About the Upper Colorado Environmental Plant Center

Updated 12/03/2007

Description of the PMC Service Area

The region is mountainous with high plateaus, open parks, foothills, mesas, and river valleys. The Plant Materials Center is characterized by 16 inches of annual precipitation, a 90-day frost free growing season, and an elevation of 6,500 feet. Conditions change substantially from the high mountains to the dry desert areas. Soils are fragile and erosive. Plants are subject to drought, ice heaving, and wildlife.

Major land uses include dry cropland, irrigated cropland and hay land, rangeland, wildlife lands, and mined land.

The plant materials program is challenged with reducing the impacts of acid, heavy metal drainages at high elevations, and soil and water salinity problems at lower elevations. Excessive sediment yields from private and public lands are common.

The region supports one of the nation’s largest big game populations, and quality winter forage is critical for the animals’ survival. Range and wildlife lands of the region suffer from shrub die-off, range fires, cover destruction, and misuse with little effective moisture.

Dry cropland areas are generally steep, and need successful plantings to convert them back to permanent vegetation. Large cropland/hay land areas previously irrigated are losing water to municipal uses and need plants adapted to drier moisture regimes.

Getting to the  Upper Colorado Environmental Plant Center

The Upper Colorado Environmental Plant Center is located in northwestern Colorado. Meeker is located on Rte. 13 about midway between Craig and Rifle. From Meeker, turn south on 10th St. At Silver Bridge take a left on Rte. 4. The Plant Center is 5 1/2 miles on the right. (See the map provided below.)

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