Welcome to the Wetland Plots Database. This database contains field-collected data from nearly 3,000 plots in wetlands and riparian areas across Colorado. The data were collected through multiple projects over 30 years, starting in the 1990s. Data types include detailed vegetation data, soil profiles, water chemistry measurements, and condition and stressor metrics. Not all data are available for every plot, but all plots contain at least a species list. Plots collected on public land can also be viewed through the Colorado Wetland Inventory Mapper, but plots collected on private land are not shown on the mapper.
By clicking on Search Wetland Plots, the plots can be filtered and searched by wetland type, county, watershed, and many other characteristics. From the search results, users can click to view details of a particular plot and can download a PDF of all collected data.
By clicking on Create Species Lists, users can set filter criteria and generate a species list that averages the cover and frequency of plant species observed within the filtered plots. For example, by setting the filter criteria to include the Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet Meadow Ecological System and Boulder County, a user could see a list of plant species that most commonly occur in wet meadows in Boulder County. To explore further, the list could be constrained to Excellent or Good condition wet meadows or by a certain elevation range, providing a target species list for wet meadow restoration in Boulder County.
A subset of the plots in this database has been designated as the Colorado Wetland Reference Network. These sites have been selected as reference sites because they possess relatively intact hydrology, soils, and vegetation and can serve as a reference for high-quality conditions. All reference sites are located on public land.
The Wetland Plots Database was developed through a Wetland Program Development Grant from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8. Much of the data contained within the database was collected with funding through EPA Wetland Program Development Grants over many years, as well as funding from numerous local, state, and federal agencies.
Database Version Date: March 2020
