DOCSLIB.ORG

Assessment of Colorado's Wilderness Areas

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Assessment of Colorado's Wilderness Areas Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 12-2011 Assessment of Colorado’s Wilderness Areas: Manager Perceptions and Remoteness Modeling Gary D. Vaughn Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd Part of the Life Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Vaughn, Gary D., "Assessment of Colorado’s Wilderness Areas: Manager Perceptions and Remoteness Modeling" (2011). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 1096. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/1096 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ASSESSMENT OF COLORADO’S WILDERNESS AREAS: MANAGER PERCEPTIONS AND REMOTENESS MODELING by Gary D. Vaughn A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Recreation Resource Management Approved: ________________________ ________________________ Dr. Christopher A. Monz Dr. Mark W. Brunson Major Professor Committee Member ________________________ ________________________ Dr. Christopher M. U. Neale Dr. Mark R. McLellan Committee Member Vice President for Research and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2011 ii Copyright © Gary D. Vaughn 2011 All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT Assessment of Colorado’s Wilderness Areas: Manager Perceptions and Remoteness Modeling by Gary D. Vaughn, Master of Science Utah State University, 2011 Major Professor: Dr. Christopher Monz Department: Environment & Society This study assessed visitor use levels and resource and social conditions in wilderness areas across the State of Colorado using existing and collected spatial data. This is the first attempt to spatially assess wilderness conditions at the state level. A state- wide assessment of wilderness conditions allows local and regional managers to make informed regional decisions and to prioritize and direct their time and energy efficiently. This assessment clarifies the recreational use and impacts across the state. This study consists of two projects: 1) managers’ perceptions of the location and extent of resource and social condition problems; and 2) a geographic information system (GIS) model of remoteness across the State of Colorado and for each wilderness area. (186 pages) iv PUBLIC ABSTRACT Assessment of Colorado’s Wilderness Areas: Manager Perceptions and Remoteness Modeling by Gary D. Vaughn, Master of Science Utah State University, 2011 Major Professor: Dr. Christopher Monz Department: Environment & Society This study assessed visitor use levels and resource and social conditions in wilderness areas across the State of Colorado using existing and collected spatial data. This is the first attempt to spatially assess wilderness conditions at the state level. A state- wide assessment of wilderness conditions allows local and regional managers to make informed regional decisions and to prioritize and direct their time and energy efficiently. This assessment clarifies the recreational use and impacts across the state. This study consists of two projects: 1) managers’ perceptions of the location and extent of resource and social condition problems; and 2) a geographic information system (GIS) model of remoteness across the State of Colorado and for each wilderness area. v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank Dr. David Cole of the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute and Ralph Swain of the USDA Forest Service for providing funding for this project. I would especially like to thank the USDA Forest Service wilderness managers, rangers, and geographic information systems specialists that took time out of their busy summer schedules to contribute to the success of this project. The remoteness model portion of this thesis would not have been possible without the support of the Utah State University Remote Sensing/Geographic Information Systems Laboratory. I would also like to thank my committee members, Drs. Christopher Monz, Mark Brunson, and Christopher Neale, for their support and assistance throughout the entire process. I give special thanks to my major professor, Dr. Christopher Monz, my family, friends, and colleagues for their encouragement, moral support, and patience as I worked my way from the initial proposal writing to this final document. I could not have completed my thesis dissertation without all of you. Gary D. Vaughn vi CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iii PUBLIC ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................................................................................v LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................1 1.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND AND WILDERNESS RECREATION ...............1 1.2 WILDERNESS ..................................................................................................2 1.3 WILDERNESS MANAGEMENT ....................................................................3 1.4 SPATIAL ASPECTS OF WILDERNESS MANAGEMENT ...........................4 1.4.1 Recreation Opportunity Spectrum ...............................................................4 1.4.2 Wilderness Perception Mapping ..................................................................6 1.4.3 Recreation Terrain Suitability Index ............................................................9 1.4.4 Discussion ..................................................................................................11 1.5 REGIONAL WILDERNESS MANAGEMENT .............................................13 1.6 SPATIAL ASPECTS OF REGIONAL WILDERNESS MANAGEMENT ...15 1.6.1 Participatory Mapping ...............................................................................16 1.6.2 Remoteness Modeling ................................................................................17 1.7 PROJECT GOALS ..........................................................................................20 1.8 REFERENCES ................................................................................................22 2 ASSESSMENT OF COLORADO’S WILDERNESS AREAS USING USDA FOREST SERVICE MANAGER PERCEPTIONS ....................................................28 2.1 INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................28 2.2 MATERIALS AND METHODS .....................................................................31 2.2.1 Identification of locations where standards are exceeded ..........................31 vii 2.2.2 Peak daily summer on-trail visitor use levels ............................................34 2.2.3 Spatial Data Integration .............................................................................35 2.3 RESULTS ........................................................................................................36 2.3.1 Identification of locations where standards are exceeded ..........................36 2.3.2 Peak daily summer on-trail visitor use levels ............................................38 2.3.3 Spatial data integration ..............................................................................42 2.4 DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS .........................................................44 2.5 REFERENCES ................................................................................................47 3 ASSESSMENT OF COLORADO’S WILDERNESS AREAS USING REMOTENESS MODELING .....................................................................................50 3.1 INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................50 3.2 MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY .........................................................54 3.2.1 Determination and Calculation of Distance Decay Weights for Features .54 3.2.2 Calculation of Time to Travel Across Digital Elevation Model ................54 3.2.3 Development of Remoteness Model ..........................................................57 3.3 RESULTS ........................................................................................................57 3.4 DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS .........................................................60 3.5 REFERENCES ................................................................................................61 4 OVERALL DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS .................................................64 4.1 CONNECTING VISITOR USE TO REMOTENESS .....................................64 4.2 IMPLICATIONS FOR LOCAL WILDERNESS MANAGEMENT ..............64 4.3 IMPLICATIONS FOR REGIONAL WILDERNESS MANAGEMENT .......67 APPENDICES ...................................................................................................................68 APPENDIX A: Campsite Monitoring Inventory ........................................................69 APPENDIX B: Identified Locations where Standards are Exceeded .........................79
Load more

Recommended publications
  • VGP) Version 2/5/2009
    Vessel General Permit (VGP) Version 2/5/2009 United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) VESSEL GENERAL PERMIT FOR DISCHARGES INCIDENTAL TO THE NORMAL OPERATION OF VESSELS (VGP) AUTHORIZATION TO DISCHARGE UNDER THE NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM In compliance with the provisions of the Clean Water Act (CWA), as amended (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), any owner or operator of a vessel being operated in a capacity as a means of transportation who: • Is eligible for permit coverage under Part 1.2; • If required by Part 1.5.1, submits a complete and accurate Notice of Intent (NOI) is authorized to discharge in accordance with the requirements of this permit. General effluent limits for all eligible vessels are given in Part 2. Further vessel class or type specific requirements are given in Part 5 for select vessels and apply in addition to any general effluent limits in Part 2. Specific requirements that apply in individual States and Indian Country Lands are found in Part 6. Definitions of permit-specific terms used in this permit are provided in Appendix A. This permit becomes effective on December 19, 2008 for all jurisdictions except Alaska and Hawaii. This permit and the authorization to discharge expire at midnight, December 19, 2013 i Vessel General Permit (VGP) Version 2/5/2009 Signed and issued this 18th day of December, 2008 William K. Honker, Acting Director Robert W. Varney, Water Quality Protection Division, EPA Region Regional Administrator, EPA Region 1 6 Signed and issued this 18th day of December, 2008 Signed and issued this 18th day of December, Barbara A.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix C - Roadless Areas
    Appendix C - Roadless Areas Purpose The purpose of this appendix is to describe roadless areas and the analysis factors used in evaluating individual roadless areas on the Routt National Forest. It includes a description of the physical and biological features, primitive recreation and education opportunities, resources, and present management situation for each area. Background Roadless Area Review and Evaluation In 1970, the Forest Service studied all administratively designated primitive areas and inventoried and reviewed all roadless areas in the National Forest System greater than 5,000 acres. This study was known as the Roadless Area Review and Evaluation (RARE). RARE was halted in 1972 due to legal challenge. RARE identified 711,043 acres of roadless area on the Routt National Forest. In 1977, the Forest Service began another nation-wide Roadless Area Review and Evaluation (RARE II) to identify roadless and undeveloped areas within the National Forest System that were suitable for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System. Twenty nine areas, totalling 566,756 acres, were inventoried on the Routt National Forest (including the Middle Park Ranger District of the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest). As a result of RARE II, four areas on the forest - Williams Fork, St. Louis Peak, Service Creek, and Davis Peak - were administratively designated as Further Planning Areas (FPA). This further planning area designation meant that more information was needed before the Forest Service would recommend any of these areas to Congress for wilderness designation. In January 1979, the Forest Service issued nationally a Final Environmental Impact Statement documenting a review of 62 million acres of roadless and undeveloped areas within the 191-million-acre National Forest System.
    [Show full text]
  • Draft Small Vessel General Permit
    ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM PUBLIC NOTICE The United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 W. Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois has requested a determination from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources if their Vessel General Permit (VGP) and Small Vessel General Permit (sVGP) are consistent with the enforceable policies of the Illinois Coastal Management Program (ICMP). VGP regulates discharges incidental to the normal operation of commercial vessels and non-recreational vessels greater than or equal to 79 ft. in length. sVGP regulates discharges incidental to the normal operation of commercial vessels and non- recreational vessels less than 79 ft. in length. VGP and sVGP can be viewed in their entirety at the ICMP web site http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/cmp/Pages/CMPFederalConsistencyRegister.aspx Inquiries concerning this request may be directed to Jim Casey of the Department’s Chicago Office at (312) 793-5947 or [email protected]. You are invited to send written comments regarding this consistency request to the Michael A. Bilandic Building, 160 N. LaSalle Street, Suite S-703, Chicago, Illinois 60601. All comments claiming the proposed actions would not meet federal consistency must cite the state law or laws and how they would be violated. All comments must be received by July 19, 2012. Proposed Small Vessel General Permit (sVGP) United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) SMALL VESSEL GENERAL PERMIT FOR DISCHARGES INCIDENTAL TO THE NORMAL OPERATION OF VESSELS LESS THAN 79 FEET (sVGP) AUTHORIZATION TO DISCHARGE UNDER THE NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM In compliance with the provisions of the Clean Water Act, as amended (33 U.S.C.
    [Show full text]
  • Gold Panning and Dredging Information
    Gold Panning and Dredging Information Dredging and Panning Specifications Please have a copy of your “Letter of Intent” with you when operating on the Medicine Bow National Forest. • Mechanized season of operation on the Medicine Bow National Forest is: July 01 to September 10 on all streams. This is to protect trout spawning habitat. • Hand panning is allowed outside. • High-banking is defined as “moving water from the stream channel via mechanical means to a location outside of the steam channel floor to process material for its gold content”. High-banking IS NOT excavating into the stream bank. • Excavating into the stream bank to obtain material for its gold content is PROHIBITED. Please stay within the boundaries of the stream channel floor or when high-banking, at least 100 feet outside of the stream channel floor. • If a hole is created while high-banking away from the stream channel, please fill in the hole before you leave the Medicine Bow National Forest. • If stream levels are low late in the summer, gold dredgers and panners may be required to keep their operations 300 feet apart to minimize stream turbidity. • Use small portable suction dredges with a suction hose intake of three (3) inches or less in diameter. • Use small portable suction dredges powered by 10 horsepower or less engines. • Only hand panning is allowed in any Class I water. Class I waters within the Medicine Bow National Forest are: 1. The main stem of the North Platte River from the mouth of Sage Creek (approximately 15 stream miles below Saratoga, Wyoming) upstream to the Wyoming/Colorado state line.
    [Show full text]
  • Special Public Notice
    SPECIAL PUBLIC NOTICE Albuquerque, Sacramento, and Omaha Districts NATIONWIDE PERMIT REISSUANCE AND COLORADO REGIONAL CONDITIONS Issue Date: March 18, 2017 On January 6, 2017, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) published the notice in the Federal Register announcing the reissuance of all 50 existing nationwide permits (NWPs), general conditions, and definitions with some modifications. The Corps also issued two new NWPs, one new general condition, and five new definitions. The 2017 NWPs will be effective on March 19, 2017, and expire on March 18, 2022. The Federal Register notice is available from our website at http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/RegulatoryProgramandPermits/NationwidePermits.aspx. The Albuquerque, Sacramento, and Omaha Districts finalized regional conditions for the 2017 NWPs in the state of Colorado on March 19, 2017. As the lead regulatory district for the state of Colorado, see the Albuquerque District website for their public notice at http://www.spa.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory-Program-and-Permits/Public-Notices/. The Colorado regional conditions provide additional protection for important aquatic resources in the state and ensure that NWPs authorize only those activities with minimal adverse effects on the aquatic environment. Regional conditions also help ensure protection of high value waters within specific geographic areas. Decision documents, including environmental assessments and Findings of No Significant Impact, have been prepared for each NWP indicating that authorized activities comply with the requirements for issuance under general permit authority including compliance with the Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines as published in 40 CFR Part 230 and the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act.
    [Show full text]
  • Colorado Wilderness Act of 2019’’
    G:\M\16\DEGETT\DEGETT_029.XML ..................................................................... (Original Signature of Member) 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. ll To designate certain lands in the State of Colorado as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Ms. DEGETTE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on llllllllllllll A BILL To designate certain lands in the State of Colorado as com- ponents of the National Wilderness Preservation System, and for other purposes. 1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; DEFINITION. 4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 5 ‘‘Colorado Wilderness Act of 2019’’. 6 (b) SECRETARY DEFINED.—As used in this Act, the 7 term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the Interior or 8 the Secretary of Agriculture, as appropriate. g:\VHLC\042919\042919.299.xml (703135|9) April 29, 2019 (3:48 p.m.) VerDate 0ct 09 2002 15:48 Apr 29, 2019 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 C:\USERS\LMDALY\APPDATA\ROAMING\SOFTQUAD\XMETAL\7.0\GEN\C\DEGETT~1.XML G:\M\16\DEGETT\DEGETT_029.XML 2 1 SEC. 2. ADDITIONS TO NATIONAL WILDERNESS PRESERVA- 2 TION SYSTEM IN THE STATE OF COLORADO. 3 (a) ADDITIONS.—Section 2(a) of the Colorado Wil- 4 derness Act of 1993 (Public Law 103–77; 107 Stat. 756; 5 16 U.S.C. 1132 note) is amended— 6 (1) by adding at the end the following para- 7 graphs: 8 ‘‘(22) Certain lands managed by the Colorado 9 River Valley Field Office of the Bureau of Land 10 Management, which comprise approximately 20,171 11 acres, as generally depicted on a map titled ‘Bull 12 Gulch and Castle Peak Proposed Wilderness’, dated 13 July 20, 2018, which shall be known as the Bull 14 Gulch Wilderness.
    [Show full text]
  • Gold Panning and Dredging Information
    Gold Panning and Dredging Information Dredging and Panning Specifications Please have a copy of your “Letter of Intent” with you when operating on the Medicine Bow National Forest. • Mechanized season of operation on the Medicine Bow National Forest is: July 01 to September 10 on all streams. This is to protect trout spawning habitat. • Hand panning is allowed outside. • High-banking is defined as “moving water from the stream channel via mechanical means to a location outside of the steam channel floor to process material for its gold content”. High-banking is NOT excavating into the stream bank. • Excavating into the stream bank to obtain material for its gold content is PROHIBITED. Please stay within the boundaries of the stream channel floor or when high-banking, at least 100 feet outside of the stream channel floor. • If a hole is created while high-banking away from the stream channel, please fill in the hole before you leave the Medicine Bow National Forest. • If stream levels are low late in the summer, gold dredgers and panners may be required to keep their operations 300 feet apart to minimize stream turbidity. • Use small portable suction dredges with a suction hose intake of three (3) inches or less in diameter. • Use small portable suction dredges powered by 10 horsepower or less engines. • Only hand panning is allowed in any Class I water. Class I waters within the Medicine Bow National Forest are: 1. The main stem of the North Platte River from the mouth of Sage Creek (approximately 15 stream miles below Saratoga, Wyoming) upstream to the Wyoming/Colorado state line.
    [Show full text]
  • Carbon County DRAFT Natural Resource Management Plan
    FEBRUARY 16, 2021 Carbon County DRAFT Natural Resource Management Plan Natural Resource Management Plan Y2 Consultants, LLC & Falen Law Offices (Intentionally Left Blank) Natural Resource Management Plan Y2 Consultants, LLC & Falen Law Offices CONTENTS ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................... III LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................... VII LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................................... IX CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................10 1.1 PURPOSE ............................................................................................................................10 1.2 STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK ...................................................................11 1.3 CARBON COUNTY NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN PROCESS ..............................................15 1.4 CREDIBLE DATA ....................................................................................................................19 CHAPTER 2: CUSTOM AND CULTURE ........................................................................................21 2.1 COUNTY INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW ....................................................................................21 2.2 CULTURAL/HERITAGE/PALEONTOLOGICAL
    [Show full text]
  • 2017 Briefing Book Colorado Table of Contents Colorado Facts
    U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management 2017 Briefing Book Colorado Table of Contents Colorado Facts .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Colorado Economic Contributions ..................................................................................................................................................... 2 History .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Organizational Chart ........................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Branch Chiefs & Program Leads ........................................................................................................................................................ 5 Office Map ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 6 Colorado State Office ................................................................................................................................................................................ 7 Leadership .........................................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Rocky Mountain Region 2 – Historical Geography, Names, Boundaries
    NAMES, BOUNDARIES, AND MAPS: A RESOURCE FOR THE HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM OF THE UNITED STATES THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION (Region Two) By Peter L. Stark Brief excerpts of copyright material found herein may, under certain circumstances, be quoted verbatim for purposes such as criticism, news reporting, education, and research, without the need for permission from or payment to the copyright holder under 17 U.S.C § 107 of the United States copyright law. Copyright holder does ask that you reference the title of the essay and my name as the author in the event others may need to reach me for clarifi- cation, with questions, or to use more extensive portions of my reference work. Also, please contact me if you find any errors or have a map that has not been included in the cartobibliography ACKNOWLEDGMENTS In the process of compiling this work, I have met many dedicated cartographers, Forest Service staff, academic and public librarians, archivists, and entrepreneurs. I first would like to acknowledge the gracious assistance of Bob Malcolm Super- visory Cartographer of Region 2 in Golden, Colorado who opened up the Region’s archive of maps and atlases to me in November of 2005. Also, I am indebted to long-time map librarians Christopher Thiry, Janet Collins, Donna Koepp, and Stanley Stevens for their early encouragement and consistent support of this project. In the fall of 2013, I was awarded a fellowship by The Pinchot Institute for Conservation and the Grey Towers National Historic Site. The Scholar in Resi- dence program of the Grey Towers Heritage Association allowed me time to write and edit my research on the mapping of the National Forest System in an office in Gifford Pinchot’s ancestral home.
    [Show full text]
  • Carbon County Natural Resource Management Plan
    APRIL 13, 2021 Carbon County Natural Resource Management Plan Natural Resource Management Plan Y2 Consultants, LLC & Falen Law Offices (Intentionally Left Blank) Natural Resource Management Plan Y2 Consultants, LLC & Falen Law Offices CONTENTS ACRONYMS .......................................................................................................................... III LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................. VII LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................................... IX CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 10 1.1 PURPOSE................................................................................................................................. 10 1.2 STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK ..................................................................... 11 1.3 CARBON COUNTY NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN PROCESS ............................................... 15 1.4 CREDIBLE DATA ........................................................................................................................ 19 CHAPTER 2: CARBON COUNTY CUSTOM AND CULTURE ........................................................ 21 2.1 COUNTY INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW ...................................................................................... 21 2.2 CULTURAL/HERITAGE/PALEONTOLOGICAL
    [Show full text]
  • North Platte River Basin Wetland Profile and Condition Assessment
    North Platte River Basin Wetland Profile and Condition Assessment March 31, 2012 Colorado Natural Heritage Program Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO 80523 North Platte River Basin Wetland Profile and Condition Assessment Prepared for: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Wetland Wildlife Conservation Program 317 West Prospect Fort Collins, CO 80526 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8 1595 Wynkoop Street Denver, CO 80202 Prepared by: Joanna Lemly and Laurie Gilligan Colorado Natural Heritage Program Warner College of Natural Resources Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado 80523 In collaboration with Brian Sullivan, Grant Wilcox, and Jon Runge Colorado Parks and Wildlife Dr. Jennifer Hoeting and Erin Schliep Department of Statistics, Colorado State University Cover photographs: All photos taken by Colorado Natural Heritage Program Staff. Copyright © 2012 Colorado State University Colorado Natural Heritage Program All Rights Reserved EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The North Platte River Basin covers >2,000 square miles in north central Colorado and is known for extensive wetland resources. Of particular importance to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), the basin’s wetlands serve as significant waterfowl breeding areas and refuge for rare amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. Recognizing the need for better information about wetlands across the state, CPW and Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) began a collaborative effort called Statewide Strategies for Colorado Wetlands to catalogue the location, type, and condition of Colorado’s wetlands through a series of river basin-scale wetland profile and condition assessment projects. This report summarizes finding from the second basinwide wetland condition assessment, conducted in the North Platte River Basin. The initial step in each project is to compile a “wetland profile” based on digital wetland mapping.
    [Show full text]