COLORADO: COLORADO CANYONS NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA
Site Location and Description
The Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area (CCNCA) comprises 122,300 acres of public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, located primarily in west central Colorado along the Utah border (and including a relatively small amount of land in Utah). The CCNCA straddles 23 miles of the Colorado River, a short distance west of the city of Grand Junction. It shares its eastern boundary with the 20,454-acre Colorado National Monument, administered by the National Park Service. The 75,500-acre Black Ridge Wilderness lies within the boundaries of the CCNCA, on the south side of the Colorado River.
Within the CCNCA, on the north side of the Colorado River, is the 21,360-acre Rabbit Valley Recreation Management Area (RMA), which has been recognized as an Important Bird Area by Audubon Colorado. Most of the eight parcels within this acquisition proposal are in or near the IBA. This area has also been designated a Colorado Watchable Wildlife Area.
Ecological Values
The diversity of high desert habitats, containing strands of lowland riparian habitat, support a variety of wildlife species, including a number of species of special concern and at least two WatchList bird species. It qualifies as an Important Bird Area under 3 separate criteria of the Colorado IBA Program: for its importance to bird species of high conservation priority in Colorado, for significant concentrations of breeding and migrating land birds, and for its importance for long-term research projects that contribute substantially to ornithology and bird conservation. In particular, Rabbit Valley RMA is one of the best sites in the state for finding Gray Vireos and Scott's Orioles.
Public Use and Benefit to the Community
Outstanding scenery, characterized by towering red sandstone monoliths and deep, sheer-walled canyons, provides a stunning backdrop for the CCNCA's 50,000 annual visitors. Popular recreational opportunities within the CCNCA include hiking camping, mountain biking, horseback riding, bird watching, fossil viewing, photography, big game hunting, and floating the Colorado River. Twenty-five miles of the internationally renowned Kokopelli Mountain Bike Trail pass through the CCNCA. This Trail is used by 31,000 visitors a year, and usership is projected to double by 2025. In addition, the nationally known Kokopelli Loop, a 53-mile network of trails, lies within the CCNCA.
Threats
The greatest threats to the area are from potential rural residential development on the private inholdings within the CCNCA. The conversion of pinyon-juniper woodlands as a result of this development, as well as from livestock range improvement, is a serious threat to the unique bird communities of this region.
Acquisition Status
The BLM has the opportunity to acquire and protect 1,465 acres of private inholdings-eight separate parcels under the ownership of a single willing seller. The total cost for the purchase of these properties is $1.5 million.
Public Support
Supporters and cooperators for this acquisition include the Trust for Public Land, the National Park Service, the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Great Outdoors Colorado, Mesa County Riverfront Commission, and the City of Fruita. It has been the BLM's objective to acquire these inholdings, but only on a willing seller basis, which is now possible.
Habitat
In addition to containing one of the highest concentrations of natural arches in the world, the semidesert shrublands that characterize this region are dominated by pinyon-juniper and sagebrush communities, scattered among sandstone formations and overhangs. Secondary habitats include grasslands and lowland riparian areas.
Threatened or endangered species
Bald Eagle
Audubon WatchList species
Gray Vireo
Pinyon Jay
High Conservation Priority Species (Colorado Partners in Flight)
Gray Flycatcher
Other Important Breeding Species
Chukar
Cassin's Kingbird
Rock Wren
Northern Mockingbird
Lark Sparrow
Black-throated Sparrow
Scott's Oriole
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