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The Upper Arkansas Basin

Landscape Summaries > Upper Arkansas Basin 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 323,647 acres
Percent of basin mapped as wetlands 2%
Wetland Area by Type (acres)
Freshwater Herbaceous137,65243%
Freshwater Shrub 58,49618%
Freshwater Forested 29,4749%
Ponds 17,9486%
Lakes 37,33212%
Rivers 33,14710%
Other 8,0342%
Wetland Area Mapped with Modifiers (acres)
Excavated 23,8437%
Dammed 15,8425%
Ditched/Drained 51< 1%
Farmed 1,606< 1%
Modified by Beaver 2,5981%
Wetland Area by Stressor Class (acres)
No Stress2,235,27112%
Low Stress7,799,67243%
Moderate Stress3,929,38622%
High Stress2,436,07613%
Severe Stress1,689,4139%

Total Area and Elevation Range
Total Area18,089,831 acres 73,209 sq km
Maximum Elevation 14,421 ft4,397 m
Minimum Elevation3,252 ft 992 m
Average Elevation5,767 ft 1,758 m

Land Ownership (acres)
Total Federal Lands2,738,46915%
Bureau of Land Management590,9993%
Federal Land, Misc442,7202%
Fish and Wildlife Service417< 1%
National Park Service3,264< 1%
Total Forest Service Land1,701,0689%
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests99< 1%
Pike and San Isabel National Forests, Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands1,700,7589%
Rio Grande National Forest115< 1%
White River National Forest96< 1%
Total State Lands1,498,0468%
City, County, and Other Local Government Lands47,997< 1%
Land Trusts and Non-Governmental Organizations7,137< 1%
Tribal Lands0None
Private Lands13,798,18276%

Ecoregions (acres)
21: Southern Rockies4,142,41223%
21a: Alpine Zone307,0932%
21b: Crystalline Subalpine Forests309,3132%
21c: Crystalline Mid-Elevation Forests781,7694%
21d: Foothill Shrublands1,224,1367%
21e: Sedimentary Subalpine Forests291,7862%
21f: Sedimentary Mid-Elevation Forests684,8274%
21g: Volcanic Subalpine Forests97,0501%
21h: Volcanic Mid-Elevation Forests100,7521%
21i: Sagebrush Parks28,917< 1%
21j: Grassland Parks316,7712%
25: High Plains3,221,23918%
25b: Rolling Sand Plains580,1943%
25c: Moderate Relief Plains329,1612%
25d: Flat to Rolling Plains2,311,88413%
26: Southwestern Tablelands10,726,18059%
26e: Piedmont Plains and Tablelands8,148,93245%
26f: Mesa de Maya/Black Mesa367,8112%
26g: Purgatoire Hills and Canyons666,0154%
26h: Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands and Savannas637,8944%
26i: Pine-Oak Woodlands45,209< 1%
26j: Foothill Grasslands498,1393%
26k: Sandsheets362,1802%

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

Reports

Click on a Report Tile to view Report.

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Report Title Authors Year

Wetland Data & Tools

Wetlands Mapper
Floristic Quality Calculator
Landscape Summaries
Watershed Toolbox
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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

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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
    • 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