A Classification of Riparian Wetland Plant Associations of Colorado A Users Guide to the Classification Project September 1, 1999 By Gwen Kittel, Erika VanWie, Mary Damm, Reneé Rondeau Steve Kettler, Amy McMullen and John Sanderson Clockwise from top: Conejos River, Conejos County, Populus angustifolia-Picea pungens/Alnus incana Riparian Woodland Flattop Wilderness, Garfield County, Carex aquatilis Riparian Herbaceous Vegetation South Platte River, Logan County, Populus deltoides/Carex lanuginosa Riparian Woodland California Park, Routt County, Salix boothii/Mesic Graminoids Riparian Shrubland Joe Wright Creek, Larimer County, Abies lasiocarpa-Picea engelmannii/Alnus incana Riparian Forest Dolores River, San Miguel County, Forestiera pubescens Riparian Shrubland Center Photo San Luis Valley, Saguache County, Juncus balticus Riparian Herbaceous Vegetation (Photography by Gwen Kittel) 2 Prepared by: Colorado Natural Heritage Program 254 General Services Bldg. Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO 80523 [email protected] This report should be cited as follows: Kittel, Gwen, Erika VanWie, Mary Damm, Reneé Rondeau, Steve Kettler, Amy McMullen, and John Sanderson. 1999. A Classification of Riparian Wetland Plant Associations of Colorado: User Guide to the Classification Project. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. 80523 For more information please contact: Colorado Natural Heritage Program, 254 General Service Building, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523. (970) 491-1309 email: [email protected] 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project would not have been possible without the help, support and guidance of the Riparian Task Force. This cooperative group consists of The Nature Conservancy, the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, the Environmental Protection Agency, the US Forest Service, the US Bureau of Land Management, the US Bureau of Reclamation, US Park Service, US Natural Resources Conservation Service, The US Fish and Wildlife Service, the US Geological Survey, the Colorado Department of Health, the Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, the Colorado Department of Wildlife, and the Denver Board of Water Commissioners. I’d like to thank our funding sources, which, over the coarse of nine years, have contributed a total of $846,000. Grants ranged from large (>$50,000) to small (<$500), but every penny was needed, used and appreciated! Contributors are: EPA/State of Colorado, The Nature Conservancy, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Denver Water Board, City of Boulder, Colorado Natural Areas Program, Colorado Department of Health, Colorado Riparian Association, and the Colorado Native Plant Society. I need to thank and acknowledge Betsy Neely of The Nature Conservancy’s Colorado Field Office and Patrick Bourgeron, formerly of The Nature Conservancy’s Western Regional Office, for originating the project and designing the original sampling framework. Special thanks are in order to key folks who found funding, and contributed to the project by providing maps, field vehicles, training seminars, access information, hot showers, and an occasional backyard to camp in. These folks are: Brenda Mitchell, Jay Thompson, Leonard Coleman, Dave Wheeler, Dean Erhardt, Mike Cassell, Fred Bunch, John Kosak, Dave Gilbert, Barry Johnson, Amanda Clements, Tony Hoag, Dennis Murphy, Karen Hamilton, Sarah Fowler, Deb Mellbloom, Doug Robotham, and many, many others. I’d like to thank all the field crew members for putting up with long working hours, rain, bugs, extreme heat, occasional snow, cold, many days without showers, and many a long hike. These are all dedicated, hard working folks who went that extra mile every time. Some came to the project as veterans with years of experience; others were just starting their careers as field biologists. All gave their heart and soul to the cause. Some work on data entry and editing as well as field work. Some were with the project for multi-years, others only a few weeks. They were all were wonderful to work with and fun to be with in the field. I appreciate their hard-work, dedication, and neat handwriting! These wonderful folks are: Marion Reid, Sylvia Gindele, Brian Stanford, Nan Lederer, Margaret Condron, Sam Hammer, Todd Barker, Maureen DeCoursey, Susan Spackman, Reneé Rondeau, Dan Randolph, Julie Burt, Erika VanWie, Amy McMullen, Lea Spears, Mary Damm, Bill Grantham, Danielle Zoellner, Lisa Tasker, Sandy Scheck, Kathy Carsey, Camille Richard, Marty Aitken, Mindy Smith, Doug Grant, Steve Kettler, Mark Duff, Maggie March, John Sanderson, and Denise Culver. In addition, a hearty “thank you” goes to the many volunteers also assisted with fieldwork, data entry, mapping and transcribing records back in the office. I must also thank the many landowners, private, public and tribal, who granted us access to their lands, streams and creeks. It is thanks to their willingness and good land stewardship that made this project a success and allowed the classification to cover the full scope of Colorado riparian wetland resources. And lastly I must thank Dr. Dennis Knight, for turning me on to riparian ecosystems. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...........................................................................................................................4 SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................................................6 INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................7 METHODS........................................................................................................................................................8 Pre-Field Site Selection............................................................................................................... 8 Ariel Photograph Interpretation .................................................................................................. 9 Field Data Collection ................................................................................................................ 10 Site Ranking Criteria................................................................................................................. 12 Data Analysis and Classification Development........................................................................ 13 The United States National Vegetation Classification ...............................................................................13 A CLASSICATION OF RIPARIAN WETLAND PLANT ASSOCIATIONS..................................17 List of Riparian Wetland Plant Associations of Colorado........................................................ 17 List of CNHP Ranks ................................................................................................................. 22 Map of Plot Locations used to build the Riparian Classification (1990-1998), COError! 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BASIN BY BASIN SUMMARY...................................................................................................................23 Arkansas River Basin ....................................................................................................................................24 Colorado River Basin....................................................................................................................................26 Gunnison River Basin...................................................................................................................................28 Lower San Juan River Basin.........................................................................................................................30 North Platte Watershed................................................................................................................................32 Rio Grande and Closed Basin Watersheds................................................................................................34 Routt National Forest...................................................................................................................................38 San Juan National Forest..............................................................................................................................40 San Miguel and Dolores River Basins ........................................................................................................43 South Platte Watershed ................................................................................................................................45 White River Basin..........................................................................................................................................48 Yampa River Basin........................................................................................................................................50 USER GUIDE to PLANT ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY CHARACTERIZATION ABSTRACTS (CCAs) .....................................................................................................................................51 LITERATURE CITED .................................................................................................................................54 APPENDIX 1. Key to Riparian Wetland Plant Associations of Colorado............................................69