COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE

Growing Concern​​​​

​​​​​The shortgrass prairies of eastern Colorado have been an important component in our State's agricultural productivity, ecological diversity, and unique character for more than 150 years. Early settlers of this region found a vast sea of productive grasslands suitable for raising livestock and a vast array of wildlife species ranging from black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) and mountain plover (Charadrius montanus), to herds of American bison (Bison bison), elk (Cervus elaphus), deer (Odocoileus spp.), and Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana).   

Although livestock production remains high throughout much of the region, much has changed within the last century. Conversion of native grasslands to agricultural cropland and urban development has altered the look and character of the shortgrass prairie region. This alteration and fragmentation of the landscape has changed the level of wildlife diversity the vast landscape once supported. Concern has grown over the past several years for the long-term sustainability, diversity, and integrity of many components of the shortgrass prairie grassland ecosystem as a whole.

Colorado in Action

In June 2002, Colorado Division of Wildlife Director, Russell George, appointed a working group charged with developing a draft of a grassland species conservation plan for black-tailed prairie dog and associated species including mountain plover, burrowing owl, ferruginous hawk, and swift fox.

The Conservation Plan for Grassland Species, which the working group developed, offers objectives and actions for the conservation of black-tailed prairie dogs and associated shortgrass prairie species in Colorado. It focuses on high quality science, the development of partnerships, and voluntary non-regulatory incentives. The plan uses an adaptive management approach which includes a continuous process of planning, acting, monitoring and evaluating designed to take into account changes in ecological and social systems, to identify and evaluate new information, and to make adjustments in actions to achieve specific goals and objectives.

The Conservation Plan for Grassland Species​

Final plan approved on 11/26/2003​

These files are in PDF format.

• Executive Summary
  
• Table of Contents
  
• Introduction, Background, Policies, Goal, Management Principles, Objectives and Actions (1MB)
  
• Appendix A - Species Account - Black-tailed Prairie Dog
  
• Appendix B - Species Account - Swift Fox
  
• Appendix C - Species Account - Mountain Plover 
  
• Appendix D - Species Account - Burrowing Owl
  
• Appendix E - Species Account - Ferruginous Hawk 
  
• Appendix F - Species of Concern for Shortgrass Prairie Birds
  
• Appendix G - Summary of Ongoing Grassland Species Monitoring and Research 
  
• Appendix H - Grassland Species Working Group
  
• Appendix I - Draft Sylvatic Plague Monitoring Protocol - BTPD Conservation Team March 2002
  
• Appendix J - Implementation Plan 
  
• Appendix K - Process for Plan Modification
  
• Appendix L - Area of Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Colonies in E Colorado 
  
• Appendix M - Compilation of Public Comments (6MB)

• Entire Document (9MB)