Colorado Wetland Information Center Logo Colorado Wetland Information Center Logo CWIC
  • About
    • What Are Wetlands?
    • Why Are Wetlands Important?
    • Colorado Wetland Plan
    • Wetland Partners
  • Wetland Types
    • Overview
    • Ecological Systems
    • Natural Plant Communities
    • Fen Mapping
  • Wetland Condition
    • Overview
    • Ecological Condition
    • Habitat Quality
    • Biodiversity Significance
    • Colorado Wetland Assessment Projects
    • National Wetland Condition Assessment
    • BLM Assessment Inventory and Monitoring
  • Protection & Conservation
    • Overview
    • Conservation
    • Restoration
    • Regulation
    • Best Management Practices
    • Funding and Technical Support
  • Data & Tools
    • Wetlands Mapper
    • Floristic Quality Calculator
    • Landscape Summaries
    • Watershed Toolbox
    • Wetland Plots Database
  • Library
    • Wetland Reports
    • Potential Conservation Areas
    • County Survey Reports
    • Field Guides and App
    • Field Manuals
    • Educational Resources
  • CNHP Home

Ouray County

Landscape Summaries > Ouray County Profile

To view mapped wetlands online, click one of the links below.

  • Colorado Wetlands Inventory Mapping Tool
  • National Wetlands Inventory Wetlands Mapper

Wetland Mapping Summary
Area of mapped wetlands 6,009 acres
Percent of basin mapped as wetlands 2%
Wetland Area by Type (acres)
Freshwater Herbaceous2,74146%
Freshwater Shrub 98116%
Freshwater Forested 1332%
Ponds 1,53626%
Lakes 631%
Rivers 5229%
Other 341%
Wetland Area Mapped with Modifiers (acres)
Excavated 1983%
Dammed 2805%
Ditched/Drained 0None
Farmed 0None
Modified by Beaver 1513%
Wetland Area by Stressor Class (acres)
No Stress34,25110%
Low Stress127,97237%
Moderate Stress87,58225%
High Stress45,30313%
Severe Stress51,83815%

Total Area and Elevation Range
Total Area346,952 acres 1,404 sq km
Maximum Elevation 14,162 ft4,318 m
Minimum Elevation6,320 ft 1,927 m
Average Elevation9,018 ft 2,749 m

Land Ownership (acres)
Total Federal Lands156,43745%
Bureau of Land Management26,7978%
Total Forest Service Land129,64037%
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests129,63837%
San Juan National Forest1< 1%
Total State Lands4,8051%
City, County, and Other Local Government Lands2,4661%
Land Trusts and Non-Governmental Organizations0None
Tribal Lands0None
Private Lands183,24353%

Ecoregions (acres)
20: Colorado Plateaus98,71228%
20b: Shale Deserts and Sedimentary Basins696< 1%
20c: Semiarid Benchlands and Canyonlands98,01728%
21: Southern Rockies248,23972%
21a: Alpine Zone48,19214%
21e: Sedimentary Subalpine Forests79,80223%
21f: Sedimentary Mid-Elevation Forests82,53024%
21g: Volcanic Subalpine Forests37,71611%

Potential Conservation Areas (PCAs) are delineated around important elements of biodiversity (plants, animals or natural communities). The list below includes all PCAs within the Ouray created for wetland and riparian dependent elements. This list represents wetlands and riparian areas with the highest known biodiversity value in the area.

PCA Reports

Click on a Site Name to view PCA Report.

Filter:





(You are viewing 0 of 0 PCA Reports)

Site Name Biodiversity Significance

Tracked elements of biodiversity include animals, plants, and natural communities that are uncommon either globally or within the state of Colorado. The list below includes all wetland and riparian dependent elements found within the Ouray and the count of known occurrences.

  • Heritage Network Ranking System

Tracked Elements

Build Your Own Tracking List

Heritage Network Ranking System - Click Here to see the online document that explains the ranking criteria as found in the table below. Last updated xx.

Filters:







       
  

The spatial filters below are based on current and historical CNHP element occurrence and observation locations, and not known distributions documented in the literature.




  

(You are viewing 0 of 0 Elements)

Major Group State Scientific Name Common Name Global Rank State Rank ESA Status CO Status Other Status CNHP Tracking Status

CNHP conducts numerous studies on botany, zoology, ecology, and conservation planning. Many projects are specifically focused on wetland ecosystems and habitats. The list below includes all reports that focus on wetland and riparian areas within the Ouray

Reports

Click on a Report Tile to view Report.

Filter:









(You are viewing 0 of 0 reports)

Report Title Authors Year

Wetland Data & Tools

Wetlands Mapper
Floristic Quality Calculator
Landscape Summaries
Watershed Toolbox
Wetland Plots Database

Related Topics

Wetland Reports
PCA Reports
County Survey Reports
Field Guides and App
Field Manuals
Educational Resources
Watershed Toolbox

Web Projects

  • CODEX - Colorado’s Conservation Data Explorer
  • Rare Plant Guide Online
  • Colorado Wetland Info Center
  • COMaP - Colorado Protected Lands
  • Colorado Bat Working Group
  • STReaMS - Endangered Fishes Database
  • Colorado Native Plant Database Data Portal

About Us

  • About Us
  • Conserving Biodiversity
  • Contact Us
  • Staff Directory
  • Careers
  • Site Map
Warner College of Natural Resources Logo
  • Apply to CSU
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Statement
  • Search CSU
  • CSU Land Acknowledgement
  • CSU Principles of Community
© 2026 Colorado Natural Heritage Program
Colorado State University Logo
  • About
    ▼
    • What Are Wetlands?
    • Why Are Wetlands Important?
    • Colorado Wetland Plan
    • Wetland Partners
  • Wetland Types
    ▼
    • Overview
    • Ecological Systems
    • Natural Plant Communities
    • Fen Mapping
  • Wetland Condition
    ▼
    • Overview
    • Ecological Condition
    • Habitat Quality
    • Biodiversity Significance
    • Colorado Wetland Assessment Projects
    • National Wetland Condition Assessment
    • BLM Assessment Inventory and Monitoring
  • Protection & Conservation
    ▼
    • Overview
    • Conservation
    • Restoration
    • Regulation
    • Best Management Practices
    • Funding and Technical Support
  • Data & Tools
    ▼
    • Wetlands Mapper
    • Floristic Quality Calculator
    • Landscape Summaries
    • Watershed Toolbox
    • Wetland Plots Database
  • Library
    ▼
    • Wetland Reports
    • Potential Conservation Areas
    • County Survey Reports
    • Field Guides and App
    • Field Manuals
    • Educational Resources
  • CNHP Home
  • About
    ▼
    • What Are Wetlands?
    • Why Are Wetlands Important?
    • Colorado Wetland Plan
    • Wetland Partners
  • Wetland Types
    ▼
    • Overview
    • Ecological Systems
    • Natural Plant Communities
    • Fen Mapping
  • Wetland Condition
    ▼
    • Overview
    • Ecological Condition
    • Habitat Quality
    • Biodiversity Significance
    • Colorado Wetland Assessment Projects
    • National Wetland Condition Assessment
    • BLM Assessment Inventory and Monitoring
  • Protection & Conservation
    ▼
    • Overview
    • Conservation
    • Restoration
    • Regulation
    • Best Management Practices
    • Funding and Technical Support
  • Data & Tools
    ▼
    • Wetlands Mapper
    • Floristic Quality Calculator
    • Landscape Summaries
    • Watershed Toolbox
    • Wetland Plots Database
  • Library
    ▼
    • Wetland Reports
    • Potential Conservation Areas
    • County Survey Reports
    • Field Guides and App
    • Field Manuals
    • Educational Resources
  • CNHP Home
  • About
    ▼
    • What Are Wetlands?
    • Why Are Wetlands Important?
    • Colorado Wetland Plan
    • Wetland Partners
  • Wetland Types
    ▼
    • Overview
    • Ecological Systems
    • Natural Plant Communities
    • Fen Mapping
  • Wetland Condition
    ▼
    • Overview
    • Ecological Condition
    • Habitat Quality
    • Biodiversity Significance
    • Colorado Wetland Assessment Projects
    • National Wetland Condition Assessment
    • BLM Assessment Inventory and Monitoring
  • Protection & Conservation
    ▼
    • Overview
    • Conservation
    • Restoration
    • Regulation
    • Best Management Practices
    • Funding and Technical Support
  • Data & Tools
    ▼
    • Wetlands Mapper
    • Floristic Quality Calculator
    • Landscape Summaries
    • Watershed Toolbox
    • Wetland Plots Database
  • Library
    ▼
    • Wetland Reports
    • Potential Conservation Areas
    • County Survey Reports
    • Field Guides and App
    • Field Manuals
    • Educational Resources
  • CNHP Home