Threatened Colorado

Canyon Country & Semi-Desert

Western and southwestern Colorado

By Threatened Colorado , Two Colorado natives , About us

Last reviewed , Checked against USFWS, CPW, NPS sources , Sources (8)

Semi-desert grasslands 4,750–7,600 ft

Canyons, mesas and dry shrublands along the Colorado, Gunnison and Dolores rivers. Kit foxes live in the semi-desert shrublands from Montrose to Grand Junction, and the Colorado River's endangered fish live in the big warm rivers that cut through this country.

Why it matters

Much of this country lies in the Colorado Plateau Province, which the Park Service describes as "deep canyons, high elevation and an arid climate." At Colorado National Monument, open stands of big sagebrush, rabbitbrush and greasewood are scattered in the canyon bottoms.

Its rivers carry four endangered or threatened fish: the bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub and razorback sucker, recovered together by the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program.

Who lives here and why

The dry shrublands have their own rare mammal. CPW says the kit fox, North America's smallest fox, lives in Colorado only in the semi-desert shrublands from Montrose to Grand Junction, and calls it "one of the state's most vulnerable mammal species." A 2007 survey for the state found suitable habitat had shrunk from about 1.83 million hectares to about 120,000, and recorded a single probable kit fox track.

Under pressure

  • Introduced predators. The Recovery Program calls smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye "the biggest obstacle to the recovery of rare native fish in the rivers." Nonnative Fish
  • Low flows. In 2020, USFWS said "persistent hot and dry weather has continued to deplete flow in the critical river reach upstream of Grand Junction, putting increasing stress on the endangered fish." Water Diversion & Dewatering

Where to see it

  • Colorado National Monument

    Canyons and mesas with piñon-juniper on the high ground and sagebrush, rabbitbrush and greasewood below.

  • Dinosaur National Monument

    The Green River runs through the Canyon of Lodore, Echo Park, Whirlpool Canyon, Island Park and Split Mountain Gorge, and the rivers provide critical habitat for several endangered fish.

  • Mesa Verde National Park

    Canyons and mesas of the Colorado Plateau, where piñon-juniper woodland, mixed grasslands and mountain shrubland are the largest plant communities.

Species in this habitat (10)

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Sources (8)

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