Table Of Contents iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ..........................................................................................................vii INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................... 1 What Are “Native” Species? .................................................................................................................................... 1 Objective and Scope of this Guide........................................................................................................................... 3 Before You Begin .................................................................................................................................................... 4 How To Use This Guide........................................................................................................................................... 5 Plant Names ............................................................................................................................................................. 6 PLANT BASICS............................................................................................................................ 7 Life Cycles ............................................................................................................................................................... 8 Growth Forms .......................................................................................................................................................... 8 Reproductive Strategies............................................................................................................................................ 9 Seasonal Growth ...................................................................................................................................................... 9 NATURAL COMMUNITIES .................................................................................................... 11 FLORISTIC REGIONS OF COLORADO .............................................................................. 13 PART I: UPLAND COMMUNITIES ..................................................................................... 15 EASTERN PLAINS AND FOOTHILLS REGION................................................................. 15 GRASSLANDS...............................................................................................................................................17 Short-grass Prairie.................................................................................................................................................. 18 Mid-grass Prairie.................................................................................................................................................... 20 Tall-grass Prairie .................................................................................................................................................... 21 Foothills Grassland................................................................................................................................................. 22 SHRUBLANDS...............................................................................................................................................23 Saline Bottomland Shrublands............................................................................................................................... 24 Sand Sagebrush Prairie........................................................................................................................................... 25 Mixed Foothills Shrubland..................................................................................................................................... 27 WOODLANDS ...............................................................................................................................................28 Piñon Pine-Juniper Woodlands .............................................................................................................................. 29 Ponderosa Pine woodland and Savanna ................................................................................................................. 31 ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION ............................................................................................... 33 GRASSLANDS...............................................................................................................................................35 Montane and Subalpine Grasslands ....................................................................................................................... 36 SHRUBLANDS ...............................................................................................................................................38 Sagebrush Shrublands ............................................................................................................................................ 39 WOODLANDS ...............................................................................................................................................42 FORESTS ......................................................................................................................................................44 Douglas-fir Forests................................................................................................................................................. 45 Lodgepole Pine Forests .......................................................................................................................................... 47 Aspen Forests......................................................................................................................................................... 48 Engelmann Spruce - Subalpine Fir Forests ............................................................................................................ 49 ALPINE TUNDRA ..........................................................................................................................................50 Alpine Meadows .................................................................................................................................................... 51 Table Of Contents iv WESTERN PLATEAU AND CANYON REGION ................................................................. 53 GRASSLANDS...............................................................................................................................................55 SHRUBLANDS...............................................................................................................................................57 Mat Saltbush Shrublands........................................................................................................................................ 58 Saline Bottomland Shrublands............................................................................................................................... 58 Sagebrush Shrublands ............................................................................................................................................ 60 Mixed Mountain Shrubland ................................................................................................................................... 62 WOODLANDS ...............................................................................................................................................63 Piñon Pine-Juniper Woodland................................................................................................................................ 64 Pine Woodlands ..................................................................................................................................................... 65 REVEGETATION TECHNIQUES........................................................................................... 67 STEP 1: PLANNING YOUR PROJECT .............................................................................................................67 STEP 2: SOIL CHARACTERIZATION.............................................................................................................69 Soil Texture............................................................................................................................................................ 69 Soil Chemistry........................................................................................................................................................ 72 Soil Structure.......................................................................................................................................................... 73 STEP 3: SITE PREPARATION........................................................................................................................75 Topsoil Salvage...................................................................................................................................................... 75 Development of Substitute Soil.............................................................................................................................. 76 Seedbed Preparation............................................................................................................................................... 77 Soil Amendments..................................................................................................................................................