Ecological systems represent recurring groups of biological communities that are found in similar physical environments and are influenced by similar dynamic ecological processes, such as fire or flooding. They are intended to provide a classification unit that is readily mapable, often from remote imagery, and readily identifiable by conservation and resource managers in the field. Ecological systems include both native, natural vegetation and non-native, human influenced vegetation.
As a mid-scale classification system, ecological systems are ideal for conservation assessment, inventory and mapping, land management, ecological monitoring, and species habitat modeling. Wetland condition assessment methods developed by CNHP are based on the ecological systems classification, with metrics specific to certain systems.
Most of Colorado’s wetlands and riparian areas fit within fourteen ecological systems. Detailed descriptions of the types can be found below along with a key to differentiate between types.
Wetland Ecological Systems of Colorado
Colorado Plateau Hanging Garden
Descriptions coming soon.
Inter-Mountain Basin Alkaline Closed Depression
Descriptions coming soon.
Inter-Mountain Basin Interdunal Swale
Descriptions coming soon.
Inter-Mountain Basin Greasewood Flat
The Inter-Mountain Basin Greasewood Flats ecological system occurs throughout the Intermountain West and extends onto the western Great Plains and central Montana.
Visit the Inter-Mountain Basins Greasewood Flat Page
Inter-Mountain Basin Playa
The Inter-Mountain Basin Playa ecological system describes barren or sparsely vegetated playas (generally <10% plant cover) throughout the Intermountain West.
Visit the Inter-Mountain Basins Playa Page
Inter-Mountain Basin Wash
Descriptions coming soon.
North American Arid West Emergent Marsh
The North American Arid West Emergent Marsh system includes wetlands with permanent to semi-permanent standing water that support aquatic, submerged, and coarse emergent plants.
Visit the North American Arid West Emergent Marsh Page
Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet Meadow
Wet meadows in the Southern Rocky Mountains are herbaceous wetlands with mineral soils and a fluctuating water table.These wetlands are found throughout both the Rocky Mountain and Intermountain regions, occurring at elevations from the montane to the alpine.
Visit the Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet Meadow Page
Rocky Mountains Lower Montane-Foothill Riparian Woodland and Shrubland
Descriptions coming soon.
Rocky Mountains Subalpine-Montane Fen
Fens are groundwater-fed, peat-accumulating wetlands with perennially saturated soils. Fens form in natural depressions (basin fens) or at the base of slopes where groundwater intercepts the soil surface (slope fens).
Visit the Rocky Mountains Subalpine-Montane Fen Page
Rocky Mountains Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland
Descriptions coming soon.
Rocky Mountains Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland
Descriptions coming soon.
Western Great Plains Closed Depression
Western Great Plains Closed Depressions occur in the High Plains region of the Great Plains, which includes eastern Colorado’s shortgrass prairie.
Visit the Western Great Plains Closed Depression Page
Western Great Plains Floodplain
The Western Great Plains Floodplain system is confined to the floodplains of medium and large rivers of the Western Great Plains. In Colorado, this system is limited to the South Platte and Arkansas Rivers and Fountain Creek.
Visit the Western Great Plains Floodplain Page
Western Great Plains Riparian
The Western Great Plains Riparian system is found in the riparian zones of medium and small rivers and streams throughout the western Great Plains, which includes eastern Colorado’s shortgrass prairie region.
Visit the Western Great Plains Riparian Page
