Wetlands of the San Luis Valley, Colorado: An Ecological Study and Analysis of the Hydrologic Regime, Soil Chemistry, Vegetation and the Potential Effects of a Water Table Drawdown
Cooper DJ and Severn C. 1992. Wetlands of the San Luis Valley, Colorado: An Ecological Study and Analysis of the Hydrologic Regime, Soil Chemistry, Vegetation and the Potential Effects of a Water Table Drawdown. Boulder, CO
The northern San Luis Valley in south-central Colorado is an intermountain basin surrounded by high mountains. Streams from the San Juan, Sangre de Cristo and Sawatch Mountains flow into the very flat basin, yet no surface outlet occurs creating a closed basin. Throughout the closed basin area the water table is high, in most places it is within 5 to 15 feet of the ground surface. Over many thousands of acres, the water table or surface water occurs at the ground surface in streams, lakes, ponds and wetlands. This abundant water creates a lush environment for plant growth which creates habitat for many different types of animals. The plants however, are the key factor in determining where animals occur and must be included in any realistic ecological perspective of Colorado's "wild life". The diversity of plant life makes the San Luis valley wetlands among the most productive habitat in Colorado, and habitat of this quality is essential to protect. The only realistic means of understanding the needs of wildlife associated with wetlands is to understand the wetland hydrologic regime and water and soil chemistry. These physical factors determine the potential of a wetland for supporting plants which form the vegetation. An integrated study of physical and biological factors that create habitat done concurrently with studies of aquatic insects and other animal use will lead to a comprehensive understanding of how a wetland functions.