The 5 million-acre San Juan Region lies in southwest Colorado and is considered part of the Four Corners area. The Colorado Natural Heritage Program tracks 122 plant species within this region. Recently published climate models for the Southern San Juan Region project a median decrease in May precipitation across southwestern Colorado and a 4.3⁰ F increase in average annual temperatures, suggesting drought may become problematic for these species in the future. As of 2014, we have conducted Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments for 60 of the tracked plant species known from the region, primarily focused on federally listed or agency sensitive species.
"Colorado supports habitat for approximately 120 globally imperiled plant species. These plants are in need of conservation attention to prevent unnecessary extirpations and extinctions."
Rabbit Ears gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata ssp. weberi) is a tall herbaceous plant in the Polemoniaceae (Phlox Family) that is known from north central Colorado in Grand, Jackson, and Routt counties, and is also found in northern Idaho and south central Wyoming and is considered to be imperiled at a global and state level. One of the biggest conservation issues for this imperiled plant species is the lack of awareness of its existence and status. Avoiding or minimizing impacts to this species during road maintenance activities will effectively help to conserve its habitat and is unlikely to confer substantial impacts on road maintenance goals and projects.
The Southern Rockies Landscape Conservation Cooperative (SRLCC) covers over 36 million acres in Colorado and spans a wide elevation gradient from high Rocky Mountain peaks to dry plateaus of the Colorado's west slope. Wetlands are similarly variable within this region and are particularly important for wildlife habitat, as they are often more productive than the surrounding uplands. In addition, wetlands are an integral component of regional hydrologic cycles through their role in flood abatement, storm water retention, groundwater recharge, and water quality improvement.
