Vascular flora of the Rocky Flats area, Jefferson County, Colorado, USA
- JGMS Inc., Westminster, CO (United States)
The Rocky Flats Site (Site) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) facility near Golden, Colorado that produced nuclear weapons components during the Cold War. Like many federal properties that have been off-limits to public access for decades, it has become a refugia for biodiversity as surrounding landscapes have been lost to agriculture and urbanization. A floristic study of the area was conducted on approximately 2,505 ha (6,189 ac) and includes the parcels currently managed and operated by DOE and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge). A flora of 630 species of vascular plants in 84 families and 340 genera was documented, including 12 species endemic to the southern Rocky Mountains and seven species considered rare or imperiled by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program. The flora of the Site is characterized by a predominantly Western North American floristic element, however, an Adventive floristic element contributes the greatest number of species. The vegetation is dominated by xeric tallgrass prairie and mixed grass prairie, with areas of wetland, shrubland, and riparian woodland.
- Research Organization:
- Office of Legacy Management, Washington, DC (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 1132762
- Journal Information:
- Phytologia, Vol. 92, Issue 2; ISSN 0031-9430
- Publisher:
- Texensis PublishingCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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