U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Summary of the

Comprehensive Conservation Plan

Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge
BOULDER

JEFFERSON

Longmont

Boulder

Denver

Golden

Northglenn

Thornton

Arvada

Westminster

Louisville

Lafayette

Superior

Broomfield

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Rocky Flats NWR

Refuge History

The Rocky Flats site is located at the 

intersection of Jefferson, Boulder and 

Broomfi eld counties, along the Front 

Range of Colorado. The Rocky Flats 

site is a 6,240-acre former nuclear 

defense facility operated by the U.S. 

Department of Energy (DOE). All 

weapons manufacturing was performed 

in a 600-acre area in the middle of the 

site known as the Industrial Area. In 

1992, the mission of the Rocky Flats 

site changed from weapons production 

to environmental cleanup and closure. 

The DOE is completing the cleanup 

in accordance with the Rocky Flats 

Cleanup Agreement under oversight 

by the U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA) and the Colorado 

Department of Public Health and 

Environment (CDPHE).

Under the Refuge Act, most of the 6,240-

acre Rocky Flats site will become the 

Refuge following certifi cation from the 

EPA that cleanup and closure have been 

completed. The Refuge Act requires 

that the DOE retain jurisdiction, 

authority and control over portions 

of the Rocky Flats site necessary 

for cleanup response actions. DOE 

anticipates that it will need to retain 

land in and around the current Industrial 

Area to maintain institutional controls 

and protect cleanup and monitoring 

systems. Such lands are referred to as 

the DOE retained area.

Purpose of the Comprehensive 

Conservation Plan (CCP)

• Provide a clear statement of desired 

conditions

• Provide guidance for management 

decisions

• Ensure management is consistent 

with laws, policies, and plans

• Provide an opportunity for the public 

to help shape the future of the refuge

• Provide a clear understanding of 

management actions and priorities

• Provide a sound basis for budget 

requests

Refuge Vision

Rocky Flats National 

Wildlife Refuge is a 

healthy expanse of 

grasslands, shrublands 

and wetlands, including 

rare xeric tallgrass 

prairie, where natural 

processes support a 

broad range of native 

wildlife. The Refuge 

provides striking 

mountain and prairie 

views and opportunities 

to appreciate the Refuge 

resources in an urbanized 

area through compatible 

wildlife-dependent public 

uses and education. 

Working with others, 

the Refuge conserves 

the unique biotic 

communities and sustains 

wildlife populations at the 

interface of mountains 

and prairies on Colorado’s 

Front Range.

The National Wildlife Refuge System 

Improvement Act requires the U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service to develop 

a comprehensive conservation plan 

(CCP) by 2012 for each national wildlife 

refuge in the system.

The plan is needed to address problems 

that could negatively affect fi sh, 

wildlife, plants and habitats.

The plan determines opportunities 

for people to use the refuge in ways 

that are compatible with resource 

conservation and refuge purposes.

Cover photograph and all other 

photographs taken by Michael Mauro. 

Sketches by Jerry Shapins.

Mule Deer

Coyote

Oriole
Refuge Habitat

The Rocky Flats site is located at 

the interface of the Great Plains 

and the Rocky Mountains, where it 

supports a diverse mosaic of vegetation 

communities. Many areas of the Rocky 

Flats site have remained relatively 

undisturbed for the past 30-40 years, 

allowing them to retain diverse natural 

habitat and associated wildlife. Some of 

the signifi cant vegetation communities 

include the rare xeric tallgrass 

grassland and the tall upland shrubland 

communities. The xeric tallgrass 

grassland community covers over 1,500 

acres on the Rocky Flats pediment 

tops, and is believed to be the largest 

example of this community remaining in 

Colorado and perhaps North America. 

The tall upland shrubland community 

is primarily found near seeps on 

north-facing slopes in the Rock Creek 

drainage. While this community covers 

less than 1 percent of the total area at 

Rocky Flats, it contains 55 percent of 

the plant species on the site. 

Wildlife communities are supported by 

a regional network of protected open 

space surrounds Rocky Flats on three 

sides and buffers wildlife habitat from 

the surrounding urban development. 

Preble’s meadow jumping mouse, a 

federally threatened species occurs in 

every major drainage at Rocky Flats, 

as well as in wetlands and shrubland 

communities adjacent to the Rock Creek 

and Woman Creek drainages. A resident 

herd of about 160 mule deer inhabit the 

site and elk are occasionally present.

Refuge Purposes 

The Refuge Act identifi ed four 

purposes of the Rocky Flats NWR:

• Restoring and preserving native 

ecosystems.

• Providing habitat for, and population 

management of native plants and 

migratory and resident wildlife.

• Conserving threatened and 

endangered species.

• Providing opportunities for 

compatible scientifi c research.

The Refuge Act also identifi ed 

wildlife-dependent public uses as a 

management priority. 

Engaging the Public

Throughout the planning process, 

the Service has solicited input from 

the public. Public involvement in the 

planning process ensured that interested 

and affected individuals, organizations, 

agencies and governmental entities were 

consulted and given opportunities to 

offer suggestions on the management 

direction of Rocky Flats NWR. The 

Service will maintain public outreach 

programs when the Rocky Flats NWR is 

open and will provide clear information 

about all public use opportunities and 

access restrictions.

Lupine

Cottonwood
Public Use Opportunities 

Although guided by a “Wildlife First” 

mission that promotes the conservation, 

management, and restoration of wildlife 

and their habitat, the Refuge System 

is also committed to investing in 

public use facilities and programs that 

foster an appreciation of the Refuge’s 

natural resources. With many miles of 

trail, thousands of acres of grassland 

habitat, and a beautiful mountain 

backdrop, Rocky Flats NWR will 

likely become a popular destination for 

wildlife enthusiasts, naturalists and 

students. The Refuge presents many 

opportunities for compatible wildlifedependent recreation such as hiking, 

wildlife photography and interpretation. 

Surrounded on three sides by designated 

open space, the Refuge will also serve as 

an important link in a regional network 

of recreational trails.

Refuge Goals

The Rocky Flats Comprehensive 

Conservation Plan sets realistic goals 

for the future.

Wildlife and Habitat 

Management

Provide a riparian community 

representative of historic fl ora and 

fauna in a high valley of the southern 

Rocky Mountains to provide habitat 

for migratory birds, mammals, and 

river-dependent species.

Public Use, Education and 

Interpretation 

Provide visitors and students high 

quality recreational, educational and 

interpretive opportunities and foster 

an understanding and appreciation of 

the Refuge’s xeric tallgrass prairie, 

upland shrub and wetland habitats; 

native wildlife; the history of the site; 

and the NWRS.

Safety 

Conduct operations and manage 

public access in accordance with the 

fi nal Rocky Flats’ cleanup decision 

documents to ensure the safety of the 

Refuge visitors, staff and neighbors.

Effective and Open 

Communication

Conduct communication outreach 

efforts to raise public awareness 

about the Refuge programs, 

management decisions and the 

mission of the Service and the 

NWRS among visitors, students and 

nearby residents.

Working with Others 

Foster benefi cial partnerships with 

individuals, government agencies, 

non-governmental organizations, 

and others to promote resource 

conservation, compatible wildliferelated research, public use, site 

history and infrastructure.

Refuge Operations 

Based on available funds, provide 

facilities and staff to fulfi ll the Refuge 

vision and purpose.

Horned lark

Elk

Wildlife-dependent 

recreation 

opportunities

Wildlife photography

Great Plains and Rocky Mountain interface
Habitat and Wildlife

Habitat management efforts will 

employ a variety of tools, including 

prescribed fi re, grazing, and mowing to 

stimulate and maintain native grassland 

communities. In order to improve 

habitat conditions for a variety of 

wildlife species, including the wetland 

and riparian Preble’s meadow jumping 

mouse habitat areas, the Service will 

remove 28 miles of unused road and 

13 stream crossings. The Service will 

work with the Colorado Division of 

Wildlife (CDOW) to manage wildlife 

species. Deer and elk populations will 

be managed through limited public 

hunting, culling, and other means. 

Prairie dog populations will be allowed 

to expand up to 75 acres in areas outside 

of recognized Preble’s habitat and the 

xeric tallgrass community. Additionally, 

the Service will evaluate the suitability 

of reintroducing native extirpated 

species, such as the sharp-tailed grouse 

to the Refuge.

Public Use

Visitor use facilities will include 12.8 

multi-use trails, 3.8 miles of hikingonly trails, a visitor contact station, 

interpretive overlooks, viewing blinds, 

and associated access and parking 

facilities. Public use programs will 

include environmental education 

programs for high school and college 

students, a limited hunting program 

(two weekends per year) for youth and 

disabled, and interpretive programs. 

Safety and Communication

The Service will address public concerns 

about the safety of the Refuge through 

public outreach and clear signage that 

articulates access restrictions and public 

use opportunities. The Service will also 

work with DOE to develop signage and 

fencing or another means of boundary 

demarcation to identify all areas that will 

be retained by DOE and remain closed to 

public access. 

Research and Partnerships

The Service will provide compatible 

scientifi c research opportunities that 

focus on wildlife habitat and interactions 

between wildlife and human use. 

The Service will work closely with 

surrounding jurisdictions to coordinate 

natural resource management, public 

use, and the regional protection of 

wildlife movement corridors. 

Outcome of the Plan

The comprehensive conservation plan 

emphasizes both wildlife and habitat 

conservation along with a moderate level 

of wildlife-dependent public use.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service is working with others to conserve, 

protect, and enhance fi sh, wildlife, plants, and 

their habitats for the continuing benefi t of the 

American people.

The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge 

System is to administer a national network 

of lands and waters for the conservation, 

management, and, where appropriate, 

restoration of the fi sh, wildlife, and plant 

resources and their habitats within the 

United States for the benefi t of present and 

future generations of Americans.

Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge

Comprehensive Conservation Plan

Building 121

Commerce City, CO 80022 

rockyflats@fws.gov

http://rockyflats.fws.gov

303/289 0980

711 state relay, TTY/voice

April 2005