Headwaters Spring 2006

• Year: 2006
• Title: Headwaters
• Author: Colorado Foundation for Water Education
• Description: From Peak to Prairie, Colorado's Water Makes the Scene
• Publications - Doc Type: Other

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'! Er '`"
rom a migrating bird's perspective,
DOW' 'public-' information specialist
plentiful water, the plains' scarce water
they look like a Marriott Hotel.
Tyler Baskfield says there's an advantage
supply "sort of narrows things down."
The rivers are part of a rich nexus that
to the on- again- off -again playas: Their
Large mammals —like deer —he says,
includes playas and wetlands provid-
r
seasonal fluctuations allow for substan-
gravitate toward the same streams as the
ing rest, food and refuge for thousands
tial plant growth, which produces much-
sandhill cranes.
of migrating birds. The eastern plains
-heeded seeds'foK food for waterfowl and
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are part of the Central Flyway, a north-
migrating birds.
, ," -
to -so4Jth route acting as a wide, arte-
r.
'Anywhere you get water out the
hing are among
real highway for migratory. birds travelring
pu ll get waterfowl," Baskfield says.
Colorado's fastest growing tourism sec- -
Ir6M Texas and Mexico. It follows the
"Wetlands on Oa_ eastemm�Iains play
tors. Annually, birders in the state spend
eastern base of the Rocky Mountains into
a critical role. You'll see it if you visit a
$16 million fer binoculars and spotting
Canada and the northwest arct% coast.
reservoir. You'll see it around playas,
scopes and $37.5 million for commercial -
The plains' rivers are only half The -
streams and creeks. Lot of times, because
ly- prepared bird food, according to sta-
story, though. According to the Rocky
of creeks, you get kind of a treat corridor.
tislics provided by the Colorado Division
Mountain Bird Observatory, Colorado's
The cottonwood seeds come down for
of Wildlife.
eastern plains have about 2,500 playas,
the birds to eat and the trees provide a"
Wildlife watching alone, in total eco-
or small, shallow wetlands that rainfall
great cover for everything from deer on
nomic impact, is second only to skiing in
and runoff periodically fill. The plains'
down. Any source of water is sort of a
the recreation sector. It brings $1 billion
annual average precipitation is 12 inches
mecca for wildlife on the plains."
annually, according to a 2001 Department
or less, so drought -like conditions are
Baskfield says there's another advan-
of Wildlife study. In the United States,
common and the playas often dry up.
tage. Unlike Midwestern states that have
that's the largest amount by far of any
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