Black Squirrel Creek

The Black Squirrel Creek Conservation Bank near Colorado Springs includes 45.66 acres of Designated Critical Habitat for the federally Threatened Preble’s meadow jumping mouse (PMJM) (Zapus hudsonius preblei).  The habitat conservation bank is being established on property owned by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) as mitigation for transportation projects in El Paso County.  Birch Ecology established a quantitative vegetation monitoring program for the site as a subcontractor to Wildlife Specialties, and produced the baseline vegetation inventory as well as the first annual monitoring report.  These studies included detailed information characterizing the plant communities, with data on plant species cover and diversity, as well as recommendations for integrated weed management.

Black Squirrel Creek Habitat Conservation Bank 3
Collecting baseline vegetation data in 2017.
Baseline Vegetation Inventory
Baseline vegetation inventory in 2017.
Black Squirrel Creek Habitat Conservation Bank
Overview of Black Squirrel Creek in 2018.
Vegetation Transect IMG_3132
Vegetation monitoring transect on the floodplain of Black Squirrel Creek.
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Assessing floodplain vegetation along Black Squirrel Creek in 2018.
Black Squirrel Creek Habitat Conservation Bank 6