Colorado Natural Areas Program

Volunteer Steward Training Manual &

Handbook June 2017

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CNAP Volunteer Steward Training Manual & Handbook

Congratulations on becoming a volunteer steward for the Colorado Natural Areas Program (CNAP). This brief training manual is intended to help you get started with visiting your adopted Natural Area and producing useful information for the Program and the land manager of your Natural Area. This handbook is specific to CNAP volunteers and is supplementary to the general Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) volunteer handbook. Below is a description of what is contained in this manual. Table of Contents: General Program and Volunteer Information

CNAP Overview - 3

Volunteer Responsibility Overview - 4

Volunteer Insurance Overview – 4 Training Materials for Natural Area Visits

Volunteer Field Visit To-Do List - 5

Sample Field Form - 6

Evaluating Site Condition - 10

Map Guides - 12

Understanding EO Forms - 13

Photo Monitoring Instructions - 14 Additional Reference and Training Materials

List of References - 16

Map of all Designated Natural Areas – 22

CNAP Frequently Asked Questions - 23

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Program Overview

What is the Colorado Natural Areas Program? The Colorado State Legislature created this program in 1977 to help landowners monitor and protect the most significant natural features in Colorado. CNAP seeks out relationships with private, local, state or federal landowners who manage Colorado’s best examples of:

• Representative native ecosystems • Rare plant habitat • Rare wildlife habitat • Unique geology • Important fossils

CNAP works cooperatively with willing landowners. To date, more than 250 rare, threatened or endangered species and communities are monitored and cooperatively protected at 93 designated sites in Colorado. CNAP, a small program within Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), has one full-time Coordinator, one to two seasonal or contract staff, and over 60 volunteers. Natural Areas’ Legislative Mandate: • Recognize and protect the natural features that make Colorado unique • Only state government program monitoring rare plants and significant geologic features • Establish voluntary land management agreements with landowners • Promote outdoor education and scientific research • Natural Areas Act passed in 1977; re-authorized in 1988, 1999, and 2004

Established Natural Areas: • 93 sites designated • 180,000 acres designated

Recent Successes • Statewide coordination of rare plant conservation for Colorado’s rarest plant species • Work with oil and gas companies and private landowners to protect significant areas • Coordinating Natural Area Volunteers who annually provide monitoring of Natural Areas • Extensive work with the State Land Board to assist with property monitoring and protection

Benefits of Natural Areas: • Public recognition of landowner’s exemplary stewardship • Can help to avoid federal endangered species listings through protection of rare species and habitats • Serve as examples of native conditions for restoration, research, and education • Long-term monitoring and conservation actions may prevent species extinction, and support species recovery

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Volunteer Responsibility Overview

Our program relies upon our highly skilled and motivated volunteers to monitor our outstanding natural areas. We consider our volunteers to be citizen scientists who provide us with high quality observations and data. With that in mind, we have a few things that we ask all of our volunteers to do so that our program can remain effective.

We ask that our volunteers:

Visit their site at least once a year and fill out a site evaluation field form on the condition and attributes of the site.

Perform photo monitoring by taking photos from the same locations each year so we have a photo record of changes over time.

Submit their completed field form and their total volunteer hours to us before year's end.

Report any management concerns directly to CNAP; we will address the land owner/manager if action is warranted.

Volunteer Insurance Overview

As a CPW/CNAP volunteer you are eligible for insurance coverage while performing your volunteer duties. To receive this coverage you must sign the CPW Volunteer Agreement and Waiver. Please contact staff if you have not signed this form.

For information on CPW volunteer insurance coverage, program overview, expectations and responsibilities, and other policies, please refer to the CPW Volunteer Handbook available on-line at http://cpw.state.co.us/PVDocs/Volunteer-Handbook.pdf or contact CNAP staff for a copy.

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Field Visit To-Do List The following is a checklist to review prior to your natural area site visit:

If your site is owned by the State Land Board, you must follow the SLB access procedures provided in your packet and contact the lessee, district manager, and CC CNAP staff ahead of time.

If your site is under private ownership, contact the land owner and let them know of your plans to visit (see contact information provided in your packet).

Check driving directions to your site.

Be prepared! o Have a plan (think about where to go and what you want to observe this visit).

CNAP staff may provide site visit goals for your site. o Bring a sample field form to guide your observations. o Review your maps and other site specific information (plant lists, Element

Occurrence Records, notes from prior site visits). o Also bring: sunscreen, water, snacks, first aid kit, extra layers, etc. Preparation in

the field is the key to your safety in the field. o Also be sure to have a camera, the maps, plant/animal guides, and all other

important site information.

Visit your natural area o Use your field notebook to take general notes o Fill out as much as you can in the “CNAP Volunteer Field Form” o Conduct photo monitoring: If photo monitoring points are established, be sure

to take photos from each point and write down the photo #’s in your field notebook.

o Take photos! Please take additional photos of species you cannot identify, unusual conditions (i.e. damage, flooding, drought, etc.), etc.

o If you note any new Element Occurrences for rare species, fill out the respective EO field form and submit it with your report

When you are all done, send the forms to CNAP electronically to: dnr_cnap@state.co.us Or mail to: Colorado Natural Areas Program Attn: Raquel Wertsbaugh 6060 Broadway Denver, CO 80216

Please make sure you include how many hours you spent volunteering (include time spent preparing, corresponding, traveling, visiting and report-writing) and your mileage to the site on your field form.

Thank you for your efforts!

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Sample Volunteer Field Form

The Field Form is your most important tool for recording observations at your Natural Area. We ask that, every time you make a visit, you fill in a form as completely as possible and then return it to us. We use your report to help us assess the health of your Natural Area, and we forward your findings to the land manager. We have populated this Sample Form with helpful examples of what kind of information we are looking for. NATURAL AREA: South Boulder Creek NA

STEWARD: Your Name

DATE OF VISIT: 6/22/2014 TIME OF DAY: 9am – 3pm

HOURS AT SITE: 6 hrs TRAVEL TIME: 40 min round trip

PREP and WRAP-UP Time: 2 hrs MILEAGE: 30

WEATHER/CONDITIONS: Sunny, calm, high of 85 degrees

WILDLIFE, FISH, & INSECTS

BIRDS– List any birds, nests or roosting sites, or other sign observed.

Western meadowlarks, variety of sparrows, possible red tailed hawk nest (observed adult red

tailed hawk sitting on branch near nest)

MAMMALS – List any wildlife, tracks or sign observed.

Mule deer, tracks and scat also seen

Coyote - flushed it from thick brush

Burrows observed with no mounds- likely ground squirrels

REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS – List species or sign observed. Note any evidence of breeding.

An abundance of Chorus frogs (could tell from calls) in a wet meadow. Possibly a Northern

Leopard Frog, but I didn’t get a great look at it (no photo).

FISH – List any species observed. No fish were seen, but habitat is present

INSECTS AND INSECT ACTIVITY – Are there signs of excessive insect herbivory (tree borers, locusts, etc.)?

The southernmost parcel had an abundance of tent caterpillars.

Emerald Ash Borer is in Boulder County, but I saw no dead/injured ash trees during my visit.

List any unusual or rare insects or insect habitat (nests or mounds) you

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encountered, if any. List or describe any Butterflies.

Viceroy butterfly, various Swallowtails

PLANTS RARE PLANTS – Observable species of rare plants, if any.

Ute's Ladies Tresses Orchid - I saw between 25-40 in a meadow north of Hwy 36. They appeared to be

healthy with little indication of human disturbance within the plant population.

WEEDS/NON-NATIVES – Common names of species present, location and relative extent

of each species (or, sketch on map). Are there more or less than last year?

Pasture grasses (Smooth brome, Orchard grass, etc.) were abundant in the floodplain.

Common Teasel, two large populations west of Cherryvale road. A third population near Baseline road

appeared to have been sprayed.

Crack Willow abundant along the riparian areas.

AQUATIC, WETLAND, RIPARIAN AREAS (if applicable) WATER– Note any changes including evidence of storm events (sedimentation, erosion, debris, etc), turbidity , unusual flow conditions, or obstructions in streams. Note amount

and condition of submerged and emergent vegetation (if you know species, please list).

Flow was high from spring runoff. The water was clear.

WETLAND/RIPARIAN AREAS – Note condition of any riparian areas, including evidence of vehicular travel through streams or wetlands, trampling, erosion, damage to vegetation, etc. Record amount and condition of riparian cover (If you know species,

please list).

Riparian areas are choked with Crack Willows, very few young Cottonwoods to be found.

HUMAN IMPACTS: VEHICLES a) Are there new tracks from off-highway vehicles (ATVs, motorcycles or 4-wheelers) or evidence of increased use since last visit? YES__x_ NO ___ Not applicable (N/A) ___

b) Are roads suffering from erosion? YES ____ NO _X__ N/A ___

c) Have vehicle barriers been removed or detoured? YES ____ NO __x__ N/A ___

If Yes to a, b or c above, please explain:

I saw a new two-track cutting through a meadow north of the bike path. It appeared to be created

by a truck, possibly a work vehicle from the city.

TRAILS AND CAMPING a) Is there evidence of newer ‘social’ (user created) trails? YES ___ NO _x__ N/A ___

b) Are established trails (if any) in need of repair? YES __x_ NO ___ N/A ___

c) Are the official campsites in need of attention? YES ___ NO ___ N/A _x__ d) Are new non-compliant campsites becoming established? YES ___ NO ___ N/A _x__

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e) Is there evidence of human caused fire, including campfires? YES _x__NO ___ N/A ___

If Yes to any of the above (a through e), please explain:

The flood event of 2013 significantly damage the established hiking trails (they are incised for much of

their length, down to a couple of feet in some locations, resembling a water ditch more than a trail).

I did not find any newly created social trails, the “old” social trails are also badly eroded from a few years

ago. A new fire ring was found in a grove of Crack Willows (various bits of trash were found there too).

OTHER HUMAN IMPACTS a) TRASH – Are there areas where litter is a problem, including roadside dumping? YES __x__ NO ____ N/A ___

b) VANDALISM – Did you see evidence of vandalism (tagging, graffiti, shot holes, defacing of natural features or signs, tree carving)? YES ____ NO __x__ N/A ___

c) FENCES/GRAZING – Is the fencing in need of repair? YES _x___ NO ____ N/A ___ Is there evidence of unauthorized livestock grazing (please ask CNAP staff if unsure of grazing

lease or allotment)? YES ____ NO __x__ N/A ___

d) Is there evidence of any other human impacts (damage to geological features from climbing, etc)? YES ____ NO ____ N/A _x__

If Yes to any of the above (a through d), please explain: Trash at few locations, including the mentioned fire pit area. A portion of the fence on the north

most boundary was badly damaged (it spans the creek and was likely impacted by flood event).

NATURAL IMPACTS Have there been landslides, blowdowns, natural fires, flooding? YES _x_ NO ___ N/A __

If Yes, please explain:

The flood event of 2013 caused significant impacts throughout the natural area.

MANAGEMENT ISSUES ADJACENT LANDS – List any construction, logging, mining or recreation, outside of the Natural Area boundary that could affect the area through erosion, degradation of aquatic resources, introduction of weeds, or other indirect impacts.

The highway 36 expansion is occurring near the natural area boundaries. This could possible

cause some erosion or weed introduction issues.

Is any construction or development occurring within the Natural Area?

None observed

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS - What is your final overall impression of the site?

The site is in good condition despite the flood impacts/presence of weeds. Rare plant populations

appeared to be in good shape.

CHANGES - How has the site changed since last visit? (degraded, improved, no change,

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heavy use, healthier vegetation from wet season, etc.)

The main change was the significant damage to trails/fences caused by the flood event of 2013. Weed

populations seemed similar to previous years.

MANAGEMENT CONCERNS – Please list any management concerns you feel are important for this site. Concerns might include issues such as new weed infestations, increase in visitor use, sensitive areas, fencing, signage, etc.

My primary concern is the abundance of weed species, particularly the dense Teasel populations.

PHOTOGRAPHS: PHOTO MONITORING POINTS: Please name each photo monitoring point with the 4-letter code of your Natural Area and then a sequence beginning with 001, followed by the letter P. For more than one photo at a monitoring point, add the letter for the direction of photos. Example: the first photo monitoring point at Aiken Canyon is AICA001P. For a photo from that monitoring pointing looking east: AICA001PE. Please record filename, direction of photo, and note location. If you can, please provide UTM coordinates (NAD 1983) or upload a sketch of route on a topo map and number and note photopoints on the map. Please reference any nearby landmarks. PHOTO FILENAME

DIRECTION OF PHOTO

LANDMARK(S) / LOCATION NOTES / UTM COORDINATES

Example: AICA001PE

East Standing directly west of

entrance sign

13N E194770 N4409287

SOBO001PN North Wet Meadow north of creek 13N E194565 N4407327

SOBO001P

W

West Wet Meadow north of creek 13N E194565 N4407327

SOBO001PS South Wet Meadow north of creek 13N E194565 N4407327

OTHER PHOTOGRAPHS Include any photos of general management concerns, landscapes, wildlife, tracks or sign, plants or animals needing ID (for plants, we’ll need a closeup of leaves and flowers). PHOTO FILENAME

DIRECTION OF PHOTO

SUBJECT(S) NOTES / UTM COORDINATES

SOBO003 Ute’s Ladies Tresses Wet Meadow North of Creek

SOBO004 Chorus Frog Streamside, east of Baseline Rd.

SOBO005 Teasel Infestation Along Cherryvale Road

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Evaluating Site Condition Landscape evaluation is a skill that takes experience and practice. This document is intended as brief introduction to recognizing ecological processes, land use history, and understanding or interpreting their effects on plants, animals, and communities. What are examples of ecological processes?

Erosion, climate, soil development, fire, flood, landslide, windthrow What are examples of land uses?

Logging, mining, livestock grazing, recreation, habitation, road development How do you recognize these processes in the real world? Ecological processes are often difficult to see in action. They can be slow acting and their impacts only discernible over long periods of time. Alternatively they can be extremely brief events with long lasting effects. In the latter case we usually only see the aftermath, not the initial event.

Fire: Look for fire scars on trees or fence posts, or charcoal in the upper soil layers, characteristic shape of fire tracks on slopes in brushy country. Flood: Look for fresh sand deposits, trash in trees and bushes, species that indicate disturbance (scouring rush). Landslide: New ones are easy to spot, but old ones are harder. Lumpy landscapes can be glacial or landslide derived. This depends on elevation, slope position and geology. Windthrow: Look for areas with trees of different sizes all in the same state of decomposition, many with broken trunks or rootballs. These may be recent or very old.

It is also important to consider what is not there… E.g., why are there no prairie dogs in this prairie? Why are there no young cottonwood trees or willows on the bank of this stream? Other things to look for when trying to determine the trend of the site: What is old? Look for the oldest trees and note the species – is it the same as the younger trees? Healing stream banks are evidence of past erosion no longer occurring. Pedestalled grass clumps are evidence of sheet erosion – if the ground between is bare, then erosion is ongoing; otherwise it is a past occurrence. What is new? Look for the young trees – what species are they? Other examples include trees cut recently by beavers and raw, eroding stream banks (make sure it is both banks, not just the cutbank opposite a point bar). Researching the land use history before visiting a site is a good idea. Often the land manager can provide detailed information about how the site has been used over the years. In many cases CNAP has this information on hand. Be sure to compare the land use history to your own observations to see how well they seem to fit together. Remains of old infrastructure can often give you an idea of prior land use.

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Points to keep in mind if Natural Area is grazed by livestock:

Assessing the condition of Natural Areas that are grazed by livestock can be complex and challenging. If

you suspect that grazing may be having an impact on the plant community or other features you are

assessing, remember the following points and take good notes of the conditions you observe.

Comparing a pasture to neighboring land is not always useful. You may not know when the land

you are visiting was last grazed or is planned for grazing. Most ranchers change the timing,

duration and intensity of grazing on a given pasture from year to year.

Understand what grazing looks like. The majority of plant species and communities have evolved

with grazing, browsing, and other natural disturbance such as fire. An absence of these events

can often be detrimental to plant communities. In addition, many wildlife species depend on

varying stages of plant succession for their existence and survival.

Not all impacts are from recent grazing. Arid lands in particular may show evidence or be

recovering from impacts that occurred years ago. Learning the land use history of the site is a

key step.

Short-term, intensive grazing, followed by an extended recovery period is preferable in many

cases. This mimics how native grazers like bison herds traveled across the landscape throughout

most parts of Colorado, grazing heavily and then not returning for a year or more.

If a particular site looks like it might have been heavily grazed, take note of the following items in your report:

o Are you able to tell how recently the site was grazed? Were livestock present during your visit? Did the SLB lessee mention it to you when you arranged access? How old do the cowpies appear?

o Are wetlands or other areas being impacted by hoof action? If so, is it possible to determine which species make the hoof prints?

o Is there evidence of other grazers (such as elk, prairie dogs)?

o Do you know what the local weather conditions have been? Unusually dry, rainy, or flooding events?

Finally, remember that a finding of “overgrazing” or overstocking is a professional determination

made by a qualified range manager and often involves long-term range monitoring tools like

vegetation transects. If you suspect that grazing is having an undue impact on the Natural Area,

be sure to take good notes and photographs and report your concerns to the Natural Areas

Coordinator who will contact the land manager.

If you have a concern or question about a Natural Area, please contact CNAP staff.

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Guide to CNAP Volunteer Steward Maps Volunteer Steward maps are created to serve as a guide to a particular Natural Area. The types of maps we may provide to our Volunteers may include:

o A locator map, used to drive to the Natural Area and to get perspective on the regional location.

o Geologic maps showing the Natural Area boundary and the underlying geology (if

applicable).

o Maps including distinctive features of the Natural Area that may include: o Features mapped by CNAP staff or acquired from the landowner. This may

include locations of roads, trails, monitoring transects, gates, fences, etc. o Element Occurrence records (EOs) from the Colorado Natural Heritage Program.

These ‘polygon’ shapes show the locations of sensitive features that have been mapped in the area. There are three categories of EORs that CNAP may include on the map:

Category 1: These polygons are the most accurately mapped and are based on relatively recent data (from the last 20 years). If you have Category 1 data on your maps, you can be reasonably sure that you should be able to see it in the field at all the locations where it was mapped.

Category 2: These polygons may be used to locate EOs in field, but mapping reliability is more suspect. These data are older and less accurately mapped, so you may not be able to see the sensitive feature on the ground in all (or any) of the locations where it appears on your map.

Category 3: These polygons have been found on or in the vicinity of the Natural Area in the past, but you may not reliably navigate to the significant feature on the ground. Usually these features are mentioned in a text box and not mapped as polygons on the map. They are things you should keep an eye out for, but may not be found in the Natural Area.

o Grids are found on the outside of each map border to assist you in locating your position on the map with a GPS unit. Grids are provided in UTMs and Lat/Long.

o Electronic maps provided by CNAP are geospatial PDFs and can be read with the Avenza Maps app. This app shows your current location on the map, in real time, with no cellular connection and allows you to “drop a pin” as a waypoint, functioning like a GPS. For more information, see the Apps section in the List of Basic References below.

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Understanding CNHP Element Occurrence (EO) Forms

CNAP maps will typically feature polygons provided by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) that indicate the presence of a tracked element (a rare species or plant community). Element Occurrence records (EOs) are how CNHP tracks these rare elements throughout Colorado. We provide you with existing EOs for your site because they often contain useful location/direction information for an element beyond what is provided in CNAP maps. When someone encounters a new, unmapped rare element, they can complete a new EO form. This form includes the name of the species or plant community, location information, and information regarding associated species and habitat. Submitting a new EO to CNHP lets them add to their ever growing database of rare plant, wildlife, and plant community locations. Once received by CNHP, a new EO is assigned a unique identifier (EO_ID) and is mapped. This EO_ID number allows CNHP and CNAP to keep track this particular population and return to it in the future. In addition to recording locations of new rare elements, an EO form can be used to update information about an existing EO record. For instance, when CNAP staff visit an EO in the field, they can provide updated population and mapping information to CNHP staff by submitting a new EO form for that EO_ID. We have included blank EO forms in your field packet, and have also sent you data dictionaries for these forms electronically. The Data Dictionaries simply break down and explain the individual fields on the EO form (they can be a bit complicated the first time you fill one out). While completing EO forms is not a requirement of CNAP volunteers we want you to be aware of this tool. If you choose to fill out an EO form, please send a copy of your completed form to CNAP at dnr_cnap@state.co.us. We can submit it to CNHP for you. If you have any additional GPS points or even a location hand-drawn on a map, please include that as well. If you would like more information on how to complete new or update existing EOs, please don't hesitate to contact us. For information about what species CNHP tracks please visit http://www.cnhp.colostate.edu/. Under the tab “Our Teams” you will find information on tracked rare plants under “Botany”, tracked vertebrates and invertebrates under “Zoology”, and tracked plant communities under “Ecology”.

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Guide to Volunteer Steward Photo Monitoring

The intent of photo monitoring points is to maintain a visual record of an area or areas within the site that can serve to record change over time. The exact location of the points are at the steward’s discretion – you know your site - but here are some instructions for establishing photo monitoring points in general.

Taking pictures and establishing photo monitoring points

1) How should I pick the photo monitoring point?

Choose an area with the most potential for environmental change, either natural or man-made. For example: streams, areas near campsites, areas with weeds nearby, etc.

Pick a permanent natural feature (such as a mature tree or unusual rock formation) for use as a landmark to identify the location.

Don’t drive a stake or other marker into the ground. The landmark should be distinctive enough for others (such as Natural Areas staff) to locate it.

2) How many photo monitoring points are necessary?

The number of points will depend on:

The size of the site.

The number of potentially impacted or sensitive features and areas.

Multiple points will probably be necessary, but please establish no more than 10 per site (more than that may become difficult for us to keep up with).

3) How should I take the photos?

We welcome photos in a digital format.

From the photo-monitoring point, photos should preferably be taken in the four cardinal directions– North, East, South and West. Verify each direction with a compass bearing before photographing.

Sometimes, the four cardinal directions do not show the best features; if necessary, take four photos in the best four directions, but please record the compass bearing of each photo.

NAMING PHOTO MONITORING POINTS: Please name each photo monitoring point with the 4-letter code of your Natural Area, and then a sequence beginning with 01, and then the letter P. For example, the first photo monitoring point at Aiken Canyon is AICA01P.

PHOTO MONITORING POINT DESCRIPTION: Please record detailed descriptions to re-locate the photo monitoring points. Include landmarks and distances as needed. If possible, use a GPS to collect and record the UTM coordinates (NAD 83 datum).

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Many sites are located in canyons, riparian areas or areas where taking pictures in four directions may not be possible. If your site is a canyon or riparian area, one photo in each direction up and down will be sufficient.

IMPORTANT: It is essential to record the following information for each photo taken:

The photo number on the camera (so you can locate it later)

Name of photo monitoring points (e.g. AICA01P)

Direction of Photo (usually N, E, S, W; please record compass bearing if different from four cardinal directions)

4) What should I send CNAP Staff?

Please take GPS coordinates of the photo monitoring point location(s), or mark it on a map, and send the location(s) with your Field Form each year.

Send us the directions to each photo monitoring point. Please be as detailed as possible.

Please send all photos with all necessary information (name of photo point, direction or compass bearing of photo)

If you are sending digital photos, please name the photo file accordingly, AND PLEASE ADD THE YEAR ON THE END OF THE FILE NAME (e.g. AICA01N_2016)

A few tips: *** Consistency is more important than quantity. Once you have established photo monitoring

points and the directions the pictures will be taken, it is important to adhere to those locations and aspects every year.

*** We ask that you at least take photos from these locations every year.

*** We also encourage you to take as many additional pictures throughout

the site as you feel necessary. Details are welcome, especially unique wildlife and flowering plants.

*** There are two apps which may be helpful for recording photo monitoring photos on your phone or tablet. See the Apps section in the List of Basic References below.

NAMING PHOTOS: Please use the name of the photo point and, for each of four photos taken from that point, put a N, E, S or W on the end of the photo point name (e.g. AICA01PN, AICA01PE, etc.). However, if you don’t take the photos in the four cardinal directions, write an A, B, C or D on the end (e.g. AICA01PA); and be sure to send us information indicating what compass bearing the letter is associated with! Finally, add an underscore ( _ ) and the year (e.g. AICA01PN_2016).

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List of References for Natural Area Stewards

Plants

Many plant titles are available from the Colorado Native Plant Society at reduced prices (website: https://conps.org/conps-store/). Colorado Flora: Western Slope (fourth edition), William Weber and Ronald Wittmann, 2012, University Press of Colorado, ISBN 978-1-60732-142-2, $27.95 ($23 through CoNPS). An authoritative guide to Colorado taxonomy. This, and the next two titles, are for fairly dedicated botanists. Colorado Flora: Eastern Slope (fourth edition), William Weber and Ronald Wittmann, 2012, University Press of Colorado, ISBN 978-1-60732-140-8; $27.95 ($23 through CoNPS). Flora of Colorado Jennifer Ackerfield, 2015, Brit Press, ISBN-13: 978-1-889878-45-4, ($65 through CoNPS). A new flora for Colorado! This comprehensive dichotomous key covers the entire flora of the state and includes many color photographs. Trees & Shrubs of Colorado Jack L. Carter, 2006, Johnson Books, ISBN 0965840417. A comprehensive dichotomous key to shrubs and trees of Colorado, includes many color photos and illustrations.

A Simplified Guide to Common Colorado Grasses, Janet Wingate, Wingate Consulting, ISBN 0-9647543-2-0, ($3.25 through CoNPS). For those of you who want to try your hand at grasses, this is a simple and condensed key for the state. Grasses of Colorado, Robert Shaw, 2012, University Press of Colorado, ISBN 1607321394, ($27.50 through CoNPS). This book has excellent line drawings of grasses, and is most helpful to check your identification after using Weber’s or Wingate’s key. Alpine Plants of North America: An Encyclopedia of Mountain Flowers from the Rockies to Alaska, Graham Nicholls, 2002, ISBN 0-88192-548-9. $49.95. A great reference to alpine plant genera. Some of his research comes from the Mt. Evans area. Land Above the Trees, Ann Zwinger and Beatrice Willard, 1996, Johnson Books, Boulder, ISBN 1-55566-171-8, $19.95. A now-classic ecological treatise on North American tundra with emphasis on Colorado and lots of black-and-white plant sketches. North American Wildland Plants, A Field Guide, Second Edition, James Stubbendieck, Stephan L. Hatch & Neal M. Bryan, 2011, University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln and London, ISBN 0803234856,$25 on Amazon. This guide covers common rangeland plants in the Western U.S.A., with clear description information and line drawings.

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Field Guide to Colorado’s Wetland Plants: Identification, Ecology and Conservation, Denise Culver and Joanna Lemly, 2013, Vision Graphics, Inc., Loveland, ISBN 9780615746494, $39.95 available: http://www.cnhp.colostate.edu/cwic/ident/fieldGuide.aspx. This guide presents color photographs and line drawings of most of Colorado’s wetland flora. Plant Identification Websites: Al and Betty Schneider’s SW Colorado Wildflowers: http://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com/ Eastern Colorado Wildflowers: http://www.easterncoloradowildflowers.com/ Grasses of North America: http://herbarium.usu.edu/webmanual/ USDA Plants Database: http://plants.usda.gov/java/ SEINet: http://swbiodiversity.org/portal/index.php (With this website, you can search online herbarium records from almost all herbariums in the southwest. This site is extremely helpful for checking identification. You can even zoom into your location on a map, and generate a list of all the species collected at that location.) CNHP Rare Plant Guide: http://www.cnhp.colostate.edu/download/projects/rareplants/list.asp?list=master

Rare Species and Ranks

The Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) lists the species for which it keeps track of (map) occurrences and has had a relative rarity rank assigned. Species are divided into vascular plant species, plant community, and animal species. Below are links to some of the lists. Tracked Vascular Plant Species: http://www.cnhp.colostate.edu/download/list/vascular.asp Tracked Plant Communities: http://www.cnhp.colostate.edu/download/list/communities.asp Tracked Amphibians and Reptiles: http://www.cnhp.colostate.edu/download/list/amphibians_reptiles.asp Tracked Birds: http://www.cnhp.colostate.edu/download/list/birds.asp Tracked Mammals: http://www.cnhp.colostate.edu/download/list/mammals.asp CNHP Reports: http://www.cnhp.colostate.edu/download/reports.aspx (All of the CNHP research reports and Potential Conservation Area (PCA) reports are available for free at this site). Weeds CWMA Noxious Weeds of Colorado Booklet, 12th Edition, A handy pocket sized booklet with high quality photos of plants on Colorado’s noxious weeds list. http://www.shop.cwma.org/ ($7.00) Weeds of the West, Tom Whitson, editor, 2002, University of Wyoming Resource Center. ISBN 0941570-13-4, $35.00 ($21 through CoNPS). An exhaustive field guide with great photos, covering the West. Note: This manual was written from the range management perspective, so it contains a number of native plants.

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Mammals

A Field Guide to the Mammals (Peterson series), William Burt, 1980, Houghton Mifflin, ISBN 0-395-91098-6, $18.00. Covers all of North America, but is a good basic reference. Mammals of Colorado, (second edition) David Armstrong, James Fitzgerald, and Carron Meaney, 2011, University Press of Colorado, ISBN 978-1-60732-047-0, $52.99 hardcover. The standard desk reference, only for the serious. A Field Guide to Animal Tracks (Peterson series), Olaus Murie, 1982 (original 1954), Houghton Mifflin, ISBN 0-395-91094-3, $18.00. A classic on tracks, scat, markings, sign; packed with great natural history observations. Mammal Tracks and Signs: A Guide to North American Species, Mark Elbroch, 2003, ISBN 0-8117-2626-6. An NOBA winner, this guy is really into it. His photos are almost too detailed. The book has great narrative as well, so it’s interesting to read while you learn. The Guide to Colorado Mammals, Mary Taylor Young, 2012, Fulcrum Publishing. ISBN 978-1555915834. $20.48. Available from Amazon.com.

Birds

Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas II, Lynn Wickersham, editor, 2016, $75.00 + shipping and handling. This is a fantastic book. Everyone in Colorado interested in birds should have one. Available: http://cobreedingbirdatlasii.org/buy.html National Geographic Field Guide To The Birds Of North America, 4th Edition, 2002, National Geographic Society. ISBN 0792268776. $21.95. Sibley’ Field Guide to Birds of Western North America, 2003, ISBN 0679451218, $19.95. The Guide to Colorado Birds, Mary Taylor Gray, 1998, Westcliffe Publishers, Inc., Englewood, ISBN 1-56579-283-1, $22.95. Organized by family with great color photographs. A Photographic Guide to North American Raptors, Brian K. Wheeler and William S. Clark, 1995, Princeton University Press, Princeton, ISBN 0-691-11644-0. $21.48 at Barnes and Noble. In depth information and lots of color photographs.

Reptiles & Amphibians

Amphibians and Reptiles in Colorado (second edition), Geoffrey Hammerson, University Press of Colorado & Colorado Division of Wildlife, 1999, ISBN 0-87081-534-2, $29.95. The Guide to Colorado Reptiles and Amphibians, Mary Taylor Young, 2011, Fulcrum Publishing. ISBN 978-1555915841. $19.67. Available from Amazon.com.

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Reptile and Amphibian Websites: Colorado Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation: http://www.coparc.org/ (Species information with great pictures, habitat distribution, and updated species names). Insects An Illustrated Guide to the Mountain Stream Insects of Colorado, Second Edition, Ward,Kondratieff, and Zuellig, 2002, University Press of Colorado. ISBN 0-87081-653-5. $19.95. Available from CU bookstore. Butterflies of the Colorado Front Range, Janet R. Chu and Stephen R. Jones, 2011, Boulder County Nature Association. ISBN 978-0983702009. $12.50. Available from Amazon.com (Note: Front Range species only). Also online: http://coloradofrontrangebutterflies.com/ Guide to Colorado Insects, Whitney Cranshaw and Boris Kondratieff, 2006, Westcliffe Publishers, Inc., Englewood, ISBN 1-56579-521-0. $19.95. Excellent general overview and introduction to the classification of insects. National Audubon Society Field Guide to Butterflies, Michael Pyle, 1981, ISBN 0394519140. $19.00. Butterflies of North America (Kaufman Focus Guides), Jim P. Brock and Kenn Kaufman, 2006, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ISBN 0618768262. $15.96 on Amazon.

General

A Sierra Club Naturalist's Guide – The Southern Rockies, Audrey Benedict, 1991, Sierra Club Books, San Francisco, ISBN 0-87156-647-8, $19.00. The best overall book on Colorado natural history.

From Grassland to Glacier: The Natural History of Colorado and the Surrounding Region, Cornelia Fleisher Mutel and John C. Emerick, 1992, Johnson Books, ISBN 978-1555660895, $24.95 Amazon.com. Another excellent reference on Colorado natural history.

Pathology

Insects and Diseases of Woody Plants of the Central Rockies, Multiple Authors, 2004. Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Publication 506A. $40.00

Geology

Geology of Colorado Illustrated, Dell Foutz, 1994, published by "Your Geologist," Grand Junction, ISBN 0-9640523-0-x, $19.95. Easily understood with lots of pictures, drawings, tables, and interesting rock stuff.

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Roadside Geology of Colorado, Halka Chronic, 1980, Mountain Press Publishing, Missoula, Montana, ISBN 0-87842-105-x, $16.00. Good for travel, but you need a companion along to read it as you go.

Maps

Colorado Atlas and Gazetteer (9th edition, 2011) With an atlas, don't always trust that the backroads are accurate (see BLM, below). BLM "Surface Management Status" maps, 56 maps, 1:100,000-scale, covering the state, $4.00 each. These are available from the BLM state office in Lakewood (2850 Youngfield St., 303- 239-3600), or at local district offices around the state. These offer the best authority on both surface ownership and accuracy of back roads. For more information, check here: http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en.html. You can also download a pdf of the map at no charge here: http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Programs/geographical_sciences/gis/100kMapIndex.html USFS National Forest maps, ~1:125,000-scale, various dates, by forest, $4.00 or $6.00 each (paper/plastic). A set of 12 maps good for general orientation and travel within the forests and grasslands and their locales (website is http://www.fs.fed.us/maps/forest-maps.shtml ). Not statewide coverage. The plastic-coated variety is best for the field. Training Resources CO Native Plant Master Program: http://www.extension.colostate.edu/jefferson/npm/npm.shtml CO Native Plant Society Workshops and Field Trips: https://conps.org/workshops/ and https://conps.org/field-trips/ Denver Botanic Gardens: www.botanicgardens.org DBG offers a variety of classes, workshops, and volunteer training programs. Apps Available for purchase through Google Play (for Android devices) or iTunes App Store (iPhone) Plant ID: Colorado Rocky Mountain Wildflowers App ($9.99), by Al Schneider Colorado Wetland Field Guide Mobile App (Free), based on the book “Field Guide to Colorado’s Wetland Plants: Identification, Ecology and Conservation,” by D. Culver and J. Lemly Colorado Plants (Android only on Google Play, $29.99), a complete flora on your device: by Flora ID project, a botanical education and research non-profit Birds: Merlin Bird ID (Free), Includes 750 North American birds iBird Pro ($14.99), includes birds of North America and a feature to limit the search to your geographic location Raptor ID ($9.99) by HawkWatch International

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Geosciences: Flyover Country (Free), view offline geologic maps and interactive points of geoscience interest along your route, funded by National Science Foundation. Learn more at: http://fc.umn.edu/ Photo Monitoring: Smart Compass (Free), by Smart Tools. This app displays the GPS point and direction of your photo as an overlay on the photo. Grass Snap (Free), developed by the University of Nebraska for monitoring rangelands with repeatable photo monitoring. Learn more at: http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/centralsandhills/grasssnap/ Maps: Avenza Maps (Free). Electronic maps provided by CNAP are geospatial PDFs and can be read with this app, which shows your current location on the map, in real time, with no cellular connection. This app can also store waypoints, functioning as a GPS device. See: http://www.nwcg.gov/sites/default/files/gsc/FireGIS-2-PDF-maps-for-smartphones-and-tablets.pdf for a comprehensive guide to using this app and learn more at: https://www.avenzamaps.com/

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Colorado Natural Areas Program

Frequently Asked Questions When and how was the Colorado Natural Areas Program (CNAP) established? The Colorado Natural Areas Program was established by state legislation with the signing of the Colorado Natural Areas Act in 1977. What are the goals of the Colorado Natural Areas Program? The Program was established to identify, evaluate and protect specific examples of natural features and phenomena as enduring resources for present and future generations, through a statewide system of Designated Natural Areas. Who manages the Colorado Natural Areas Program? The Colorado Natural Areas Program is a small program housed within Colorado Parks and Wildlife, a Division of the Department of Natural Resources. CNAP is administered by one full-time coordinator and seasonal or contract staff. There is a 7 member Governor appointed council, the Colorado Natural Area Council, which serves as an advisory board to the program. What is a Colorado Natural Area? A Colorado Natural Area is a property which has received a Colorado Natural Areas Designation following the signing of an agreement between the landowner and the State of Colorado. Natural Areas Designation is bestowed upon properties with at least one unique or high-quality natural feature of statewide significance and exemplary management to conserve that feature. Colorado Natural Areas often contain multiple natural features of statewide, or even national or worldwide, significance. What types of natural features are considered for the Natural Areas Designation? Colorado Natural Areas are designated for high-quality populations of rare plants, rare plant communities, habitat for rare wildlife, and significant geologic and paleontologic features. Why are Colorado Natural Areas important? Colorado Natural Areas represent the “best of the best” of significant natural features in Colorado. This recognition highlights the conservation value of these special areas and acknowledges outstanding landowner stewardship. There is no other statewide program within Colorado that provides a system for recognizing these unique natural places. How are Colorado Natural Areas protected? Natural Areas are primarily protected by recognition of the significant features and the exemplary management of the landowner. By being placed on our registry, the Program has identified this area to be a place to monitor over time. Program staff assesses the status of the site on a triennial basis, and reports site condition to the Governor.

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What type of agreement is involved in a designation? The agreement, referred to as the Articles of Designation, is voluntary and it identifies the owner/manager of the property, the legal description and location, the significant natural resource features of the property, and outlines the rights and duties of the landowner and the Program. Can lands of any type of ownership be designated as Natural Areas? Yes. Natural Areas can be designated on any type of land ownership, including private, federal, state, local or land-trust holdings. Who manages Colorado Natural Areas? Management of Colorado Natural Areas is the responsibility of the landowner and/or their designated land manager. Does Colorado Natural Areas designation change property ownership? No. The ownership of the property remains the same. Does Natural Areas Designation invoke land use restrictions? No. Any uses of State Natural Area lands are at the discretion of the landowner/manager. However, the agreement signed between the landowner and the State to create a Natural Area does constitute a management agreement, and land use restrictions may be mutually agreed upon at the time of signing. Is Natural Areas Designation permanent? Yes, unless the voluntary agreement is terminated. The Natural Area Designation is attached to the deed of the property, and will be transferred to new ownership if the property is sold or transferred. If a Natural Area is damaged, will the Natural Areas Designation be withdrawn? The Program may de-designate a property if the significant feature(s) for which is it was designated for become degraded and/or no longer fit the criteria of a Colorado Natural Area. Potential sites for de-designation will be evaluated by CNAP staff, Colorado Natural Areas Council, and possibly other natural resource experts. How are Colorado Natural Areas selected? Areas are either nominated for designation by interested landowners or identified by staff after consultation with a panel of experts. With landowner permission, staff evaluates site condition and proposes Natural Areas boundaries. Criteria include ecological and physical condition, representation in the system, disturbance, size and buffer, and management. How does an area become a Designated Colorado Natural Area? Landowner interest must be given in writing for the Program to pursue designation. Articles of Designation are drafted and agreed upon by Program staff and the landowner. Designation requires approval by the Colorado Natural Areas Council and the Parks and Wildlife

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Commission. County Commissioners will be notified of pending designation and a hearing may be requested. Upon approval by the Parks and Wildlife Commission, designation will be recorded with the County Clerk. Articles of Designation will be signed, and a Certificate of Designation, signed by the governor, will be given to the landowner. Does each owner get a certificate? Yes. When a Natural Area is designated, the landowner will receive a certificate of designation signed by the Governor of Colorado, Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources, and Chair of the Colorado Natural Areas Council. What are the benefits to the landowner who participates? The designation of a State Natural Area recognizes a landowner's/manager’s outstanding environmental stewardship, and documents the significant natural value of the site in the context of Colorado. Designation provides enhanced awareness of the conservation value to land use decision-makers and public land users. These conservation actions and long standing partnerships with the state may help to avoid listing of species under the Endangered Species Act, prevent species extinction, and support species recovery. Can the Natural Areas Program provide landowners with funds to manage Natural Area resources? The Program typically provides in-kind services, rather than financial support. The Program can provide assistance by monitoring sensitive areas with staff and volunteer stewards, opportunities for expert scientific review and research of significant features of the property, as well as access to the Program’s network of partners and knowledge of resources to support conservation and stewardship. Are Colorado Natural Areas open to the public? A Natural Areas Designation does not require that the area be open to the public. Property access is at the discretion of the land owner/manager. In many areas, public access (including recreation) is either closed or discouraged in order to protect sensitive resources. How large are Colorado Natural Areas? Individual Natural Areas vary in size from 5 acres to almost 13,000 acres. Do Colorado Natural Areas boundaries coincide with other protected area boundaries? Not always, but often. The Program has had various agreements with land management agencies to pursue Natural Areas Designation of lands with special conservation status, such as the BLM’s Area of Critical Environmental Concern. Our designation adds an extra layer of recognition and conservation support to the significant feature(s), as well as acknowledging the commitment of the landowner for exemplary management of these features. Where do I go for further information? For further information, please visit our website at http://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/CNAP.aspx or contact us at dnr_cnap@state.co.us.