South Platte River Corridor

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

South Platte River Corridor
Adams County

Size: 100-200 yards wide/25 miles long

Elevation: 5150-5300 feet

Habitats: Open water, lowland riparian

Ownership: Municipal (Denver Parks Department, Denver Natural Areas Program, Adams County Parks Department) Private (Urban Drainage and Flood Control District)

Land Use: Primary - recreation/tourism, urban/commercial

Secondary - nature and wildlife conservation, water supply

IBA Criteria: 4 (waterfowl, raptors), 5

Site description

Location: The site is located along the South Platte River in central Colorado, specifically from the south city limits of Denver north into Adams County to 136th Avenue.

Vegetative/natural features: The site comprises the South Platte River corridor, including the river, its riparian floodplain, and a number of ponds. Through metro Denver, the river flows in a narrow corridor that is kept contained by flood control efforts. In a few sections, the river spreads out into a more natural floodplain. During Denver's growth from 1959 through today, the native ecosystem of the river was largely lost. Vegetation today tends towards Siberian elm, cottonwoods, patches of willows, and various grasses.

Ornithological Importance

This urban river corridor is used by birds for cover, nesting and winter habitat. In winter, the river holds large numbers of waterfowl. The largest Bald Eagle roost in the county, outside Rocky Mountain Arsenal, is located in the corridor.

Migrant species:	Average #	Maximum #
Snowy Egret	1	10
Common Snipe		24
Forster's Tern		20

Wintering species:	Average #	Maximum #
ducks	4800	5500
geese	1800	2300
Black-crowned Night Heron	8	14
Bald Eagle	8 (roost)	18
Peregrine Falcon	1	3
Ferruginous Hawk	192	192
Prairie Falcon	13	13
Barrow's Goldeneye	5	25
American Dipper	1	5

Summer species:	Average #	Maximum #
Black-crowned Night Heron	25
Swainson's Hawk	1 pair	5 pairs
Cliff Swallow	>100 pairs
Barn Swallow	10 pairs
Rough-winged Swallow	2 pairs
Bank Swallow	5 pairs

Research and educational activities:
Audubon Society of Greater Denver has conducted point counts along the river for over 5 years. Volunteers have surveyed 1-2 mile sections once a month in winter and twice a month in summer.

Conservation/Management Issues

Threats:
1. disturbance to birds and habitat (from heavy use by pedestrians, bicyclists, and kayakers); 2. pollution; 3. non-native vegetation.

Management details:
There are several parks within the river corridor that re-create floodplain ecology and broaden the floodplain. The South Platte River Initiative is developing a series of programs and projects designed to improve, enhance and restore the natural aspects of the river corridor.