Английская Википедия:Blanca Wetlands

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Шаблон:Infobox protected area

Файл:1869 Map of San Luis Parc of Colorado and Northern New Mexico.png
1869 Map of San Luis Parc of Colorado and Northern New Mexico. "Sawatch Lake" at the east of the San Luis Valley is in the closed basin. The Blanca Wetlands are at the south end of the lake.

The Blanca Wetlands Area of Critical Environmental Concern, or Blanca Wildlife Habitat Area, is an area of the San Luis Valley in Colorado, United States, that serves as a refuge for birds, fish and other wildlife. It is about Шаблон:Convert northeast of Alamosa on County Road 25.Шаблон:Sfn The wetlands had been completely destroyed by pumping and diversion of water for irrigation. Starting in 1965 the Bureau of Land Management began to restore them, and they have become an increasingly important ecological habitat for shorebirds, waterbirds and other wildlife and native plants.Шаблон:Sfn

Location

The region has a cool, dry climate, with about 107 frost-free days each year. Temperatures range from Шаблон:Convert to Шаблон:Convert. Annual rainfall is about Шаблон:Convert. The landscape is flat. Sand dunes carry sparse vegetation such as greasewood, rubber rabbit, salt grass, sandhill muhly and sand dropseed. The areas of dunes are intermingled with depressions and basins of historical playas.Шаблон:Sfn As late as the 1800s the area was wet, and the bones of fish show that some of the water was at least Шаблон:Convert deep.Шаблон:Sfn Loss of water and destruction of wetlands occurred in the twentieth century due to pumping and redirecting surface water for irrigation.Шаблон:Sfn By the mid-1900s the basins had completely dried up, and the area became known as "Dry Lakes".Шаблон:Sfn

In 1965 the San Luis Resource Area of the Bureau of Land Management began a project to restore some of the dry playas in the San Luis Valley to their former condition as wetlands.Шаблон:Sfn The Blanca Wildlife Habitat Area covers almost Шаблон:Convert south of San Luis Lakes and near to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. In contains about two hundred shallow basins floored by layers of sand and clay, holding wet meadows, salt flats, marshes and fresh water ponds.Шаблон:Sfn As of 1989 the Habitat Area contained Шаблон:Convert of pond and wetlands, with another Шаблон:Convert of historical wetlands to be developed Шаблон:Sfn Wetland vegetation in the playas includes softstem bulrush, cattail, alkaline bulrush, spike rush, sago pondweed, longleaf pondweed and watermilfoil.Шаблон:Sfn About Шаблон:Convert are watered each year, while other parts are deliberately allowed to dry up.Шаблон:Sfn

Administration

The Blanca Wildlife Habitat Area has been designated as an official mitigation site for wetland losses that have been caused by construction and operation of the Closed Basin Project by the Bureau of Reclamation.Шаблон:Sfn The Bureau of Land Management undertakes habitat restoration and preservation in the wetlands in partnership with the Colorado Division of Wildlife, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Bureau of Reclamation, Ducks Unlimited, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and other organizations. The wetlands have been identified as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern. They are closed to the public from mid-February to mid-July to avoid disturbing nesting birds. At other times of the year the wetlands are open for activities such as fishing, waterfowl hunting and bird watching.Шаблон:Sfn

As of February 2012 the Bureau of Land Management was asking for input from the public on a proposal to expand the Blanca Wetlands Area of Critical Environmental Concern.Шаблон:Sfn

Wildlife

Файл:Snowy plover.jpg
Snowy plover

The wetlands is one of the most important areas for birds in Colorado since it provides habitat for migrating waterbirds or shorebirds. It hosts thirteen threatened, endangered and sensitive species.Шаблон:Sfn The bald eagle and the peregrine falcon use the wetlands. The snowy plover and the white-faced ibis have been documented as nesting. Other Species of Management Priority that have been documented are American bittern, avocet, common yellowthroat, eared grebe, Forster's tern, greater sandhill crane, hen harrier, Savannah sparrow, snowy egret, sora rail, western grebe and yellow-headed blackbird.Шаблон:Sfn Shorebirds such as gulls, sandpipers and pelicans are at home in the salty environment, as well as 158 other species.Шаблон:Sfn There is a breeding population of snowy plover.Шаблон:Sfn The wetlands is a duck breeding concentration area, with mallards by far the most common, but good numbers of pintail and green-winged teal also visiting.Шаблон:Sfn

The wetlands could become critical for conserving amphibians in the valley. There is a healthy population of Great Plains toads. Other documented amphibians include the plains spadefoot toad, western chorus frog, leopard frog and tiger salamander. There are several species of bat in the wetlands. The least chipmunk is common in the greasewood parks that adjoin the wetlands and the Ord's kangaroo rat lives in the sand dunes. Muskrats and coyotes are present, and mule deer and elk are often seen in the wetland area.Шаблон:Sfn

Water supply

Some of the water from the Closed Basin Project, which mainly collects groundwater for irrigation in the Rio Grande valley, is delivered to the Blanca Wildlife Habitat Area.Шаблон:Sfn However, the total amount of water from the project delivered to the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge and the Blanca Wildlife Habitat Area is limited to Шаблон:Convert per year.Шаблон:Sfn In 2006 the Habitat Area received Шаблон:Convert.Шаблон:Sfn In addition to this water they receive the output from over forty artesian wells.Шаблон:Sfn To supplement this, in December 2007 the Bureau of Land Management said it was considering exchanging up to Шаблон:Convert of land in Rio Grande County in exchange for the rights to Шаблон:Convert of water from the Anderson Ditch in Monte Vista.Шаблон:Sfn A developer who was converting land irrigated by the Anderson Ditch no longer needed the water rights since they were converting their land to residential use.Шаблон:Sfn

The Bureau of Land Management is required to maintain "mitigation acres" to offset the impact of the Closed Basin Project. In 2010 the Bureau of Land Management was reviewing plans for large-scale drying of the wetlands, coupled with irrigating the adjacent South San Luis Lakes to the north. Drying is a management tool that mimics natural processes and supports crucial ecological processes such as plant succession and removal of salts from the system. To do so on a large scale the water tables must be lowered enough to have the full effect.Шаблон:Sfn The proposed area to be irrigated lies between the Blanca Wetlands ACEC and the San Luis State Park, and would allow species to migrate between wetlands in the state park and the Blanca wetlands.Шаблон:Sfn

References

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