typha latifolia and/or T. angustifolia). Noxious species were recorded in all but two of the wetlands surveyed. Dominance of cattail is indicative of high nutrient conditions, but wetlands are valued for their ability to filter and reduce nutrient loads before polluted runoff waters from urban areas return to Colorado’s rivers. These wetlands were hard-working!

A marsh wetland in Weld County, Colorado.

In contrast, a number of the wetlands surveyed in the Routt National Forest and National Wetland Condition Assessment projects were riparian shrublands supporting plants indicative of higher ecological integrity. As a wetland contains higher species diversity, greater vertical structure, and more native plant species, the wetlands themselves can support more diverse wildlife habitat. As an example, the Grizzly Creek Park site (shown below) was a mosaic of Wolf's willow (Salix wolfii) interspersed with hillside seeps (the brightest green areas) dominated by mixed sedge (Carex) species. These wetlands were prioritized for survey in part to record baseline data near beetle-killed forests that may be logged in the future.

A riparian shrubland wetland site from Grizzly Creek Park in Routt National Forest.

Botany A to Z: Astragalus

2011-12-06T11:30:00.000-07:00

By Karin Decker

is for Astragalus

I have no idea why this is, but there are more rare plant species names in the first third of the alphabet than in the remaining two thirds. The letters A through G account for half of all plant species tracked by CNHP. By far the most frequent genus name on the tracking list is Astragalus, the milkvetches, which are members of the pea family.

Astragalus rules! (thanks to www.wordle.net)

Dr. Rupert Barneby provided a wealth of information on this genus in his 1964 two-volume Atlas of North American Astragalus. Duane Isely and Stanley Welsh have also published more recent comprehensive work on the genus. The origin of the generic name Astragalus is thought to be the Greek word astragalos, meaning ankle-bone. These bones were apparently once used as a form of dice, and the rattle of dry seeds in the pod of Astragalus mimicked the sound of dice in the cup.

Worldwide, there are perhaps up to 2000 species of Astragalus, and they are especially common in southwestern Asia. Western North America, including Colorado, is also a center of diversity for this genus. Our state is home to more than 150 different species of milkvetch; CNHP tracks 45 of these species (see map below).

Most of our species are found on the west slope; species on the eastern plains are common in states further east, but are at the edge of their distribution in Colorado. Ten Astragalus species are endemic to Colorado – found nowhere else in the world.

Documented locations of rare Astragalus species in Colorado. Endemic species are colored and labeled, non-endemic are gray.

Although most species of Astragalus have fairly showy flowers with the wings and keel that are typical of pea flowers, it is by their fruits that you will know them. Barneby noted that “Perhaps the most remarkable single characteristic of the genus Astragalus as a whole, and it is especially marked in North America, is that there are hardly two species, even very closely related, which do not differ one from another in form or structure of the fruit”. This characteristic allows for easy description of individual species. Botanists scheduling their field trips are torn between the prospect of getting a pretty photo of a flowering Astragalus, and the need for mature fruits to make sure they’ve got the correct species. Sometimes you luck out and get both.

Astragalus debequaeus

Astragalus debequaeus, closeup of flowers.

Astragalus debequaeus, closeup of fruits.

Potential ACEC designation for three endangered plant species

2011-12-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

By Bernadette Kuhn

The Kremmling BLM office has released a Draft Resource Management Plan that includes proposed ACEC (Area of Critical Environmental Concern) designations for three federally endangered plant species: Astragalus osterhoutii, Penstemon penlandii, and Phacelia formosula. An ACEC is a designation that highlights areas where special management attention is needed to protect and prevent irreparable damage to important resources, including rare species.

The total number of proposed acres for ACEC designation ranges from 516 to 9,250 acres, under four different alternatives. Comments are due by January 16, 2012.

Astragalus osterhoutii (Osterhout milkvetch) is a beautiful, robust milkvetch. This narrow endemic is federally endangered. Its global distribution is limited to an estimated 800 acres in north central Colorado.

Phacelia formosula (North Park phacelia), a showy, purple-flowered member of Hydrophyllaceae, occurs on sandy bluffs in Jackson County.

Penstemon penlandii (Penland's beardtongue) is known from two occurrences outside of Kremmling, Colorado. This species is highly restricted to shales derived from the Troublesome Formation.

Ecological Systems: Sagebrush Shrublands

2011-11-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

There are two major types of sagebrush ecological systems in Colorado: big sagebrush shrublands and montane sagebrush steppe. These shrublands occur throughout much of the western United States. Although they can be found on Colorado’s east slope, the largest occurrences are on the western slope. North Park, Middle Park, and the upper Gunnison Basin have extensive stands of sagebrush shrublands.

Big sagebrush shrublands in western Colorado.

Big sagebrush shrublands are typically found in broad basins between mountain ranges, on plains and foothills. Big sagebrush shrublands are characterized by a dense stands of taller sagebrush species with a significant herbaceous understory, and are generally found at elevations from 5,000 to 7,500 feet. Taller shrubs distinguish the big sagebrush shrubland ecological system from the montane sagebrush steppe shrublands, which are dominated by shorter sagebrush species.

Montane sagebrush, Gunnison County, Colorado.

Montane sagebrush steppe primarily occurs on ridges, near flat ridgetops, and mountain slopes. Montane sagebrush stands are usually found at elevations from 7,000 to 10,000 feet, often adjacent to the lower elevation big sagebrush shrublands.

Sagebrush shrublands provide food and shelter for many small mammal and bird species. The most significant at-risk animal species in Colorado’s sagebrush ecosystem is the Gunnison Sage Grouse, ranked “critically imperiled” (G1S1) by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, and listed as a Tier 1 Species of Greatest Conservation need by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Other Tier 1 Species of Greatest Conservation Need that are found exclusively (or almost exclusively) in sagebrush habitats are Greater Sage Grouse, Brewer’s Sparrow and Sage Sparrow. In addition, several of Colorado’s rarest plants are found primarily in sagebrush habitats. These include the federally listed (Endangered) Osterhout’s milkvetch, as well as several other globally rare members of the milkvetch family (Gunnison milkvetch, violet milkvetch, and skiff milkvetch). Other rare Colorado plants that are most commonly found in sagebrush habitats are the globally rare narrow-leaf evening primrose, Bessey locoweed, Fremont’s beardtongue, and Harrington’s beardtongue.

Many of Colorado’s sagebrush shrublands are vulnerable to changes induced by domestic livestock grazing. Over the past century the condition of much of Colorado’s sagebrush shrubland has been degraded due to fire suppression and heavy livestock grazing. Although many livestock operations are now more sensitive in their treatment of sagebrush habitats than they once were, recovery in these systems is slow. Furthermore, many remaining sagebrush patches are now being fragmented by fast-paced and widespread energy development.

Overall biodiversity, threat, and protection status scores for sagebrush shrubland in Colorado.

A "windrose" graph depicting sagebrush status for individual scoring factors.

Cool Climate Collaboration

2011-11-23T10:40:00.001-07:00

For those who are interested in climate data, the Center for Snow & Avalanche Studies has a nice website with data from their study area in the San Juan Mountains. Their “near-real time mountain system monitoring data” provides a continuous picture of conditions at the alpine plots in the Senator Beck Basin area. Check out the graphs presenting seven years worth of climate data! CNHP’s Peggy Lyon worked with CSAS and Julie Crawford to produce a baseline study of the plant communities in the area that is available on the site. CSAS is also engaged in fascinating research on the effects of dust-on-snow on Colorado’s mountain snowpack.

Vegetation transect in Senator Beck Basin.

Interesting International Interdisciplinary Internship

2011-11-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

For the last three years, CSU's Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Department (HDNR) has been developing and implementing a program of collaborative capacity building efforts with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). A formal partnership was established between CSU and WII through the signing of an International Memorandum of Understanding in 2008 to carry out research and training initiatives focused on enhancing protected area management, mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts, and the incorporation of social sciences in conservation planning and decision making.

An internship opportunity was developed this past summer for Vinamra Mathur, a student from India who is currently an honors undergraduate in the Environmental Science Program at University of Manchester, UK. The goal of the internship was to provide opportunities for Vinamra to develop skills and experience in several aspects of environmental science as a volunteer intern working on projects for both HDNR and CNHP during the summer of 2011.

Vinamra with his improvised raingear and ready for anything. Photo by David G. Anderson.

Vinamra spent several weeks assisting CNHP Ecologist Joe Stevens and Botanist Bernadette Kuhn and their field crews with vegetation sampling and mapping in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and Yellowstone National Park and Bighorn Canyon Recreation Area in Wyoming as a part of our GLORIA project. He then spent some time at the US Air Force Academy with CNHP Director Dave Anderson, where he saw some of the rarest plants in the area. Another day was spent with CNHP Botanist Pam Smith on surveys of rare plants and plant communities within Jefferson County.

Vinamra then spent a week with CNHP's wetland field sampling crew, led by Laurie Gilligan and Erick Carlson, sampling wetlands all across the state. On this trip Vinamra learned wetland sampling methods that are being used by CNHP as partners in EPA's National Wetland Condition Assessment. Another three days were spent in the field with John Sovell, CNHP Zoologist monitoring the Pawnee Montane Skipper. The Pawnee Montane Skipper is a federally threatened species of butterfly that occurs only in the South Platte River drainage of Colorado. In partnership with the USDA Forest Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, CNHP has been monitoring this species since 2004.

Measuring weeds at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Photo by David G. Anderson.

After nearly 2 months in the field with CNHP, Vinamra spent some time in and around Fort Collins working with HDNR faculty and staff, learning about basic concepts and methodologies for examining the social aspects of natural resource management.

For all the details of Vinamra's summer internship at CSU, check out the full article in the Warner College of Natural Resources fall newsletter.

Artistic Aquatic Entomologists - Assemble!

2011-11-08T12:29:00.000-07:00

(Forgive the alliteration, end-of-year deadlines will do that to a person.)

For a bit of local news, the City of Fort Collins is holding an Art in Public Places design contest to help raise public awareness to the relationship between storm drains and environmental health. The stormwater drainage network within Fort Collins drains directly into the Cache La Poudre River, so that what gets dumped into a street gutter or storm drain has a direct impact on water quality and the health of aquatic systems.

A stonefly nymph from our neck of the woods (Larimer County, CO). Photo by Georgia Doyle.

If you are artistic and like aquatic insects, here's your chance to make a difference! The contest runs through January 3, 2012, with the theme of aquatic insects in our watershed and how they help determine water quality. The winner receives an honorarium, and then more than 75 manhole covers and 3,000 storm drain markers will be replaced over the next 5 years by new sustainable die-cast markers featuring the winning artwork.

For more information, see the full announcement from the City.

Nine new Rare Plant Conservation Initiative reports available

2011-11-04T10:00:00.000-06:00

Ipomopsis polyantha. Photo by David G. Anderson.

Phew! In a flurry of activity, CNHP and TNC Botanists and Conservation Planners have finalized a whopping 9 new reports for both statewide and local Conservation Action Plans as a part of the collaborative Colorado Rare Plant Conservation Initiative.

The reports are:

Arkansas Valley Action Plan 2011 Update
Big Gypsum Valley and Dry Creek Basin Preliminary Action Plan
Colorado Wildlife Action Plan: proposed rare plant addendum
Gateway Preliminary Action Plan
Middle Park Action Plan 2011 Update
North Park Action Plan 2011 Update
Pagosa Springs Action Plan 2011 Update
Piceance Basin Action Plan 2011 Update
Plateau Creek and Miramonte Reservoir West Preliminary Action Plan

Each report is available in PDF form from our Documents and Reports page, as well as from our Botany Team page.

New Wetland journal article

2011-11-02T10:00:00.000-06:00

Dr. David Cooper and Joanna taking data in a large basin site south of Yellowstone Lake.

CNHP Wetland Ecologist Joanna Lemly has had her graduate thesis work on fens in Yellowstone National Park published in the journal Botany.

The paper:
Lemly, J.M. and D.J. Cooper. 2011. Multiscale factors control community and species distribution in mountain peatlands. Botany 89: 689-713.

Joanna assembling an 8 foot peat probe, though she often found that the peat went deeper than the probe!

Fens are peat-forming wetlands that are fairly rare in the western U.S., but contribute significantly to regional biodiversity, supporting a number of rare plant and animal species. Joanna's study characterized the vegetation composition of fens in Yellowstone and analyzed the various environmental factors that influence them.

Congratulations Joanna!

The Wilderness Society looks at Colorado's rare plants

2011-10-27T10:00:00.000-06:00

Barbara Hawke, the Dolores River Basin Wildlands Coordinator for The Wilderness Society wrote a great blog post about a recent field trip she lead in the Adobe Badlands, where she focuses on the rare and imperiled salt shrubland plant species that CNHP botanists work to conserve as a part of the collaborative Colorado Rare Plant Conservation Initiative.

Take a moment to read what Barbara has to say about A Subtle Kind of Wilderness.

Ecological Systems: Mixed Conifer Forest

2011-10-25T10:00:00.000-06:00

These are mixed-conifer forests occurring on all aspects at elevations ranging from 4,000 to 10,800 feet. Douglas-fir and white fir are the most common dominant trees, but as many as seven different conifer species may be present. In many areas of the state these forests form a matrix with large stands of other forest types such as ponderosa pine or aspen. Natural fire processes in mixed conifer stands are probably highly variable in both return interval and severity. Douglas-fir stands are characteristic of drier sites, often mixed with ponderosa pine. More mesic stands are found in cool ravines and on north-facing slopes, and are likely to be dominated by white fir with blue spruce or quaking aspen stands. Fire in these cool, moist stands is infrequent, and the understory may be quite diverse.

A number of common and rarer bird species may be found in these forests, including the white-crowned sparrow, mountain bluebird, Clark’s nutcracker, Williamson’s sapsucker, and red-naped sapsucker.

Mixed conifer forests cover more than 850,000 acres in Colorado. Nearly 70% of this area is federal lands, primarily those managed by the US Forest Service, but lacking wilderness designation. A substantial portion (15%) is on private land. Consequently, these habitats are generally in good condition, with minimal threats, and reasonable protection. Occurrences in the Front Range are vulnerable to the impacts of housing development, while those in western Colorado are often adjacent to active oil and gas development.

Overall biodiversity, threat, and protection status scores for mixed conifer forests in Colorado.

A "windrose" graph depicting mixed conifer status for individual scoring factors.

CNHP takes over maintenance of COMaP

2011-10-19T09:29:00.000-06:00

The Colorado Ownership, Management, and Protection (COMaP) project was initiated by Dr. David Theobald, Associate Professor in the College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University (CSU). The goal of COMaP was to build a statewide protected areas map for Colorado from all of the disparate sources of land ownership and management data throughout the state. The first version of COMaP was released on May 28, 2004 as COMaP v1.

Annual updates and improvements to COMaP through version 8 have been funded by the Colorado Division of Wildlife and Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO). In 2010, funding was provided via a USGS GAP Stewardship proposal to allow COMaP to become integrated with their national Protected Areas Database (PAD-US). At that time, responsibility for maintaining, updating, and distributing COMaP became a collaborative effort between CNHP and the CSU Geospatial Centroid.

Maintaining COMaP is a natural fit within CNHP's mission and, indeed, many other Natural Heritage Programs and Conservation Data Centers across the nation (all part of the Natural Heritage Network) are the state stewards for protected areas data.

With the funding from the PAD-US project, CNHP was able to update COMaP again, and version 9 is now available for download from CSU's Geospatial Centroid. This round of updates focused on state, regional, and local government lands in addition to GOCO funded conservation easements.

We would like to thank all of the agencies and organizations that submitted updates and corrections, your contributions have been essential to the success of this project!

New Zoology journal article

2011-10-11T08:48:00.000-06:00

CNHP Zoologists Rob Schorr and Brad Lambert, in collaboration with Eric Freels of the Dolores Public Lands Office, have published a paper in the journal Herpetological Conservation and Biology.

The paper is:
Schorr, R.A., B.A. Lambert, and E. Freels. 2011. Habitat use and home range of long-nosed leopard lizards (Gambelia wislizenii) in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, Colorado. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 6(2):312-323.

Eric Freels, Wildlife Biologist for the Dolores Public Lands Office records habitat characteristics at a sample plot. Photo by Rob Schorr.

The paper reports on Rob and Brad's past fieldwork radio-tracking lizards and provides valuable information about this poorly studied and rare species.

CNHP Botanist wins award from Michigan Botanical Club

2011-10-05T11:43:00.000-06:00

CNHP Botanist Pam Smith has been awarded the Isobel Dickinson Memorial Award for the best student paper published in The Michigan Botanist in 2007. (2007? Yes, well, these things take time...)

The paper that won the award is: Smith, P.F. and D.W. Woodland. 2007. Forest Composition Study of the Great Lakes Coastal Forest at Warren Dunes State Park, Berrien County, MI. The Michigan Botanist: 46(2), pp 33-62.

The topic of this paper was part of a larger study conducted by Pam for her Master's thesis:
Smith, P.F., and D.W. Woodland. 2006. Vascular Plants Study of Warren Dunes State Park, Berrien County, Michigan. The Michigan Botanist: v45(1), pp 1-58.

The Michigan Botanist is a peer-reviewed journal about plant life in the Great Lakes Region, and is published quarterly by the Michigan Botanical Club, the native plant society for the state of Michigan. The club will announce the award at its 2011 fall meeting.

Congratulations Pam!

CNHP work in Teller County in the news

2011-09-30T13:00:00.000-06:00

CNHP Wetland Ecologist Denise Culver is quoted in a recent article in the Pikes Peak Courier View regarding our recently completed Teller County survey of critical biological resources and how it has benefited local landowners. The article also notes how the survey was a great learning experience for several students from Colorado College in Colorado Springs, who participated in the fieldwork.

Denise gave a presentation on the project and its findings to the Teller County Planning Commission this past Tuesday.

For more information about the project, see our past posts:

8th Annual Colorado Rare Plant Symposium this Friday

2011-09-28T10:00:00.000-06:00

Update: The post originally said the RPTC meeting was Saturday. It is, in fact on Friday, the day before the CoNPS annual meeting. We apologize for the error.

The Colorado Native Plant Society's annual meeting is this weekend (September 31 - October 1) in Carbondale, Colorado. In conjunction with that meeting, the Colorado Rare Plant Technical Committee (RPTC) will hold its 8th Annual Colorado Rare Plant Symposium on Friday (Sept. 30th) from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Third Street Center on 520 S. Third St., Carbondale.

The RPTC is an ad-hoc group of agency, academic, and NGO botanists that has been working for years to advance rare plant conservation efforts in the state. This year, the RPTC will provide a photo review of the federally listed threatened and endangered plant species known from Colorado, including some recently listed species. Discussion of their relationship to Colorado’s important plant biodiversity areas, current conservation status, critical habitat designation and potential threats will be emphasized.

The symposium is open to any one with an interest in the rare plants of Colorado. Come prepared to exchange your knowledge of our rarest species with other amateur and professional botanists from throughout the state.

Contact Jill Handwerk for more information (970-491-5857). Registration is $10. To register visit the CoNPS website or register at the door.

CNHP White River NF fen work in the news

2011-09-26T09:05:00.000-06:00

The Glenwood Springs Post Independent recently published an article about the biologically rich and unique fens in the White River National Forest that CNHP ecologists, botanists, and wetland mappers helped identify and catalogue over the last several years.

“The Colorado Natural Heritage Program's methodology and painstaking work made this project possible,” says John Proctor, White River National Forest Botanist. Thanks for the kind words and opportunity to work with you, John!

Dinosaur National Monument field trip

2011-09-13T14:44:00.001-06:00

This summer, CNHP botanists Jill Handwerk and Peggy Lyon traveled to Dinosaur National Monument to update some element occurrence records that had not been visited for many years. They searched for six of Colorado’s rare plant species:

park rockcress (Arabis fernaldiana)
Ownbey's thistle (Cirsium ownbeyi)
stream orchid (Epipactis gigantea)
Dieter's erigeron (Erigeron wilkenii)
alcove bog orchid (Limnorchis zothecina)
sheathed deathcamas (Zigadenus vaginatus)

As an extra bonus – the scenery was fantastic!

Rock formation known as Picasso's Portrait.

Limnorchis zothecina

Zigadenus vaginatus

Pelleae atropurpurea hanging from crevices in an alcove.

Pelleae atropurpurea close-up.

The Green River in Dinosaur NM.

What I did on my Summer Field Season - Part 2

2011-09-03T14:33:00.000-06:00

by Amber Provinzano
(read Part 1 of Amber’s report, in case you missed it)

CNHP Botany Team leader Jill Handwerk joined Pam and me in the field a for a few days to see the endangered Colorado butterfly plant (Gaura neomexicana ssp. coloradensis). We also hiked around a few parks and ranches, making counts of the roundtip twinpod (Physaria vitulifera), and wondering how rare plants can survive in habitat that has been so changed by human presence.

Gaura neomexicana ssp. coloradensis. Photo by Jill Handwerk

Physaria vitulifera, with a pen for scale. Photo by Pam Smith

Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) in flower, an indication of healthy grasslands. Photo by Pam Smith

Wetland Work

Later in the season, I participated in a field session of the National Wetland Condition Assessment that CNHP is working on for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Together with field botanists Lindsey Washkoviak and Adam Skadsen, and soil scientist Alan Walters, I collected vegetation data for randomly selected wetlands in Colorado. The areas near Leadville and Nathrop, Colorado were beautiful. Camping on Turquoise Lake was lovely, minus the nightly storms that raged across the Continental Divide. I visited my first fen, and realized that while assessing the nation’s waters is important, I’m not so sure trampling over delicate and precious ecosystems is good for them. Another first for me: seeing pikas (Ochotona princeps) at one of the sites we sampled. Though the squeaking makes them sound like dog toys, they are exceptionally cute.

American Pika (Ochotona princeps) looking alarmed at having been called a 'dog toy.' Photo by Amber Provinzano

Columbines among the talus. Photo by Amber Provinzano

Lake Turquoise at sunrise – Colorado’s two highest peaks, Mt. Elbert (14,440 ft) on the left and Mt. Massive (14,428 ft) on the right. Photo by Amber Provinzano

This summer was incredible. I am very fortunate to have received these opportunities to travel this great state and see some awesome places, plants, and animals while learning and working with remarkable people. I would like to thank everyone at CNHP, especially those who I worked closely with in the field and at the office, for providing me with the experience, knowledge, and wisdom to do good in the world.

Happy Trails!

What I did on my Summer Field Season - Part 1

2011-08-31T16:00:00.034-06:00

by Amber Provinzano

The summer is over and I am out of the field and back in the classroom for my final semester as an undergraduate student. I’m continuing to work for CNHP in the same data processor position I had last year. Though the time in the field is over, the experience, lessons and memories are far from forgotten. As I’ve said before and can say again after more experience, the field season is a great component of working in natural resources and I am happy with my decision to pursue a degree in wildlife biology.

My 2011 field season experience kicked off at Willhite Ranch in southeastern Colorado with Renée Rondeau, as previously reported.

Mesa Verde and Schmoll’s Milkvetch

In June, along with CNHP’s director, Dave Anderson, and CNHP field botanist Bernadette Kuhn, I ventured to Mesa Verde National Park for 10 days to assist with setting up and revisiting permanent plots used in monitoring the rare Schmoll’s Milkvetch (Astragalus schmolliae), recently made a Candidate Species for listing under the Endangered Species Act. The park’s Natural Resource staff was wonderful: they were eager to help us, providing a few supplies but more importantly extra people on the ground to get the work done.

Amber with a fruiting Astragalus schmolliae (Schmoll’s Milkvetch) and encroaching weeds in the background.

A most memorable experience was the hike to Park Mesa with veg crew member Kyle Doherty to reevaluate a demography plot for the Schmoll’s Milkvetch originally set up in 2001 by Dave Anderson. Kyle and I made our way down and back up the walls of Soda Canyon, catching glimpses of cliff dwellings, and across Park Mesa where the ancient pinyon-juniper forests meet the weed-infested fields now growing on the site of where large fires occurred in 2002.

Small dwelling, we guessed it was used to store food.

A large dwelling in the side of the canyon. Blends in, doesn't it?

The photo everyone takes of Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde National Park.

Short-Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma douglassi)

Despite living in Colorado my entire life, I had yet to see as much of the state as I did on the 10 hour drive to Mesa Verde (we took the scenic route, at my request). And even with 9-12+ hour work days I was able to break away from work for an hour to take the Cliff Palace tour. I am very thankful to have been able to join Dave and Bernadette in this project.

Rare Plants in Jefferson County

CNHP field botanist Pam Smith recruited me to assist her in surveying Jefferson County wetlands for a few weeks in July and August. On my first day out I was lucky enough to see Colorado’s rarest orchid, Malaxis brachypoda (white adder’s-mouth). We also hiked up to see Telesonix jamesii (James’ telesonix), seeing other rare plants tracked by CNHP along the way. Pam also took me to several Jefferson County Open Space parks, and I will definitely be going back for fun. Colorado residents, especially those in and near Jefferson County, should take advantage of these gorgeous natural areas set aside by the county for our enjoyment.

Malaxis brachypoda. Photo by Scotty Smith.

Telesonix jamesii. Photo by Pam Smith.

From the left, orchid expert and CNHP volunteer Denise Wilson, Amber Provinzano, and Pam Smith at a Telesonix jamesii occurrence. Photo by Scotty Smith.

Rub-a-dub-dub, Pam in a tub. While it's a cute photo-op, who leaves a bathtub in the woods? Photo by Amber Provinzano.

My new home! (Assuming the bears don't come back. Oh wait, maybe that was their bathtub.) Photo by Pam Smith.

To be continued...

A Fire Burns Through the Prairie

2011-08-24T14:04:00.000-06:00

by Renée Rondeau and Tass Kelso

Somewhere, under the rainbow (on the prairie).

On a very windy day in March, 2011 a 5,000 acre fire burned across a piece of the prairie east of Pueblo Airport, Colorado. Much of this fire traveled through a small drainage dominated by greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus), rabbitbrush (Chysothamnus nauseosus), and cholla (Cylindropuntia imbricata) shrubs with a dense understory of blue grama (Chondrosum gracile) and alkali sacaton grasses (Sporobolus airoides); secondary grasses included sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus) and three-awn (Aristida purpurea). As luck would have it, CNHP ecologist Renée Rondeau had set up two permanent vegetation monitoring plots in 1999 and measured the cover, density and frequency of these species. Measurements were repeated in subsequent years including the summer of 2010, enabling us to measure changes in the community as a result of this fire.

On August 16 and 17th, 2011, Renée Rondeau and Tass Kelso (Colorado College) collected vegetation measurements and took repeat photos of the plots. The fire had the effect of transforming what was a fairly dense shrubland into a grassland with sparse shrubs.

Change in shrub cover after the fire.

Rabbitbrush was hit hard with nearly 90% mortality. Cholla individuals showed about 50% mortality; the remaining live chollas were either stump-sprouting from completely charred tops or intact plants with a weakened look of minimal green coloration and stem damage that may die over the next year. Greasewood did surprisingly well; although all of the greasewood had burned to the ground, most were successfully stump-sprouting and had vigorous lush green growth. One greasewood plot had no loss of individuals, and all were stump-sprouting. The other plot lost 34% of individuals, with little to no regrowth apparent.

Cholla - before and after the fire.

Grasses were also negatively impacted by the fire and lost density; numerous culms were completely burned. The grasses that did survive appeared healthy with many inflorescences. Blue grama lost at least 25% of the plants, while alkali sacaton grass lost 38%. Sanddropseed was nearly eliminated with ¾ of the population not visible. Litter was completely burned and bare ground greatly increased going from 24% cover in 2010 to 70% in 2011.

There is a lot more bare ground after the fire. Renée's feet, however, are unchanged.

Due to all of these changes, the landscape has a very different appearance. Depending on moisture availability, we expect shrubs could start sprouting from seeds within the next few years and the shrubs start filling in the open spaces, but it may take years until it goes back to looking like a shrubland. We will let you know as we plan to watch the progression as often as we can.

Data on website updated for 2011

2011-08-18T15:16:00.000-06:00

The data that we have available for download and viewing on our website has been updated for 2011. This includes updated potential conservation area reports; downloadable GIS data for element lists by 7.5 minute quad, potential conservation areas, and network conservation areas; updated tracking lists; and an updated interactive map of where CNHP is working this year.

These datasets get updated annually and they are available for free for non-commercial purposes only. For more up-to-date, detailed, specific, and/or commercial use information please contact our Environmental Review Coordinator, Michael Menefee.

We 'heart' rare plants

2011-08-15T10:00:00.000-06:00

CNHP botany team leader Jill Handwerk was recently in Rio Blanco County looking for one of Colorado’s rare plant species, and took these photos. Physaria obcordata, the Piceance Basin twinpod, is a perennial member of the Brassicaceae or mustard family. The specific epithet obcordata refers to the heart-shaped ‘silique’ (what mustard fruits are called). These little plants have flowering stems 4-7 inches tall that arise from a basal tuft of silvery leaves. Flowers are yellow, and typically present in May and June. This species is known only from the Piceance Basin, where it occurs primarily on the shales of the Thirteenmile Creek Tongue and the Parachute Creek Member of the Green River Formation. The Piceance Basin twinpod was listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1990.

A nice view of the heart-shaped fruit.

Although Jill didn't see the plants flowering, fruits were plentiful.

The shaley home of Piceance Basin twinpod, with a scenic view of local energy development facilities.

RMBO BBQ for the Birds August 27

2011-08-09T10:00:00.002-06:00

Our friends at the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory will be holding their annual fundraising picnic, "BBQ for the Birds" on Saturday, August 27 at Barr Lake State Park. Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper will be present, and there will be lots of fun and interesting activities for kids and bird lovers alike.

They request that you register by August 19, which will be here before you know it, so don't delay!

Ecological systems: Grasslands

2011-08-02T10:00:00.007-06:00

Grasslands other than those of the Shortgrass Prairie in Colorado can be classified into three major groups: Western Great Plains Foothill and Piedmont Grassland, Southern Rocky Mountain Montane-Subalpine Grassland, and Inter-Mountain Basins Semi-Desert Grassland. Together these grasslands types cover about three million acres in our state.

Foothill and piedmont grasslands are found at the extreme western edge of the Great Plains, where increasing elevation and precipitation facilitate the development of mixed to tallgrass associations on certain soils. These grasslands typically occur at elevations between 5,250 and 7,200 ft. Typical species include big bluestem, little bluestem, needle-and-thread.

Foothill-piedmont grassland - Rocky Flats area.

Montane-subalpine grasslands in the Colorado Rockies are found at elevations of 7,200-10,000 feet, intermixed with stands of spruce-fir, lodgepole, ponderosa, and aspen forests, or as the matrix community in the large intermountain basin of South Park. Lower elevation montane grasslands are more xeric, while upper montane or subalpine grasslands are more mesic. Typical species include fescue, muhly, oatgrass, and others.

Montane grassland - Mineral County

Colorado’s semi-desert grasslands are found primarily on dry plains and mesas of the west slope at elevations of 4,750-7,600 feet. These grasslands are typically dominated by drought-resistant perennial bunch grasses such as bluebunch wheatgrass, blue grama, galleta grass, and needle-and-thread, and may include scattered shrubs.

Semi-desert grassland - Mesa County

Common species characteristic of these grasslands include the vesper sparrow, mountain bluebird, Brewer’s blackbird, and white-tailed jack rabbit. Rarer species are the Gunnison’s prairie dog and a variety of skipper butterflies. Impacts from human activity other than domestic livestock grazing are low for most of these grasslands, although a significant portion of historic occurrances have been lost through habitat conversion. The majority of Colorado’s grassland acreage is on privately owned lands, although much of the montane grasslands are on federal land managed by the USFS or the BLM. Although many of our remaining occurrences are in good condition, protection for these grasslands is generally lacking.

Overall biodiversity, threat, and protection status scores for grasslands in Colorado.

A "windrose" graph depicting grassland status for individual scoring factors.

GLORIA Project: Yellowstone National Park

2011-07-29T09:22:00.000-06:00

For the third time in the past year, volunteer pilots from Lighthawk lent a hand (and wings) to CNHP project work. The Lighthawk organization provides donated flights to conservation groups. This July, Lighthawk volunteer pilots flew CNHP staff over alpine ridges and rugged peaks in Yellowstone National Park. The goal of the flight was to find peaks suitable for establishing a GLORIA site within the Park. GLORIA sites, located throughout the world, are used to monitor the effects of climate change on alpine vegetation. CNHP has partnered with the National Park Service to establish sites in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park.

(Left to right) Lighthawk volunteers Richard Spencer (pilot), Polly Spencer (co-pilot) with Bernadette Kuhn (CNHP botanist) and Joe Stevens (CNHP ecologist).

Richard Spencer, Lighthawk volunteer pilot, flew CNHP staff members up the Sunlight Creek drainage, and over peaks in the Absaroka Range on the eastern boundary of the Park. We were able to identify potential peaks for GLORIA, as well as assess snowpack along our proposed route.

The Absaroka Range along the eastern boundary of Yellowstone National Park.

Over the last six months, we have been preparing to establish a GLORIA site in Yellowstone National Park. Record snowpack, dangerous stream crossings, wildlife closures, and even a landslide have made access to our study area a bit challenging.

Uncertainty in grizzly bear country.

Joe Stevens assesses a deep hole carved out in the middle of the Sunlight Creek channel.

Thanks to Lighthawk and Richard and Polly Spencer, we were able to reach to this remote area and evaluate conditions in a few short but very scenic hours.

Extreme Botany

2011-07-26T14:03:00.000-06:00

CNHP botanist Bernadette Kuhn recently reported on her summer field work. If you think botany is boring, think again!

BLACK CANYON GILIA: CLIFF HANGER

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is home to the cliff-dwelling Black Canyon gilia (Gilia penstemenoides). Working with the National Park Service, we recently conducted surveys for Black Canyon gilia in the Park and the Curecanti National Recreation Area. In order to reach the plants, we roped up and rapped down onto the cliffs that tower nearly 2,000 feet above the Gunnison River.

Mike Schneiter rappels off of the South Rim of the Black Canyon in search of Gilia penstemenoides. Twenty plants were found on the cliff faces directly below him.

Bernadette Kuhn scanning the small crevices for the elusive Black Canyon Gilia.

Black Canyon gilia is a Colorado endemic that grows in small cracks on vertical rock faces. A spotting scope and climbing gear proved necessary for spotting Black Canyon gilia. We documented new occurrences on the North Rim, and relocated many old occurrences of this cliff-dwelling plant.

Cheatgrass towering over a tiny gilia

We were excited to locate so many individuals, even though the plants were not yet flowering.

The Gunnison River, at peak flow for 2011, snaking through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

After a week of field surveys, we concluded that Black Canyon gilia has a broader range in the Black Canyon than previously documented. However, most of the cliff faces we accessed with climbing gear contained fewer than 30 individuals. More surveys are needed to fully document the extent of the plant in the canyon. Furthermore, there have been no life history, demography, or longevity studies conducted for Black canyon gilia, so much work remains to be done before we will know the full story of this little plant.

Special thanks to NPS ecologist Danguole Bockus for partnering with CNHP on this project.

Rare plant and habitat photos needed

2011-07-14T12:18:00.000-06:00

As part of a broader project to update the on-line Colorado Rare Plant Field Guide, we are looking for photographs of a number of rare species and their associated habitats. Close up photos showing the flowers and/or fruit, full plants, and habitat would be ideal. As we continue develop the on-line guide we will be seeking additional photos of other species as well.

Boechera glareosa- Moffat County, flowers in May-June, could target for fruit this year.
Delphiunium robustum- Robust larkspur- Saguache, Huerfano, Las Animas, and El Paso counties, flowers in July-Sept.
Draba rectifructa- Mountain draba-Grand, Summit, Rio Blanco, Gunnison, Ouray, Mineral, and Teller counties, flowers in June (photograph fruit this year)
Lepidium crenatum- Alkali pepperweed-Moffat, Rio Blanco, Mesa, Delta, Montrose, Montezuma counties, flowers in May –Sept.
Physaria alpina- Avery Peak twinpod-Gunnison, Pitkin, Lake, and Park counties, flowers July-August
Puccinellia parishii- bog alkaligrass-San Miguel, Dolores counties, flowers in June

If you have photos you would like to submit, or would like more information, please contact CNHP Senior Botanist Susan Spackman Panjabi. (Link takes you to our contacts page, scroll down to find Susan.)

Rock-loving Aletes habitat, fourteen years later

2011-07-12T16:33:00.001-06:00

On July 1, 1997, CNHP staffers Renée Rondeau and Phyllis Pineda went in search of the rock-loving Aletes (Aletes lithophila), a fragrant herbaceous perennial in the carrot family that is endemic to Colorado. Their hunt was successful, finding thousands of plants tucked into the shallow and rocky volcanic soils on ridges and north-facing slopes within the San Luis Valley. GPS devices were large and expensive in 1997, so everything was done with a compass and a paper topo map. Plants were counted, a polygon was drawn on the map, and several photos were taken (with slide film! remember film?). The resulting documentation of the location of the photos were penciled dots on the map labeled "photo."

Aletes lithophila happily growing in 1997.

Flash-forward 14 years. On July 4, 2011, in preparation for an upcoming field trip, Renée searched through her 1997 files and found her old slides, topo map, and field notes. She laboriously spent the 4th of July coaxing our old slide scanner into reading the slides to produce digital files that could be printed, finishing up just in time to take in Fort Collins community fireworks!

The next morning, Renée and Mindy Gottsegen (from State Land Board) headed to the Biedell Stewardship Trust parcel to look for the rock-loving Aletes. First stop was to revisit the 1997 site (on National Forest land) to get a good search image of the plant and to make sure the plant was managing to survive during the extreme drought that the San Luis Valley is currently experiencing. Estimated coordinates were entered into the hand-held GPS, and the printed photos were held aloft to compare with the modern scenery.

As Renée tells it: "As we approached our location everything started coming into focus and we started finding Aletes and seeing the striking views of volcanic cliffs and domes that were prevalent in the 1997 photo. When we saw the same dead pinyon pine from the photo, we knew we had relocated this non-descript location. The day was wearing on, so we weren't able to fine tune our exact location before snapping a few photos, but in spite of this we did get close enough to document the change, or really lack of change, since 1997. The original photo, judging by the shadows, was taken on a clear morning and our 2011 photo was taken on a hazy afternoon, due to nearby fires. In spite of the less than precise match we can still say something about the persistence of live and dead plants."

Reviewing the foreground, in front of the pinyon pines (both dead and alive), of the photos below, we can see that, in the relatively wet year of 1997, Aletes (the little green clumps) were common. In contrast, 2011 has been very dry in the Valley, reducing the cover and density of forbs, including Aletes. Drought tolerant grasses (all native) are a lot more noticeable in 2011 than in 1997. The live pinyon trees also haven't changed much in fourteen years.

1997 - view from the dead pinyon

2011 - still dead!

1997 - live pinyons

2011 - there they are to this day.

The low moisture environment of the San Juan foothills is a place where plants grow slowly and decomposition is even slower. Aletes is surviving the drought but fruit production was hardly evident in 2011.

Aletes lithophila hanging on in the 21st century.

Now that we know the precise location of the 1997 photo, perhaps Renée can go back in a wetter year and hopefully see a vibrant Aletes population once again. Renée and Mindy went on from this spot to survey the State Land Board lands and located three new populations of Aletes lithophila.

CNHP has a plethora of old slides that should be scanned in while we still have the technology. If you would like to volunteer with CNHP to help us archive our old and aging slides, please contact Renée.

Adopt-a-rare-plant success

2011-07-08T14:52:00.000-06:00

Earlier this year, a cooperative effort between the Colorado Native Plant Society, Denver Botanic Gardens and the Colorado Natural Heritage Program re-launched the Adopt-a-Rare-Plant program. This volunteer effort is aimed at revisiting “historical” locations of Colorado rare plants that have not been observed for 20 years or more. More than 30 people took part in training in March, and now reports are beginning to come in from their efforts. Ann Henson and Karen Hunter recently sent us some photos from their search for the Cathedral Bluffs meadow rue (Thalictrum heliophilum).

Two views of Cathedral Bluffs- what a panorama!

A couple of portraits of the adopted plant - you'd probably look a little scraggly too if you lived here.

Yikes! It is a bit steep - time for botany by binocular?

Ann recording data.

Karen searching - now where was that plant?

The intrepid searchers back at camp, with a little light reading

(Colorado Flora: Western Slope).

Yes, I think I can see the plant from here.

Well done Ann and Karen!

New National Natural Landmark

2011-06-28T10:00:00.007-06:00

Earlier this month, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar designated six new national natural landmark, including the Hanging Lake site in Garfield County. CNHP provided the National Park Service with the evaluation of this site that resulted in the designation. Read the NPS press release here.

View of the lake from above. CNHP photo by J.B. Bell

Hanging Lake is a unique example within the Southern Rocky Mountains of a lake formed by travertine deposition, and supports one of the best examples of a hanging-garden plant community in the region. The site is also one of the larger and least altered travertine systems in the area, where natural geologic and hydrologic processes continue to operate as they have done throughout the history of the lake.

Two new species in Denver Botanic Gardens herbaria

2011-06-21T10:02:00.000-06:00

We wanted to share the exciting (to botany nerds like us) news that specimens for two species new to science are now at the Denver Botanic Gardens herbaria. Herbaria are a valuable resource to botanists and mycologists for help in identifying species of plants and fungi and documenting where they have been found.

A brand-new species of mushroom, Smithiomyces crocodilinus, was found during the Soapstone Prairie BioBlitz that CNHP staff participated in back in 2009.

And a new wildflower species that was first discovered at Lone Mesa State Park also in 2009, has now been named Packera mancosana and its type specimen is available to visitors of the Denver Botanic Gardens Kalmbach Herbarium.

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On an unrelated note, we have now implemented Blogger's mobile device template for the CNHP Blog. If you use a mobile device to read our blog, posts will hopefully now be easier to read. Let us know if you have any feedback on the change!

New online data submission forms

2011-06-16T09:15:00.000-06:00

The Colorado Natural Heritage Program tracks and ranks Colorado's rare and imperiled species and habitats, and provides information and expertise on these topics to promote the conservation of Colorado's valuable biological resources. Data maintained in our central tracking database (BIOTICS) are an integral part of the Natural Heritage Network and play a role in ongoing research at CSU. These data reflect the observations of many scientists and institutions and provide a record of the current state of knowledge of Colorado's biodiversity.

These data are acquired from various sources, including you! If you have field survey data that you would like to submit for inclusion in BIOTICS, we now have online data submission forms to supplement the hard-copy field forms, both of which can be accessed here. We hope these web forms make it easier for you to submit your data to us and, as always, we welcome any feedback about how the forms work for you.