Fruitgrowers Reservoir

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

Fruitgrowers Reservoir
Delta County

Size: 576 acres

Elevation: 5430 - 5680 feet

Habitats: Primary – non-tidal wetland, lacustrine/riverine, riparian

Secondary – grassland

Ownership: Federal (Bureau of Reclamation)

Land Use: Primary – water supply

Secondary – hunting, recreation/tourism, wildlife conservation, research

IBA Criteria: 1, 2, 4 (shorebirds)

ABC Status: Globally significant

Site description

Location: Fruitgrowers Reservoir is located in a broad valley, known locally as Harts Basin, below the Grand Mesa. It is 10 miles northeast of the town of Delta, in west-central Colorado.

Vegetative/natural features: Plant communities at the site range from sagebrush in drier areas to greasewood where water tables are elevated. Two cottonwood groves occur on the reservoir, the reservoir is fringed by cottonwoods and willows and surrounded by orchards and croplands. An extensive marsh occurs at the north end of the reservoir, while smaller marshes occur around it. The site is located on Alfalfa Run, a tributary of the Gunnison River. Water to fill the reservoir comes from diversions on creeks coming down from the 10,000-foot Grand Mesa.

Ornithological Importance

Twenty-six percent (26%) of the world’s population of Greater Sandhill Cranes stops at this site in the spring migration from central New Mexico. The reported numbers of White-faced Ibis using the reservoir on migration approaches 20% of the world’s population. Southwestern Willow Flycatchers occur at both ends of the reservoir.

Breeding species:	Average #	Maximum #
Southwestern Willow Flycatcher	8

Migrant species:	Average #	Maximum #
Peregrine Falcon	3 (fall)
Sandhill Crane	~5200 (spring)
Whooping Crane	7 (spring, fall)
Snowy Plover	4 (spring) 8 (fall)

Wintering species:	Average #	Maximum #
Bald Eagle	15

Conservation/Management Issues

Local threats:
1. introduced flora/fauna (carp population and cattails threatening stands of bullrushes).

Potential threats:
1. recreational development/overuse resulting from renewed motor boating and extensive trails;
2. disturbance of birds resulting from increased residential areas surrounding the site and increased recreational use of the site;
3. cowbird parasitism, which may be excessive for Willow Flycatchers to maintain their numbers.

Efforts to address threats:
A conservation easement has been acquired downstream from the reservoir. The acquisition of additional conservation easements is being studied to provide a buffer zone around the reservoir.

Management details:
Black Canyon Audubon Society has signed an agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation to help manage the reservoir lands.