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Level 2 Potential Conservation Area (PCA) Report <br />Name Central Arkansas Playas Site Code S.USCOHP`25350 <br />Watershed Code <br />11020002 <br />11020004 <br />11020005 <br />11020006 <br />11020007 <br />11020008 <br />11020009 <br />11020010 <br />11020011 <br />11020012 <br />Watershed Name <br />Upper Arkansas <br />Chico <br />Upper Arkansas -Lake Meredith <br />Huerfano <br />Apishapa <br />Horse <br />Upper Arkansas -John Martin <br />Purgatoire <br />Big Sandy <br />Rush <br />Minimum Elevation - Feet <br />Maximum Elevation - Feet <br />SITE DESCRIPTION <br />- Meters <br />- Meters <br />Site Description <br />The site includes numerous reservoirs near the Arkansas River and surrounding grasslands with playas, <br />which provides nesting habitat for shoreline birds. Western Snowy Plover, Piping Plover and Least Tern use <br />the reservoirs in dry years and the playas in wet years (CSP Bird Working Group 2004). The site is <br />approximately 68% grass or mixed grass, 15.5% irrigated agriculture, 7% sagebrush or sagebrush /grass mix, <br />4% riparian, 3% dryland agriculture and 1.5% open water with trace amounts of residential /commercial <br />development and bare ground. Other animals of concern documented within the site include Plains leopard <br />frog, northern leopard frog, Burrowing Owl, Long - billed Curlew, Ferruginous Hawk, Mountain Plover, Bald <br />Eagle, Arkansas Darter, black - tailed prairie dog, swift fox, massasauga and Texas horned lizard. <br />Documented plants and natural communities include Plains ragweed, Bouteloua gracilis, Populus deltoides 1 <br />Sporobolus cryptandrus, Atriplex canescens l Sporobolus airoides, Populus deltoides / Pascopyrum smithii - <br />Panicum obtusum and Typha angustifolia - Typha latifolia. <br />Kev Environmental Factors <br />No Data <br />Climate Description <br />No Data <br />Land Use History <br />No Data <br />Cultural Features <br />No Data <br />SITE DESIGN <br />Site Map P - Partial Mapped Date 01/31/2005 <br />Designer Sovell, J.R. <br />Boundary Justification <br />The site was drawn primarily for Western Snowy Plover, Piping Plover and Least Tem. Lakes and reservoirs <br />near the Arkansas River are included for nesting during dry years. Surrounding grasslands with playas are <br />included for nesting during wet years. Boundary was drawn using Landsat ETM+ satellite imagery and 25m <br />Colorado Vegetation Classification data (CDOW). <br />Primary Area 1,671,059.98 Acres 676,256.67 Hectares <br />SITE SIGNIFICANCE <br />Biodiversity Significance Rank 63: High Biodiversity Significance <br />Biodiversity Significance Comments <br />Biodiversity significance rank is based on excellent (A- ranked) and good (B- ranked) occurrences of a <br />globally vulnerable (G3/SIB) bird species. <br />Other Values Rank No Data <br />Other Values Comments <br />No Data <br />Copyright © 2012. Colorado State University. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, All Rights Reserved. <br />Print Date 6, 22,20 12 6 <br />