Birds & Science >
Colorado IBAs
Pueblo Reservoir State Park and Valco State Wildlife Area
Pueblo County
Size: 17,000 acres
Elevation: 4700 - 5100 feet
Habitats:
Open water, cliff/rock, grassland, pinyon/juniper, lowland riparian, shore/bank, wetlands
Ownership:
Federal (U.S. Bureau of Reclamation)
State (CO Division of Wildlife, CO State Parks)
Municipal (City of Pueblo)
Land Use:
Primary – water supply
Secondary – hunting/fishing, recreation/tourism
IBA Criteria: 1, 4 (waterfowl, heronries, gulls, raptors, landbirds)
Site description
Location:
Pueblo Reservoir State Park & State Wildlife Area and Valco State Wildlife Area are located immediately west of the city of Pueblo on the Arkansas River, and extend west for 9 miles.
Vegetative/natural features:
The site contains significant riparian habitat and a large reservoir surrounded by limestone bluffs. Pinyon-juniper woodland and mixed grassland communities dominate the uplands. Alkaline flats and drainages support a greasewood shrub community. Four rare plant species grow within the park: showy prairie gentian, round-leaved four-o’clock, Arkansas River feverfew, and Pueblo oonopsis.
Ornithological Importance
The site contains two large heronries. The limestone bluffs support nests of Cliff Swallows, White-throated Swifts, Barn Owls, and many raptors. The reservoir is a major stopping area for waterbirds (including grebes and loons) and American White Pelicans, and a major wintering area for gulls, Bald Eagles, and waterfowl. Osprey have nested there since 1990, and are increasing in population. The riparian area below the dam supports numerous migrants, wintering, and nesting birds.
Breeding species:
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Average #
|
Maximum #
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Osprey
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1-3 pairs
|
3 pairs
|
Barn Owl
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4 pairs
|
4 pairs
|
Great Blue Heron
|
50-100 pairs
|
100 pairs
|
Piping Plover
|
|
1 pair
|
Cliff Swallow
|
3000 pairs
|
5000 pairs
|
Yellow Warbler
|
20-30 pairs
|
30 pairs
|
Bullock’s Oriole
|
30-40 pairs
|
40 pairs
|
Juniper Titmouse
|
10-20 pairs
|
20 pairs
|
Rock Wren
|
100 pairs
|
100 pairs
|
Canyon Towhee
|
|
200 pairs
|
|
|
|
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Spring Migrant species:
|
Average #
|
Maximum #
|
American White Pelican
|
50
|
100
|
|
|
|
|
Wintering species:
|
Average #
|
Maximum #
|
Bald Eagle
|
15
|
75
|
Ferruginous Hawk
|
10
|
15
|
Ring-billed Gull
|
1000-5000
|
8000
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Mountain Bluebird
|
100-5000
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5000
|
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|
|
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Conservation/Management Issues
Serious threats:
- disturbance to birds (heronry and osprey nesting sites, migrating waterfowl) by recreational boating (fisherman and jet skis).
Minor threats:
- pollution;
- hydrologic changes.
Efforts to address threats:
The state wildlife area in the western area of Pueblo Reservoir is a designated wakeless area, but enforcement of this regulation is a problem and disturbance to birds does occur.
Management details:
Colorado Division of Wildlife manages the Valco Ponds area. The west end of the Pueblo Reservoir is a state wildlife area, with surrounding land managed by CDOW and the water managed by Colorado State Parks. The Pueblo Reservoir is an impoundment for agricultural and city water, and is managed by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Pueblo Conservancy District.
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