2015 US-Russia Expedition to Colorado: Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge

On Friday, we traveled from Browns Park to Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. We made a quick detour into Dinosaur National Monument to see the Gates of Lodore, a beautiful canyon entrance. In the same area, there was also a population of Eriogonum shockleyi, which only has a few occurrences in Colorado.

At Arapaho, we met with Amy Thornburg, who was filling in for the Project Manager of the refuge and Megan Creegan, Biological Science Technician. Arapaho NWR protects wetland habitat along the Illinois River, which is along the central flyway for migratory birds. The refuge is at an elevation of 8200 ft., which allows many interesting high-elevation plants to grow there. Prescribed burns, grazing and haying are all used to manage meadow areas. Water is diverted from the Illinois River to flood wetlands in early spring. Luckily, the refuge does not have a problem with woody invasive species such as Tamarix ramosissima or Elaeagnus angustifolia.

The Northpark phacelia, Phacelia formosula, is an endangered species that grows on the refuge. The species is currently being monitored and new sites are being evaluated for reintroduction.