U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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In-Progress Plan Status
Early 2011
Start planning
Notice of intent in Federal Register
Spring 2011
Gather public input
Summer 2011
Develop management alternatives
Winter 2013
Prepare draft plan and environmental impact statement (EIS)
Fall 2013
Release draft plan and EIS for public review
Notice of availability in Federal Register
Winter 2014
Analyze public comments
Winter 2015
Complete final EIS
Notice of availability in Federal Register
Spring 2015
Issue record of decision
Notice of availability in Federal Register
Fall 2015
Complete final plan
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex
Colorado
Description
This plan is for the following units of the San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex:
- Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge
- Baca National Wildlife Refuge
- Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge
On completion, the comprehensive conservation plan will set out the management and use of all units of the San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex for 15 years. The refuge complex covers about 106,000 acres on the valley floor of the San Luis Valley, a high mountain basin in south-central Colorado.
Migratory birds find an important stopover in a variety of refuge habitats: wet meadow, playa wetland, a diverse riparian system within the Rio Grande floodplain, desert shrubland, grassland, and cropland.
With 12,000 years of recorded human history, people have played a role in shaping these refuges.
Water is the lifeblood of the San Luis Valley and the refuges. While only 7 inches of precipitation falls each year in the valley, spring snowmelt from the Sangre de Cristo Range and the San Juan Mountains provides essential water to the valley.
We completed a comprehensive conservation plan for the Alamosa and Monte Vista Refuges in 2003 and a conceptual management plan for the newly established Baca Refuge in 2005. Current planning will build on these plans with new information. The new plan will address these refuges as part of landscape conservation in the San Luis Valley, which includes the proposed Sangre de Cristo Conservation Area and the proposed San Luis Valley Conservation Area.
Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge
The purpose of the refuge is to protect migratory birds and other wildlife.
- Authorized in 1963 and set aside under the Migratory Bird Conservation Act.
- Comprises 12,026 acres including more than 15 miles of critical riparian habitat along the Rio Grande.
- Located outside Alamosa, Colorado, in Alamosa County.
The refuge’s wet meadows, river oxbows, and riparian areas offer a wildlife oasis in this dry region. The southwestern willow flycatcher—a small neotropical songbird on the Federal endangered species list—frequents the corridor of willows and cottonwoods along the Rio Grande.
Refuge habitats support other songbirds as well as many species of waterbirds and raptors. Deer, beaver, and coyote are common mammals.
A visitor center, auto tour route, and several trails offer opportunities to learn about and view wildlife.
Waterbirds like black-necked stilts are common in the refuge complex.
Baca National Wildlife Refuge
The purpose of the refuge is to restore, enhance, and maintain habitat for native plants, fishes, and wildlife—emphasizing conservation of migratory birds. Woven into this purpose is the refuge’s role in conservation efforts throughout the broader landscape. The purpose includes using water about the same as it has been used historically.
- Authorized in 2000 under the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Act of 2000, amended 2008.
- Approved acquisition boundary of 92,500 acres. Currently comprises 78,670 acres.
- Located within Alamosa and Saguache Counties, Colorado.
The refuge includes part of the Luis Maria Baca Grant Number 4, referred to as the Baca Ranch. Wetlands, uplands, riparian areas, and other habitats support a large elk herd and a variety of other native wildlife, plants, and fishes including the Rio Grande sucker. The Nature Conservancy has the largest inholding of land within the approved acquisition boundary.
Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge
The purpose of the refuge is to protect migratory birds and other wildlife.
- Authorized in 1952 and set aside under the Migratory Bird Conservation Act.
- Comprises 14,804 acres.
- Located outside Monte Vista, Colorado, in Rio Grande County.
Mallards, northern pintails, teal, and Canada geese are common waterfowl at the refuge. Other common waterbirds are American avocets, killdeer, white-faced ibises, egrets, and herons. Irrigation canals and wells provide precious water to maintain the important wetland habitat for these birds. In addition, sandhill cranes migrating through the area in spring and fall find essential feeding habitat in refuge fields and privately owned farmland.
To enjoy the sights and sounds of the refuge, visitors travel a self-guided, interpretive auto route or walking trail.
Public involvement
To hear from us about this planning effort, you can get on our mailing list.
You can contact us by comment form, email, postal mail, telephone, or fax (refer to “Contacts” below).
Public meetings
None at this time.
Contacts
Planning team leader
Laurie Shannon
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Division of Refuge Planning
134 Union Boulevard, Suite 300
Lakewood, Colorado 80228
laurie_shannon@fws.gov
303 / 236 4317 telephone
303 / 236 4792 fax
Project email
slvrefugesplanning@fws.gov
Refuge complex email
alamosa@fws.gov
Refuge complex mailing address
San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex
9383 El Rancho Lane
Alamosa, Colorado 81101
Refuge complex street address
San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex
8249 Emperius Road
Alamosa, Colorado
Refuge complex telephone
719 / 589 4021
Refuge complex Web sites
www.fws.gov/alamosa/alamosanwr.html
www.fws.gov/alamosa/bacanwr.html
www.fws.gov/alamosa/monte%20vista.html
Alamosa–Monte Vista Refuges profile
Baca Refuge profile
Documents
Comprehensive conservation plan (CCP)
None at this time.
Planning process documents
Planning update 2 2012 (3 MB PDF)
Scoping report 2011 (4 MB PDF)
Planning update 1 2011 (2 MB PDF)
News release 1 2011 (PDF)
Notice of intent to develop a CCP 2011 (PDF)
Public involvement summary 2011 (2 MB PDF)