What habitats are in Colorado?

What habitats are in Colorado?
Wildlife and humans are spoiled in Colorado. There is a wide variety of natural habitats in the mountainous region of Colorado. Habitats in Colorado range from grasslands to lakes and rivers, from wetlands to alpine mountain tops.

What habitats are in Colorado?

The rocky mountain region is a haven for fauna and flora, as well as for wildlife enthusiasts and bird watchers. Whilst there is a category for non-specific habitats, loosely labeled as miscellaneous, most habitats fall into five specific categories.

Aquatic Habitats

Pearl Lake State Park is a great example of aquatic habitats. Aquatic habitats consist of natural lakes, rivers, and streams. They have unique characteristics in accordance with their location in the state and are found below the alpine elevations. These habitats are great for wildlife enthusiasts.

Shrubland​​

Shrubland is otherwise known as thicket, scrub, or bushland. This habitat experiences higher rainfalls than the grassland and desert habitats, though not as much as forests. Bushland is populated with shrubs and short trees and is situated on cliffs and ridges.

Grassland

Grasslands are a mix of tall and mid-height grasses. Broad-leaved, herbaceous plants are also to be found in grasslands. The 3 million acres of grassland in Colorado experience warm growing seasons and attract a range of deer and other wildlife. At one time, 40% of Colorado was actually grassland, much of which has now made way for agriculture.

Forest Woodland

A fine example of a forest woodland habitat can be found around Pearl Lake State Park. These complex habitats and ecosystems consist of various throngs of both open and closed canopy trees. The type of wildlife to be found depends on the elevation of the forest and the tree species. ​​​​​​
Piñon–Juniper Woodlands

Riparian & Wetland

​​​​​​Wetlands are defined as locations where water either covers the soil or is near the surface, year-round, or at least for considerable periods and especially during the growing season. Riparian habitats occur mostly alongside rivers and streams and attract a unique species of wildlife. Snowmelt and subsurface groundwater discharge are typically associated with wetlands, though flooding hardly ever occurs.

Miscellaneous Land

Alpine

These are high-elevation wet-meadow, dry tundra, rock, fellfield, and scree communities. They can be found above 11,000 feet. They experience short, inhospitable summers, high winds, and plenty of snow. Alpines are not suitable for human habitats. Alpine tundra consists of a fragile community of grasses, sedges, and dwarf planets. Alpine habitats are home to the Brown-capped rosy finch and the Rufous hummingbird.

Cliffs and Canyons

These sparsely vegetated, barren, and open tableland habitats are comprised of cliffs and canyons at sub-Alpine elevations, usually below cliff faces. They are also comprised of unstable scree and are found on talus slopes. Wildlife such as bighorn sheep, eagles, birds, owls, and bats are to be found In these habitats.
Subalpine Forest Ecosystem

Hot Springs

These habitats occur where the groundwater is heated by geothermal processes that allow water to rise up to the surface. Hot springs are suitable for human recreation, and as such, many of them have been developed for that purpose.

Reservoirs and shorelines

These man-made habitats are to be found across all parts of Colorado. Reservoirs in the southeast, such as the John Martin Reservoir, are the largest in the region.

Sand dunes

Sand dune habitats are home to patchy or open shrublands and grasslands. They are comprised of shifting, coarse-textured substrates. The Great Sand Dunes in Colorado are the tallest dunes in North America and have a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra.

Agriculture

The man-made agriculture habitat includes conventional till and no-till agriculture. It is to be found in both irrigated and dryland (non-irrigated) locations, which include croplands and orchards. The endangered Greater Sandhill Crane is dependent on a healthy agriculture habitat.

Habitual Challenges

Habitats are constantly subjected to interference one way or another. Habitats are influenced by the weather as well as by human activities. The primary threats to habitats are mining and fracking, recreational developments, and climate change. Consequently, the conservation authorities are always on their guard. They are involved in land use planning and are constantly monitoring the changes in our now fragile natural habitats, thereby trying to ensure they have a future, mountain high and valley low.

SOLMAUNA Creations & Landscaping Designs in Colorado

Our team of landscape designers brings a unique combination of landscape architecture education paired with extensive knowledge of plants to the table. Contact us Today.

What habitats are in Colorado?

What habitats are in Colorado?
Wildlife and humans are spoiled in Colorado. There is a wide variety of natural habitats in the mountainous region of Colorado. Habitats in Colorado range from grasslands to lakes and rivers, from wetlands to alpine mountain tops.

What habitats are in Colorado?

The rocky mountain region is a haven for fauna and flora, as well as for wildlife enthusiasts and bird watchers. Whilst there is a category for non-specific habitats, loosely labeled as miscellaneous, most habitats fall into five specific categories.

Aquatic Habitats

Pearl Lake State Park is a great example of aquatic habitats. Aquatic habitats consist of natural lakes, rivers, and streams. They have unique characteristics in accordance with their location in the state and are found below the alpine elevations. These habitats are great for wildlife enthusiasts.

Shrubland​​

Shrubland is otherwise known as thicket, scrub, or bushland. This habitat experiences higher rainfalls than the grassland and desert habitats, though not as much as forests. Bushland is populated with shrubs and short trees and is situated on cliffs and ridges.

Grassland

Grasslands are a mix of tall and mid-height grasses. Broad-leaved, herbaceous plants are also to be found in grasslands. The 3 million acres of grassland in Colorado experience warm growing seasons and attract a range of deer and other wildlife. At one time, 40% of Colorado was actually grassland, much of which has now made way for agriculture.

Forest Woodland

A fine example of a forest woodland habitat can be found around Pearl Lake State Park. These complex habitats and ecosystems consist of various throngs of both open and closed canopy trees. The type of wildlife to be found depends on the elevation of the forest and the tree species. ​​​​​​
Piñon–Juniper Woodlands

Riparian & Wetland

​​​​​​Wetlands are defined as locations where water either covers the soil or is near the surface, year-round, or at least for considerable periods and especially during the growing season. Riparian habitats occur mostly alongside rivers and streams and attract a unique species of wildlife. Snowmelt and subsurface groundwater discharge are typically associated with wetlands, though flooding hardly ever occurs.

Miscellaneous Land

Alpine

These are high-elevation wet-meadow, dry tundra, rock, fellfield, and scree communities. They can be found above 11,000 feet. They experience short, inhospitable summers, high winds, and plenty of snow. Alpines are not suitable for human habitats. Alpine tundra consists of a fragile community of grasses, sedges, and dwarf planets. Alpine habitats are home to the Brown-capped rosy finch and the Rufous hummingbird.

Cliffs and Canyons

These sparsely vegetated, barren, and open tableland habitats are comprised of cliffs and canyons at sub-Alpine elevations, usually below cliff faces. They are also comprised of unstable scree and are found on talus slopes. Wildlife such as bighorn sheep, eagles, birds, owls, and bats are to be found In these habitats.
Subalpine Forest Ecosystem

Hot Springs

These habitats occur where the groundwater is heated by geothermal processes that allow water to rise up to the surface. Hot springs are suitable for human recreation, and as such, many of them have been developed for that purpose.

Reservoirs and shorelines

These man-made habitats are to be found across all parts of Colorado. Reservoirs in the southeast, such as the John Martin Reservoir, are the largest in the region.

Sand dunes

Sand dune habitats are home to patchy or open shrublands and grasslands. They are comprised of shifting, coarse-textured substrates. The Great Sand Dunes in Colorado are the tallest dunes in North America and have a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra.

Agriculture

The man-made agriculture habitat includes conventional till and no-till agriculture. It is to be found in both irrigated and dryland (non-irrigated) locations, which include croplands and orchards. The endangered Greater Sandhill Crane is dependent on a healthy agriculture habitat.

Habitual Challenges

Habitats are constantly subjected to interference one way or another. Habitats are influenced by the weather as well as by human activities. The primary threats to habitats are mining and fracking, recreational developments, and climate change. Consequently, the conservation authorities are always on their guard. They are involved in land use planning and are constantly monitoring the changes in our now fragile natural habitats, thereby trying to ensure they have a future, mountain high and valley low.

SOLMAUNA Creations & Landscaping Designs in Colorado

Our team of landscape designers brings a unique combination of landscape architecture education paired with extensive knowledge of plants to the table. Contact us Today.