Newsletter of the Colorado Native Plant Society " ... dedicated to the appreciation and conservation of the Colorado native flora" Volume 25 Numl)er? November - December 20011 RARE PLANT SURVEY CONDUCTED AT CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN STATE PARK Robert Fe~wick, Ecologist Cheyenne Mountain state Park consists of 1680 acres of high botanist and Professor at Colorado College, was also consulted quality grassland, shrubland, and forest in the foothills tran~ition regarding the site's rare plant potential .. zone just south/of Colorado Springs. Elevations range from 6000- Once a list of possible species was generated, afull description of 8000 feet, and the park contains a wide variety of native plant each plant, it's flowering period, habitat preferences, and diag­ communities. The eastern side of the park consists of an extensive nostic information were compiled. This infommtion was gathered mixed-grass prairie that gradually transitions into oak-dominated using: Rare Plants o/Colorado, Colorado Flora: Eastern Slope, shrubland and foothill prairie. In the center of the park, the oak and Colorado Rare Plant Field Guide.· nixes with Ponderosa pine and mountain mahogany to form a Next, a field map of the site was generated using ArcView GIS to "-large area of woodlands. As elevation increases toward the west­ show the park boundary superimposed on a topographic map of ern boundary, Douglas-fir and white fir mix with Ponderosa pine and Rocky Mountain juniper to form mixed montane forest. Deep the area. A scale bar and colllpass bearing were also im~luded for ravines and canyons are dominated by dense stands of Douglas­ use in the field. Participants were encouraged to denote the areas that they surveyed, as well as the locations of any rare'plants and fir, with a few white fir and Ponderosa pine in admixture. noxious weeds that they encountered. Prior to its purchase by the state, the parcel waS privatelyheld and used as a cattle ranch and homestead. For the last 20-25 years, cat­ A data sheet for use in the field was also created. This sheet tIe were grazed on the property at a very low density (approxi­ prompted observers to include as much information as possible mately eight to ten head) and vegetation within the park remained regarding: certainty of identification, location, habitat features, in excellent condition (Chris Lieber, City of Colorado Springs, population size, evidence of reproduction, overall condition, and pers. comm.) , with few weed infestations. Given the minimal defensibility of the population. Each participant was given a field amount of disturbance to this/property, the high quality of resident map, potential species list with descriptions, and field data sheets. plant communities, and the relative absence of noxious weeds, the Volunteers were recruited with the assistance of the Colorado park was thought to have the capacity to support rare plant popu­ Native Plant Society (CoNPS}. Leo P. Bruederle (Editor) was an lations. Furthermore, a good diversity of plants had been record­ invaluable help in editing and printing an announcement in ed from the area and potential habitat for a number of rare species Aquilegia~ while Dan Fosha, President of the Society's new was thought to exist within the park. As such, a survey was con­ Southeast Chapter, announced the event artheir Chapter meeting ducted on 14 July 200 1. held just prior to the survey. METHODS "Rare Plant SurveyH continues on page two Rare species and records for the area were researched using data from the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP). Rare plant Contents rec9rds from a 10-square-mile· area around the park were exam­ About the Society . : . .7 ined, and those with elevations and habitat types similar to the Announcements ... ~ ...........3, 4,.5-6 )ark were considered likely possibilities. Species lists from The Articles ......... ' ............ 1-2, 3, 5-6 ~ature Conservancy's Aiken Canyon Preserve and nearby City of .Colorado Springs Open Space were also examined for rare Calendar ............. .8 species of potential occurrence within tIle park. 'fass Kelso, local Membership in the Society .............7 Page 2 Aquilegia Vol. 25 NO.7 URare Plant Survey" continued from page one species diversity will be a difficult, but. not impossible, task. A total of 11 people volunteered their efforts on the day of the sur­ Perhaps the greatest challenge will come from wildflower collec­ vey. Most were CoNPS members and highly skilled in plant iden­ tors who find themselves unable to resist the park's bounty. Park.. tification. Three teams of three and one team of two were created statT should be aware of this potential impact - placing signs inJ in orderto adequately cover the park in the time allotted and pro­ strategic locations may be warranted. Parks should also delineate vide for safety concerns. Survey areas specifically included sites specific low, or no-use, areas as a means to protect and preserve of probable park facilities development, poorly known portions of highly diverse locations. the park, and known locations of possible rare plant habitat. The Noxious weeds. Perhaps the greatest threat to survey began shortly after 9:00 AM and ended in the rain at native plant species in the park, rare or other­ approximately 3:00 PM. Due to heavy rains, data sheets, field wise, is the invasion of noxious weeds. TIle maps"and comments were submitted by mail. park currently has only a few species of nox'"" ious weeds, and most of tllese are not yet well RESULTS established. Control methods for species Two rare species of native plants were documented during the sur­ within the park should be implemen!ed as vey. Carrionflower, Smilax lasioneuron, had been observed at the soon as possible. Adjacent lands are also like­ site previously, but surveyors were able to document several pre­ ly to have populations of noxious weeds that viously unknown populations throughout the park. A small popu­ may spread into the park.. These populations Cirsium arvense lation of Scribner's needlegrass,Stipa scriblleri, was documented may require cooperative agreements with adjacent landowners. at thepark for the first time during the survey. Park visitors are also likely to introduce weeds into the park acc~­ A number of other, somewhat unusual and noteworthy, species dentally, and should be educated about the process of weed intro­ were also encountered during the survey. With thanks to George ductions and the damage that weeds cause tonative communities. Cameron for his input, these species are: Adjacent properties. In recent years, foothill areas have become Ipomoea leptophylla (bush morning-glory). Not known from highly prized for residential housing. Cheyenne Mountain pre­ similar, nearby Open Space lands or Aiken Canyon. serves one of tlle few large and unfragmented tracts of foothill Unexpected in the fooJhills. habitat remaining along the Front Range. Fortunately, the park is Penstemon brandegei (Brandegee's Penstemon). Not known bordered on several sides by contiguous natural lands that will from similar, nearby Open Space lands or Aiken Canyon. help maintain the quality of plant and animal communities within Penstemon barbatus (red Penstemon). Frequently encountered the park. However, development.is still possible, and even likely~' . in upper pm'tions of drainages. on private property at the northeast comer of the park (JL Ranch),....I Swida (=Cornus) sericea (red-osier dogwood). Upper Limekiln and on private parcels near the westenl boundary. Development of drainage .. these parcels will increase the possibility of both erosion and nox­ V itis riparia (wild grape)... Dominant in some portions of Limekiln. ious weed infestations that could have a direct impact on plant A1onardafistulosa (pink bergamot). Very abundant in large drifts. communities within the park. Onosmodium m~lle (false gromwell). Ablmdant along drainages. Fire suppression. Fire suppression is a major issue for the park. Ceanothus herbaceus (New Jersey tea). In the absence of fire, fire-intolerant D~uglas-fir and GambeI oak Asclep'ias tube rosa (orange milkweed). Fairly abundant in oak appear to be expanding iilto areas of tlle park where they aren't and ponderosa. necessarily expected. Fire is needed to maintain the integrity of Hypopitys monotropa and Pterospora andromedea (pine sap, many foothill communities, with many plants depending on fire pine drops). Interesting and unusual saprophytic plants. for reproduction and vigor. Forests and shrublands become over;-­ Cheilanthes feei, Cheilanthes fendleri, and- Draba streptocarpa. crowded in the absence of fire, and disease and insect predation Sandstone outcrop in Upper Limekiln. become more prevalent as forest health declines. A number of rare orchid species are known from the area, but none was encoun­ tered. Because they have specific light and substrate requirements, such species may be .among the first affected by conditions relat­ ed to fIre suppression . Surface water. Another important consideration, with regard to vegetation in the park is the relative lack of surface water. Limekiln Creek is dry most of the year, but h(is every indication of once hav- ing been a perennial stream. During the construction of NORAD in the 1950's, nearly all of the surface water flowing into the park off Smilax Cheyenne Mountain was "captured" for use at the NORAD facility MANAGE~1ENT II\1PLICATIONS (Chris Lieber, City of Colorado Springs,pers. comm,). Now 'Species diversity. Though somewhat lacking in terms of "rare" Limekiln and its tributaries hold water only during heavy rain c species, the park has a very good diversity of native plants, espe­ mnoff events. Certainly the NORAD diversions have had an impact--'" cially when compared to nearby sites. Survey volunteers made on veget?tion in the park, although the exact effects are unknown. reference to this in their notes. With increased use, maintaining Again, rare plants way have been among the first affected. Vol. 25 NO.7 Aquilegia Page 3 PRO BONO COUNSEL ANNOUNCED EXPLORING THE NATURAL WORLD The Society is proud to announce that the law firm of Schmehl, IN THE DIGITAL AGE '~owell & Mackler, PC.