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Rio Grande County

Landscape Summaries > Rio Grande 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 32,526 acres
Percent of basin mapped as wetlands 6%
Wetland Area by Type (acres)
Freshwater Herbaceous27,84086%
Freshwater Shrub 1,6155%
Freshwater Forested 126< 1%
Ponds 2,3587%
Lakes 1721%
Rivers 3111%
Other 102< 1%
Wetland Area Mapped with Modifiers (acres)
Excavated 5822%
Dammed 2,4147%
Ditched/Drained 0None
Farmed 0None
Modified by Beaver 152< 1%
Wetland Area by Stressor Class (acres)
No Stress102,33718%
Low Stress193,58033%
Moderate Stress57,15510%
High Stress36,2196%
Severe Stress195,10933%

Total Area and Elevation Range
Total Area584,400 acres 2,365 sq km
Maximum Elevation 13,207 ft4,026 m
Minimum Elevation7,592 ft 2,315 m
Average Elevation9,066 ft 2,764 m

Land Ownership (acres)
Total Federal Lands344,49859%
Bureau of Land Management54,7519%
Fish and Wildlife Service13,5362%
Total Forest Service Land276,21247%
Rio Grande National Forest270,63546%
San Juan National Forest5,5771%
Total State Lands11,0292%
City, County, and Other Local Government Lands0None
Land Trusts and Non-Governmental Organizations0None
Tribal Lands0None
Private Lands228,87239%

Ecoregions (acres)
21: Southern Rockies344,88159%
21a: Alpine Zone14,5172%
21d: Foothill Shrublands82,97514%
21g: Volcanic Subalpine Forests185,17132%
21h: Volcanic Mid-Elevation Forests62,21911%
22: Arizona/New Mexico Plate239,51941%
22a: San Luis Shrublands and Hills71,31412%
22b: San Luis Alluvial Flats and Wetlands166,88829%
22c: Salt Flats1,318< 1%

Potential Conservation Areas (PCAs) are delineated around important elements of biodiversity (plants, animals or natural communities). The list below includes all PCAs within the Rio Grande 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.

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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 Rio Grande 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.

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




  

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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 Rio Grande

Reports

Click on a Report Tile to view Report.

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Report Title Authors Year

Wetland Data & Tools

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Related Topics

Wetland Reports
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Web Projects

  • CODEX - Colorado’s Conservation Data Explorer
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  • COMaP - Colorado Protected Lands
  • Colorado Bat Working Group
  • STReaMS - Endangered Fishes Database
  • Colorado Native Plant Database Data Portal

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  • 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
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    • Funding and Technical Support
  • Data & Tools
    ▼
    • Wetlands Mapper
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    • Watershed Toolbox
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  • Library
    ▼
    • Wetland Reports
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  • 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