Chatfield Basin Conservation Network

Background | Criteria | Northwest Colorado | Northeast Colorado
Southwest Colorado | Southeast Colorado

Chatfield Basin
Conservation Network
Arapahoe, Douglas,
and Jefferson Counties

Size: 42,794 acres

Elevation: 5330 - 8055 feet

Habitats: Primary – grassland, mountain shrubland, ponderosa pine, lowland shrubland

Secondary – mixed conifer, wetlands, open water, aspen, cliff/rock, rural/agriculture, shore/bank

Ownership: Federal/State/Municipal/Private

Land Use: Primary – nature and wildlife conservation, hunting/fishing, recreation/tourism, undeveloped, flood control, nature education/interpretation

Secondary – agriculture/livestock, forestry, water supply, utility/right-of-way, research

IBA Criteria: 1, 2, 3, 4 (waterfowl, heronries, raptors, landbirds), 5

Site description

Over 30 public and private agencies, organizations, and businesses have joined in an effort to conserve an interconnected system of open space for wildlife and people surrounding the Chatfield Reservoir, known as the Chatfield Basin Conservation Network (CBCN). The Chatfield Basin is located where the Rocky Mountains meet the High Plains, and the southern desert lands meet the northern boreal forests. CBCN has developed a plan to coordinate the activities of developers and environmentalists to protect habitat connections and conserve major parts of the Chatfield Basin. This plan identifies seven key conservation corridors and six conservation areas.

The component properties within the network include: Chatfield Arboretum, Chatfield State Park, Cherokee Ranch, Ken Caryl Ranch Open Space, Roxborough State Park, South Platte Park, and Woodhouse State Wildlife Area. Three of these sites (Chatfield State Park, Roxborough State Park, and South Platte Park) are also stand-alone IBAs.

Ornithological Importance

The Chatfield Basin Conservation Network represents a rare concentration of representative bird habitats within a relatively small area (140 square miles). CBCN contains 29 of the 42 habitats listed in the Breeding Bird Atlas, including four grassland types, six shrubland types, three woodland types, four wetland types, eight urban/agricultural types, and eight forest types. Researchers have documented over 320 bird species in the area, which is considered to be a migration hot spot.

Significant numbers of wintering Bald Eagles and summering American White Pelicans use the Basin, as do lesser numbers of migrating Peregrine Falcons and wintering Ferruginous Hawks and Barrow’s Goldeneye. Colorado Division of Wildlife researchers observed Sharp-tailed Grouse at sites within the CBCN in past years, but none were found during their 2000 monitoring efforts.

Research/educational activities: CBCN members are working cooperatively on educational efforts to convey the mission of the Network to park users and the broader community. There are five visitor/nature centers on CBCN properties: Army Corp, Carson, Kassler, Polly Steele, and Roxborough.

Conservation/Management Issues

Serious threats:
1. habitat conversion surrounding protected areas;
2. invasive/non-native plants (especially diffuse knapweed).

Minor threats:
1. disturbance to birds and habitat from recreational use;
2. introduced animals;
3. cowbird parasitism;
4. pollution;
5. hydrologic changes.

Potential threats:
1. predators.

Efforts to address threats:
The potential is great for development and habitat conversion to isolate the protected areas from each other. Land managers will continue to pursue protection of corridors and buffers primarily through fee title purchases or conservation easements. To deal with noxious weed infestations, land managers are instituting integrated pest management practices, including cultural, chemical, and biological methods. Recreational impact is being addressed by closure of critical habitat areas, access restrictions, signage, law enforcement, and education.

Management details:
Over 45% of the CBCN is already under some form of protection through municipal, state, federal or private ownership or conservation easement.