C O LO R AD O PARKS & WILD LIFE Colorado Natural Areas

C O L O R A D OP A R K S&W I L D L I F EColorado NaturalAreas Program2015 - 2017 ReviewTriennial Report toGovernor Hickenlooper1High Creek Fen Natural Areacpw.state.co.us

Celebrating 40 YearsThe Colorado Natural Areas Program (CNAP) was born 40 yearsago from a growing awareness and deep appreciation of Colorado’s iconic landscapes, impressive biodiversity, and uniquegeological and paleontological resources. With the signing ofthe Colorado Natural Areas Act in 1977 (C.R.S. 33-33), CNAP wasestablished to recognize and monitor the state’s finest examplesof these natural elements. By building strong partnerships withprivate and public landowners through voluntary agreements,CNAP is integral to the protection and enhancement of rarespecies and significant natural features.95 areasAs the program’s accomplishments and conservation successescontinue to grow, CNAP’s mission remains unique and vital tostatewide conservation efforts and to the citizens of Colorado.126 speciesDESIGNATED STATE NATURAL AREAS178,275 acresOF LAND DESIGNATING COLORADO’SMOST SIGNIFICANT NATURAL FEATURESSPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEEDARE SUPPORTED BY THE CONSERVATION OFMission: To identify, evaluate, and support the protection ofspecific examples of natural features and phenomena as enduring resources for present and future generations, througha statewide system of Designated Natural Areas.40th Event at Stauton Natural Area2STATE NATURAL AREAS

Lorraine Yeatts/CPWLongnose Leopard LizardClay-loving Wild BuckwheatCNAP Designationas a Conservation ToolCNAP is the only program within Colorado with a statewidesystem for identifying and designating unique and significantnatural features and is the only program within state government with an emphasis on rare plant conservation.Number of SWAP Species on Natural AreasSince its establishment, CNAP has been paramount in the state’sconservation efforts, identifying and evaluating over 30 remarkable geologic and paleontologic features and supporting theconservation of more than 250 rare, threatened or endangeredspecies or communities.CNAP is integral to the implementation of the Colorado StateWildlife Action Plan (SWAP), a guiding document for the conservation of Colorado’s species of greatest of conservation needand their habitats. At least 126 of the species listed in the SWAPare known to occur on state natural areas. Of the 117 plant species listed in the SWAP, 44% are present on state natural areas.Over half (51%) of Colorado’s endemic plant species can also befound on state natural areasGlobally Rare Features on Designated Natural AreasI value the program for the Natural Areas it protects into thefuture for the state and its people.- Dave Bathke, CNAP volunteer of 13 years3

Logan Wash Mine Natural AreaNew Natural AreaDesignationsBetween 2015-2017 CNAP designated four new state naturalareas. Natural area designation serves to bring long-lastingrecognition to unique natural elements on public or private lands,and formally acknowledges the essential role of landowners inthe conservation of the sites which they own and manage.Logan Wash Mine Natural Area (2015):Corral Bluffs Natural Area (2017):This natural area enlarged a previous designation, creatingthe Mount Callahan, Mount Callahan Saddle, and Logan WashNatural Area. This natural area is located in Garfield Countyand is home to 3 of the 4 known populations of the federallythreatened Parachute penstemon (Penstemon debilis). TheLogan Wash Mine parcel is owned by Occidental Oil Shale Inc.CNAP’s long-standing partnership with this energy companyhas resulted in protections for the rare plant and successfulconservation actions towards recovery of the species.Corral Bluffs boasts world class paleontological resources andincludes one of our state’s finest fossil forests. Twelve fossil taxafrom the Age of Mammals have been found here. The naturalarea is located in El Paso County and is owned by the City ofColorado Springs.Staunton Natural Area (2015):Located within Colorado’s newest State Park, Staunton,this designation helps to protect and conserve the globallyimperiled budding monkeyflower (Mimulus gemmiparus), alongwith other rare plants, tracked plant communities, and habitatfor nesting raptors. There are two designated parcels within thePark, one located in Jefferson County and owned by ColoradoParks and Wildlife, and the second located in Park County andowned by the Colorado State Land Board.4Pagosa Skyrocket Natural AreaPagosa Skyrocket Natural Area (2017):This natural area is home to over half of the world’s knownpopulation of the federally endangered Pagosa skyrocket(Ipomopis polyantha). It also includes valuable wetland habitatand other tracked species. The property is located in ArchuletaCounty and is owned by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.There is no other program in the state that links stategovernment to the identification and designation of naturalareas of high value on both public and private property.– Lynn Riedel, City of Boulder, Open Space andMountain Parks, Grassland Plant Ecologist,CNAP volunteer

Steering the Ship:Colorado NaturalAreas CouncilEstablished in statute, the Colorado Natural Areas Councilprovides an advisory role to CNAP and is responsiblefor approving the natural areas registry and makingrecommendations to the Parks and Wildlife Commission onnatural area designations.In 2016, the Council designed a strategic plan to alignnatural area designations into a comprehensive vision forthe conservation of iconic landscapes and unique habitatsin Colorado. Accordingly, the Council is working to foster arobust and sustainable Natural Areas System, which buildson the program’s core relationships with private and publiclandowners, and workforce of dedicated volunteer stewardsto lend new protections to even more of the state’s mostsignificant natural features.Colorado Natural Areas Council:Current MembersGOVERNOR APPOINTEDTom Nesler, Chair Appointed 2012Retired, Division of Wildlife Species Conservation ManagerKen Strom, Vice Chair Appointed 2014Retired, Colorado Audubon DirectorJulia Kintsch Appointed 2014Conservation Ecologist, ECO-Resolutions LLCDenise Culver Appointed 2015Wetland Ecologist, Colorado Natural Heritage ProgramDina Clark Appointed 2017Botanist/Herbarium Collection Manager, University of ColoradoBOARD AND COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVESAlex Zipp Appointed 2017Parks and Wildlife CommissionJohn Shaw Appointed 2016Board of Land CommissionersPREVIOUS COUNCIL MEMBERSLearning from our natural areas opens the door to understanding howplant and animal life adapts to what these landscapes provide.– Tom Nesler, Colorado Natural Areas CouncilChair, CNAP volunteer steward of 5 yearsMichelle Zimmerman, Parks and Wildlife CommissionGary Butterworth, Board of Land CommissionersMichele Bloom, Board of Land CommissionersMelissa Smeins, Bureau of Land ManagementRenee Rondeau, Colorado Natural Heritage ProgramCouncil Members5

CelebratingConservation SuccessesProtecting the Pagosa SkyrocketBolstering the Budding MonkeyflowerOne of the most imperiled plants in Colorado, the Pagosaskyrocket (Ipomopsis polyantha), got a big conservation boost in2016 through the purchase of an 88-acre property in ArchuletaCounty by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The purchase was madepossible with funding from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service andGreat Outdoors Colorado. The property harbors over half of theworld’s population of this federally endangered species. Theproperty was designated as state natural area in 2017 and CNAPstaff have been working cooperatively with local Colorado Parksand Wildlife staff, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Colorado NaturalHeritage Program, and other local partners to monitor andprotect the plant. CNAP has led the charge in developing andimplementing a quantitative monitoring protocol for measuringthe trend of the species range-wide and contributing necessarydata for the plant’s recovery.Until recently, the budding monkeyflower (Mimulus gemmiparus)lived a secretive life. The species, only known from centralColorado, has a unique life history and few identified populations.CNAP partnered with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and theU.S. Forest Service to expand on a pilot project initiated in2012 to help bolster the populations of budding monkeyflowerthrough assisted migration. Through this project, the numberof known locations of the species has increased five-fold andwe have learned a great deal about the plant’s life history. Ourconservation actions are aimed at precluding the need to list thespecies under the federal Endangered Species Act.The Colorado Natural Areas Program protects and raisesawareness of the things that make Colorado unique andwonderful. The program accomplishes so much and is one ofour state’s most amazing and cost effective programs.– David Anderson, Colorado NaturalHeritage Program DirectorPagosa Skyrocket Monitoring6Budding Monkeyflower

Volunteers at Paradise Park Natural AreaVolunteers at Raven Ridge Natural AreaMost Valuable Assets:Volunteer Stewards & PartnershipsCNAP’s capacity and impact is greatly expanded through thestrength of its partnerships and the force of its volunteerstewards – engaged citizens who dedicate their time andexpertise to monitoring designated Natural Areas. Theinformation collected by CNAP’s volunteer stewards helps toensure the long-term well-being of state natural areas and isvaluable to both the program and its partners.State natural area designations are made possible by voluntaryconservation agreements between the landowner and theState; currently, 108 agreements with over 50 differentpartners exist.70 totalVOLUNTEER STEWARDS 120,000 value4,600 VOLUNTEER HOURS IN THE PAST 3 YEARS10 years1/3 OF CNAP VOLUNTEER STEWARDS HAVECollectively, the Program, volunteer stewards, and partnerswork together to ensure that prime examples of our naturalheritage are conserved for future generations. Theseaccomplishments have contributed directly to the state’sefforts to prevent and reverse endangered species listings, toprotect significant geologic and fossil resources, and conservevaluable habitat.SERVED 10 YEARS OR MORELand Ownership of Designated Natural AreasCollectively, the Program, volunteer stewards, and partnerswork together to ensure that prime examples of our naturalheritage are conserved for future generations.7

Natural AreasStatus ReportsTable One:FEATURES AND CONDITIONS OFDESIGNATED NATURAL AREASTable Two:FEATURES AND CONDITIONS OFREGISTERED NATURAL AREASOrient Mine Natural Area8CNAP uses volunteer stewards to monitor sites, which is a veryenriching experience for members of the public and an effectiveway for this small state program to keep in touch with the statusof many sites across the state.– Lynn Riedel, City of Boulder, Open Space andMountain Parks, Grassland Plant Ecologist,CNAP volunteer