OCIP =c H, H+. 3:T43/ 2009 Two Ponds National Wildlife UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGA LIBRARIES APR 14 ºn DEPOSITED BY UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - - - "º º 'º' |Amidst the growin | metropolis of Denver, |Colorado, Two Ponds National Wildlife | Refuge preserves and | enhances habitat for a variety of wildlife. The Refuge also provides people with a . natural oasis where they can explore the wonders of nature. View of the Rocky Mountains from the Refuge Beth Dickerson / USFWS Welcome This blue goose, designed by J.N. “Ding” Darling, ts the symbol of the National Wildlife Refuge System. About the Refuge Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is located in Arvada, Colorado, 13 miles northwest of downtown Denver and 10 miles east of the Rocky Mountain foothills. The area in which the Refuge is located was once characterized by plant communities of the High Plains — shortgrass and mixed-grass prairie. Livestock grazing and plowing of prairie SOd for crops by European settlers altered the native plant and animal communities. More recently, housing developments and urbanization have also decreased the land available for native wildlife. In 1990, a local citizen's group was instrumental in saving the Refuge location from development. Their efforts contributed to the establishment Of TWO Ponds NWR in 1992. Two Ponds NWR is One of over 550 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System — a network of lands set aside specifically for wildlife. Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Refuge System is a living heritage, conserving wildlife and habitat for people today and generations to come. Century-old irrigation canals, which still provide water for Front Range farmers, divide this 72-acre Refuge into three tracts. Mature cottonwood trees line the canals and the edges of three small ponds. Nine acres of wetlands contain cattails, milkweed, rushes, and willows. Brome grass dominates the treeless uplands, but it is interspersed with native plants such as needle- and-thread grass, yucca, prickly pear cactus, and rabbitbrush. An old apple orchard, ornamental trees, and shrubs are reminders of past human occupation of the land. Throughout As the seasons change, so does the the Year landscape and its plant and animal inhabitants. TWO Ponds NWR is used by more than 112 bird species, 11 mammal species, and 6 reptile and amphibian species. As spring arrives, the ice melts off the ponds and the vegetation greens. Watch for waterfowl visiting the ponds as they make their way north to their breeding grounds. Bullock's Orioles gather grasses to make their hanging nests high in the trees. Throughout the summer, deer move quietly through the woodlands and grasslands. Butterflies are attracted to wild roses and other blooming plants. Painted turtles sunbathe on partially Mule deer (above); Submerged logs. Look for young kestrels fall at Two Ponds practicing their flying skills. The air is NWR (below) abuzz with the sounds of dragonflies, º, the chatter of jays and kingfishers, and the reedy trill of red-winged blackbirds. Cooler weather ushers in fall. As the days shorten, the leaves on the trees and shrubs turn shades of red and gold. Ducks, geese, and blackbirds stop to rest at Two Ponds NWR during their journey south. White-crowned Sparrows, juncos, and warblers search for seeds and insects. Ripened apples and plums provide a banquet for raccoons, foxes, bluejays, and magpies. Managing the Refuge for People and Wildlife Visitor Opportunities The Refuge is a place for a parent and child to make commections. - A) N ºf M - !~: Tracks in the winter Snow reveal animal activity in the seemingly quietlandscape. Raccoons, red fox, Small voles, and mule deer criss-cross the Refuge in search of food. The elevated points of the Refuge provide breath-taking views of the Rocky Mountains. Exotic tree, shrub, and grass species have replaced most of the native vegetation at the Refuge. This is a result of 130 years of agricultural activity. Refuge staff use a variety of mechanical, biological, and limited chemical methods to control the spread of these plants until native plant communities can be re-established. Refuge trails meander through prairie meadows, wetlands, and riparian woodlands and are open from dawn to dusk. Free tours and environmental education classes are available for groups often or more and can be tailored to the age and interest level of the group. Scouting programs to help fulfill badge requirements are available by reservation. Please call to schedule programs or to make special arrangements. The first Saturday in June marks the celebration of National Trails Week. During this event, exhibitors provide wildlife- Oriented educational displays and activities for the entire family. Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge Refuge Boundary is ------ Nature Trails P. Parking W 80th Ave. \ e Access Points [*] Wildlife Viewing Areas/Overlooks Two Ponds . r NWR Visitor Information Kiosks Gº Major Water Bodies Cattail Wetlands Environmental Education Area | | Prairie Management Area – º || NZ Medical Center º Friends Pond Lighter Pond Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is available to all individuals regardless of physical .* ... " or mental ability. Dial 711 for a free commection to the *................. * * State relay service for TTY and voice calls to and from _* the speech and hearing impaired. For more information or to address accessibility needs, please contact the Refuge staff at 303 / 2890232, or the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Equal Opportunity, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240. W. 77th Dr. Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge co Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge 5650 Havana Street, Building 121 Commerce City, CO 80022 303 ſ 2890232 303 / 2890579 fax two ponds®fws.gov http://two ponds.ſwis.gov For State relay service TTY / Voice: 711 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov For Refuge information 1800/344 WILD September 2009 - - º UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN --- |||||||||||º. º 3 9015 08543 4820 º º Black-crowned night-heron © Wendy Shattil'ſ Bob Rozinski