Plains Facts
Much of the eastern ½ of Colorado is
part of the Great Plains. The Great Plains once
was a unique grassland prairie ecosystem that
extended sporadically from northern Canada to
southern Texas and east from the Rocky Mountains.
Prior to settlement, wildfires played a frequent
and important role in preserving these ecosystems.
Agriculture and development has altered this ecosystem
to what it is today.
Forests on the Colorado plains consist of riparian
forests along the major river corridors, agroforestry
plantings consisting of windbreaks and shelterbelts
on agricultural lands, various wildlife and recreational
area plantings, and community forests in cities
and towns. Except for the naturally occurring
riparian forests, most of the trees on the plains
have been planted to alter the harsh, windy environment
to make it more compatible for humans, animals
and crop production. The Colorado
State Forest Service Nursery has been a reliable
source of tree and shrub seedlings for these conservation
plantings.
Conservation
Districts, Natural
Resources Conservation Service Field Offices
and Cooperative
Extension Offices are partners to CSFS in
providing assistance to plains landowners. The
National Agroforestry Center and the National
Arbor Day Foundation are reliable sources
of information for selecting and establishing
trees on the plains.
As Colorado’s population continues to
grow, significant and rapid construction expands
into once “wild” prairie and forested
landscapes. The increase of homes and traffic
in these areas brings a heightened risk of accidental
fire starts and escapes. Grasses are dry during
much of the year; they ignite quickly and fire
spreads rapidly. Having your home or property
on or adjacent to these abundant dry fuels puts
you and your property at risk. Residents need
to know what measures to take to reduce wildfire
risks.
If you are interested in learning more about
fire protection in your area, please contact your
local Colorado State
Forest Service District Office to find out
when their next “Are you FireWise?”
workshop is being held.
Trees
for Conservation - Planning, Planting and Care
(1.84 MB PDF)
Colorado
FireWise for the Plains Notebook
(280 KB PDF)
Learn more about agroforestry
on Colorado's plains.
Top
|
