Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge is located a few miles southeast of Alamosa, Colorado. It features wetlands along the Rio Grande River. The 12,026 acre Alamosa Refuge include wetland areas, riparian corridors, wet meadows, and river oxbows. The wetland and river habitats provide a wildlife oasis in this dry region. These habitats support a variety of wildlife, including songbirds, water birds, raptors, deer, beavers, coyotes, and more.

Alamosa Refuge lies within the Rio Grande floodplain and consists of wet meadows, old river oxbows, riparian corridors, and dry uplands vegetated with drought tolerant plants. The west side of the Refuge borders the Rio Grande, long considered the life blood of the San Luis Valley. Water from to Rio Grande and irrigation canals maintain these important habitats. Mallards, pintails, teal, and Canada geese are common, as are American avocets, killdeer, white-faced ibis, egrets, and herons.

Historically, the Rio Grande would have flooded frequently, regenerating willows and cottonwoods. However, the Valley’s riparian habitat has been reduced by the diversion of surface water and depletions from groundwater use. This habitat also suffers from excessive grazing and browsing, which further limits growth of willows and narrowleaf cottonwood trees.

The most critical part of the riparian zone along the Rio Grande River is the low growing dense stands of willow. Shrubs that contribute to the diversity of riparian habitat include redosier dogwood and greasewood. These areas provide important stopover habitat for migratory songbirds, as well as nesting habitat for birds such as Lewis’ woodpecker, willow flycatcher, and possibly yellow-billed cuckoo. The endangered southwestern willow flycatcher nests in the dense willows and feeds on the abundant insects found along the river.

Numerous year-round residents, including elk and mule deer, use the riparian corridor throughout the year. Dense stands of willow also provide secure fawning areas for the deer, as well as excellent thermal cover during the winter months. The shade and streambank stabilization provided by riparian vegetation is important in keeping temperature and water quality in streams and rivers for native fish such as the Rio Grande cutthroat trout, Rio Grande chub, and Rio Grande sucker.

Credits and Sources:

“Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge: Wildlife and Habitats,” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, http://www.fws.gov/refuge/alamosa/Wildlife_and_Habitats.html, Accessed on June 28, 2015.

“Great Sand Dunes: Nearby Attractions,” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, http://www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/nearbyattractions.htm, Accessed on June 28, 2015.

“Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge: About the Refuge,” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Alamosa/about_the_refuge.html, Accessed on June 28, 2015.

“Baca National Wildlife Refuge: About the Refuge,” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Baca/about/about_the_refuge.html.html, Accessed on June 28, 2015.