Monte Vista NWR
Credit: Kelli Clum
Alamosa, Monte Vista and Baca NWR
Member Since: 11/05/2003
Contact: Hands on the Land
9383 El Rancho Lane
Alamosa, CO 81101
(719)589-4021
Alamosa NWR - 11,000 Acres Monte Vista NWR - 14,000 Acres Baca NWR - 3,000 acres with proposed 93,000 acres
Educational Partners: Great Sand Dunes National Monument, Rio Grande National Forest, Ducks Unlimited, Friends of the San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Rio Grande Water Conservation Districts, SLV Environmental and Conservation Education Council
- Big Picture
The National Wildlife Refuges of the San Luis Valley protect a network of wetland habitat in Southern Colorado. These wetlands provide crucial wildlife habitat, help maintain important watershed functions and are a unique resource to the Valley's arid environment. The refuge complex is a major stopover for a plethora of migratory birds, including the beloved sandhill crane. The Alamosa and Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuges offer two major hands-on field trips for grades K-12.
- Climate
7 inches precipitation per year, high desert
- Geography
Alamosa - Network of wetlands created by old oxbows of the the Rio Grande.
Monte Vista - former farmland and created and natural wetlands.- Ecosystem
Wet Meadow
Emergent Wetlands
Open Water
Greasewood Uplands
Grasslands- Plants
Wetland species - cattails, spike rush, baltic rush
- Animals
25,000 Greater Sandhill Cranes
Tens of thousands of waterfowl
Nesting shore birds and waterfowl
Wintering Bald Eagles
The South Western Willow Fly Catcher- Facilities
Alamosa Visitor's Center open M-W-F 11am to 4pm
Auto tour routes and walking trails on Monte Vista and Alamosa NWR- Resources
* Tags are significant words connected with this site's program and linkable with other HOL sites.