Sand Creek Massacre NHS Rare Species Inventory

In 2006, Colorado State University and the Colorado Natural Heritage Network assessed the rare species in Sand Creek Massacre NHS for the National Park Service and Southern Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network. The study’s purpose was to determine the occurrence of special-status and candidate species in the site. Species that have adapted to the specific set of conditions of their environment can be indicators of the health of an ecosystem, which can be impacted by water availability, temperature, elevation, geology, and land use. Objectives were to determine the presence, relative abundance, and condition, of nine priority species.