The adventures continue in Colorado, where I’m seeing more of the state every day.  Scouting new areas including more BLM land, and less of the surrounding open space parks and collections, continue too.  We made a collection of Pulsatilla patens on BLM land called Strawberry, just north of Fraser, CO.  I went to the North Sand Dunes, another BLM parcel of land near the Colorado/Wyoming border, to check on the progress of a Corispermum sp. which has been the focus of a study by local scientists on whether the population is all one species or several different species.  While up at the dunes, we scouted and discovered that Cryptantha sp. and possibly an Oenothera sp. might be collectable species.  I also got to explore an alpine wetland near Leadville, CO in search of Boreal Toads with Jay Thompson, The State Office Fisheries and Riparian Program Lead, and learn about the system and habits of the toad.  While at the alpine location, we took the opportunity to observe the abundance of the Aquilegia sp. and a few wetland species that might make a good collection.  Monitoring started up in July out near Kremmling, CO, where we monitored two endangered species Penstemon penlandii and Astragalus osterhoutii.  Monitoring will continue through the next couple months with Eutrema sp., Sclerocactus sp., Physaria sp., Phacelia sp. and maybe a couple Astragalus sp.  An experience I am looking forward to: learning the monitoring techniques and the different regulations that surround the process that takes place when studying an endangered species and the inter-agency cooperation that occurs.

Nathan Redecker

Lakewood, CO

Colorado State Office