U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge Resource Inventory Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge Resource Inventory April 2003 Prepared by: ERO Resources Corp. 1842 Clarkson St. Denver, Colorado 80218 (303) 830-1188 Contents Geology and Soils ............................................................................................................................1 Surficial and Bedrock Geology..................................................................................................1 Geologic Hazards.......................................................................................................................1 Mineral Resources .....................................................................................................................3 Soils ...........................................................................................................................................3 Soil Contamination ....................................................................................................................5 Water Resources...............................................................................................................................5 Surface Water ............................................................................................................................5 Ground Water ............................................................................................................................9 Future Hydrological Conditions ................................................................................................9 Vegetation Communities................................................................................................................11 Grasslands................................................................................................................................11 Shrublands ...............................................................................................................................15 Woodlands ...............................................................................................................................16 Wetlands ..................................................................................................................................16 Noxious Weeds...............................................................................................................................17 DOE’s Current Weed Management.........................................................................................19 Fire History and Management........................................................................................................20 Prescribed Burns......................................................................................................................20 Wildlife...........................................................................................................................................21 Mammals .................................................................................................................................21 Birds.........................................................................................................................................22 Reptiles and Amphibians.........................................................................................................24 Aquatic Species .......................................................................................................................24 Wildlife Species of Special Concern .......................................................................................25 Federal Threatened, Endangered and Candidate Species...............................................................26 Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse...........................................................................................27 Bald Eagle................................................................................................................................27 Black-tailed Prairie Dog ..........................................................................................................27 Plant Species............................................................................................................................29 Cultural and Historical Resources..................................................................................................29 Prehistoric Resources...............................................................................................................30 Historic Resources ...................................................................................................................30 Infrastructure, Easements, and Utilities..........................................................................................32 Utilities ....................................................................................................................................32 Mineral Rights .........................................................................................................................34 Water Rights ............................................................................................................................35 Surrounding Land Use....................................................................................................................35 Municipalities ..........................................................................................................................35 Woman Creek Reservoir Authority .........................................................................................36 Open Space ..............................................................................................................................36 Other Nearby Land Uses..........................................................................................................36 Open Space, Recreation and Trails ................................................................................................37 City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks...................................................................37 RESOURCE INVENTORY i Boulder County Open Space....................................................................................................39 Jefferson County Open Space..................................................................................................39 Eldorado Canyon State Park....................................................................................................39 City of Arvada Open Space .....................................................................................................39 City of Westminster Open Space.............................................................................................40 City and County of Broomfield Open Space ...........................................................................40 Town of Superior Open Space.................................................................................................40 Proposed Trails and Open Space Facilities..............................................................................40 Air Quality......................................................................................................................................41 Socioeconomics..............................................................................................................................41 Population and Demographics.................................................................................................41 Employment.............................................................................................................................42 Income .....................................................................................................................................42 References ......................................................................................................................................42 Tables Table 1. Vegetation Communities at Rocky Flats.........................................................................11 Table 2. Major Noxious Weeds at Rocky Flats.............................................................................19 Table 3. Wildlife Species of Special Concern at Rocky Flats.......................................................26 Figures Figure 1. Surficial Geology. ............................................................................................................2 Figure 2. Soils..................................................................................................................................4 Figure 3. Water Resources. .............................................................................................................6 Figure 4. Vegetation. .....................................................................................................................12 Figure 5. Noxious Weeds. .............................................................................................................18 Figure 6. Wildlife Resources.........................................................................................................23 Figure 7. Potential Prairie Dog Habitat .........................................................................................28 Figure 8. Cultural Resources. ........................................................................................................31