Colorado Grasslands

On the plains of Colorado, grassland ecosystems provide habitats for many species of plants and animals.  Yet increased human migration and development is causing the disappearance of much of the state’s historic grasslands.  Some, however, have been protected, such as the Pawnee and Comanche National Grasslands, which draw visitors to experience nature and learn about Colorado’s natural habitats.  You can read about grassland species; conservation; tourist information; and much more through state government resources available from our library.  Materials listed without hyperlinks can be checked out in print from our library.

Scientific and conservation publications:

• An Abstract Bibliography on Shortgrass and Mixed-grass Prairie Ecosystems (Colorado State University, 1973)
• Central Mixedgrass Prairie Ecological System (Colorado Natural Heritage Program, 2007)
• Central Shortgrass Prairie Ecoregional Assessment and Partnership Initiative Final Report (Colorado Division of Wildlife, 2006)
• Clouds Over the Prairie:  An Overlooked Landscape (Colorado Division of Wildlife, 2004)
• Colorado Grassland Trends (Colorado State University, 2001)
• A Colorado Jewel:  Southeastern Prairies and Canyonlands (Colorado Natural Heritage Program, 2010)
• Conservation Plan for Grassland Species in Colorado (Colorado Division of Wildlife, 2003)
• Drivers of Change in Colorado Grassland (Colorado State University, 2001)
• Grasses of Colorado (University Press of Colorado, 2008)
• Grassland Ecosystems:  Reviews of Research (Colorado State University, 1970)
• Grasslands Management, Research, and Training Viewed in a Systems Context (Colorado State University, 1969)
• Handbook of Colorado Native Grasses (Colorado State University Extension, 1988)
• Island of Grass (University Press of Colorado, 2009)
• Lesser Prairie Chicken Habitat Assessment, Comanche National Grassland (Colorado Natural Heritage Program, 2010)
• Mountain Plover Studies, Pawnee National Grassland, 1985-2007 (Colorado Natural Heritage Program, 2008)
• Sensitive Species and Natural Communities Known to Occur on the Picket Wire Canyonlands, Comanche National Grassland, Colorado (Colorado Natural Heritage Program, 1995)
• Sodding Native Grasslands for Mined Land Reclamation in the Northern Great Plains (Colorado School of Mines, 1982)
• Western Great Plains Foothill and Piedmont Grassland Ecological System (Colorado Natural Heritage Program, 2007)

Visitor information:

• Colorado Birding Trail – Grasslands
• Grasslands Regional Routes bicycle map
• Quick Guide to Colorado’s Pawnee National Grassland from the Colorado Tourism Office
• Santa Fe Trail Scenic Byway from the Colorado Department of Transportation

Photo courtesy USDA/United States Forest Service