Rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge is where. Rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge time. In 1992, the congress finally passed the rocky mountain arsenal wildlife refuge act, which instructs the site to become a part of the wildlife refuge system once its cleanup has been completed. Update by sandy horrocks, angela medbury, dorothy colagiovanni, and sue maretrocky mountain arsenal rma is a 27 square mile superfund site northeast of denver.
Rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge search covid19 update. The rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge is a 15,988acre 64. Centered at the rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge, the society advances the science and practice of conserving urban wildlife habitat and native plant communities, with a special emphasis on the shortgrass prairie ecosystem. Sunrise to sunset 7 days a week, open most federal holidays visitor center hours. Come explore the 11mile auto wildlife drive loop to see bison, deer, hawks, coyotes, waterfowl, birds and more. Each season, visitors to the rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge have the unique opportunity to view wildlife in their natural setting just outside of the city. Restaurants near rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife. The primary causes of degradation were the manufacture of chemical weapons by the u. Rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge home. Rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge wikipedia. The rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge is a 15,988acre national wildlife refuge located adjacent to commerce city, colorado, in the united states.
Show off your favorite photos and videos to the world, securely and privately show content to your friends and family, or blog the photos and videos you take with a cameraphone. Rocky mountain arsenal medical monitoring program surveillance for birth defects compendium cdphe, 2010 rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge act of 1992. Visitor opportunities include nature programs, guided wildlife viewing tours, fishing, wildlife photography, and hiking on over 9 miles of nature trails. Its remarkable that this peaceable kingdom is a 20minute drive from downtown. Army bought 17,000 acres of farmland outside of denver to develop chemical weapons to be used as a war deterrent.
From wartime manufacturing to wildlife sanctuary, the rocky mountain. Wild animal sanctuary and rocky mountain arsenal wildlife. Its a place where wildlife thrives and where visitors can reconnect with nature and experience the many wildlifedependent opportunities the refuge has to offer. It is approximately 8 miles km northeast of downtown denver. The rvo was organized in october 1996 and has established a track record of success. Rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge commerce. Rocky mt arsenal national wildlife refuge located just northeast of denver, the rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge is a 15,000acre expanse of prairie, wetland and woodland habitat. The rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge is a fascinating nature. Book now at 262 restaurants near rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge on opentable. Mule deer at the rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge with denver, co and the rocky mountain foothills in the background.
In the summer of 2019, reports of prairie dogs with plaguecarrying fleas forced parts of colorados rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge to shut. Rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge youtube. Rocky mountain arsenal wildlife refuge offers yearround wildlife viewing, outdoor recreation and environment education opportunities. A record 300,000 people visited the refuge in 20, and refuge officials say they expect. Located just northeast of denver, the rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge is a 15,000acre expanse of prairie, wetland, and woodland habitat. To limit the spread of the coronavirus, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. The center also hosts wildlife tours, classes, moonlight hikes, fishing workshops and homestead history tours. There are several free parking options just before crossing into the rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge no bicycling inside of the refuge allowed. Sunrise to sunset 7 days a week, open most federal holidays visitor center. Rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge 105 months ago 0. Rocky mountain arsenal department of public health and. The area has gone from plains indians hunting grounds to homesteader farmland to wwii weapons. The rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge is hosting a 2011 refuge ama.
It may be one of the finest conservation success stories in history and. In this sunday, april 14, 2019 file photo, clouds loom over a lake at the rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge sunday, april 14, 2019, in commerce city, colo. Rocky mountain arsenal spotlight cleanups at federal. Rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge draft. The staff of the rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge would like to express. Rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge is one of the largest urban wildlife refuges in the nation with more than 15,000 acres of land. In 1996, after a lengthy process in which site investigations were conducted and completed, an approach to remedy the chemical contamination at the arsenal was set forth by the us army. Buy bison grazing ecology at the rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge, colorado. The site was designated a national wildlife refuge in 1992 by the united states congress, and underwent a costly environmental cleanup in order to remov. The rocky mountain arsenal was placed on the national priorities list of superfund sites in july 1987. Rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge time capsule. Much of the site is now protected as the rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge. Colorado national monument, book cliffs, grand mesa, palisades, rifle, colorado plateau. The history of the rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge stretches back more than 60 years.
Fish and wildlife service, which was charged with resurrecting the area as a refuge, much. Wildlife viewing at colorados rocky mountain arsenal. The natural world thrives at rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge. With more than 10 miles of hiking trails, an 11mile wildlife drive, nature programs, and viewing areas the refuge is a photographers paradise. Black american west museum, art district, rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge, butterfly pavilion. Perimeter trail mountain bike trail, commerce city, colorado. Draft eis, usfws wildlife refuge, sierra club comments to usfws 1995. Rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge act of. Wild animal sanctuary keenesburg, co and rocky mountain arsenal wildlife refuge commerce city, colorado. Rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge is located behind dicks sporting goods park in commerce city. Rocky mountain arsenal wildlife society rocky mountain. The visitor center exhibits focus on refuge wildlife and history.
Visit rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge february 14 17, 2020, to identify and tally the birds you see as. To build awareness and appreciation of wildlife and habitats at the refuge. Find a guide listed below are categories of professional guide and travel services that our members offer. The rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge is one of the largest urban. Rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge offers. The facility is on the grounds of the former rocky mountain.
Rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge, commerce city, co. Flickr is almost certainly the best online photo management and sharing application in the world. Rma was initially used by the us army to produce chemical weapons, such as sarin and lewisite. Rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge, commerce city. Rocky flats, nuclear weapons plant turned wildlife refuge. Located just northeast of denver, the rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge is a 15,000acre expanse of prairie, wetland and woodland habitat. To direct the secretary of the army to transfer jurisdiction over the rocky mountain arsenal, colorado, to the secretary of the interior. Rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge is managed as part of the colorado front range national wildlife refuge complex. Bison grazing ecology at the rocky mountain arsenal national.
Rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge, comprehensive. Rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge 106 months ago 1 replies july 4th celebration. Those are the 5,237 acres that were transferred in 2007 to the u. Rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge flickr. The refuge has the america the beautiful national park passes. The price tag to cleanup refuges like rocky flats and the. The rocky mountain arsenal rma national wildlife refuge nwr. The rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge is the. Photo by ariana brocious, net news its unusual to find such a large tract of open land in the urban sprawl of colorados front range. Rocky flats national wildlife is an expanse of grasslands, shrublands and wetlands, including rare xeric tallgrass prairie, where natural processes support a. Army constructed the arsenal in 1942 to develop chemical weapons as a deterrent against the axis powers. The rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge.
A trail leading away from the visitors center at rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge. The refuge is on the grounds of the former rocky mountain arsenal, a united states army chemical weapons manufacturing facility. Rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge, 15,000 acres of land just 10 miles outside of denver in commerce city, is a bit of an urban miracle. Ten minutes from downtown denver, the refuge is home to more than 330 species of wildlife including bison, bald eagles, deer, songbirds, waterfowl, and burrowing owls. Tonys takes photography bring your camera and your binoculars and prepare. Rocky mt arsenal national wildlife refuge friends of the. Rma would be used to manage a metapopulation of genetically pure bison i. Fish and wildlife service at rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge rma proposes to reintroduce bison into portions of the refuge. Colorado front range national wildlife refuge complex. At rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge it is one of the best ways to connect with nature. The land has a unique story it has survived the test of time and transitioned from farmland, to wartime manufacturing site, to wildlife sanctuary.
One of the most popular activities on national wildlife refuges is wildlife photography. Why we need good information to cleanup bad places maret 2014. Known today as an urban national wildlife refuge, the rocky mountain arsenal traces its beginnings to the dec. Visit rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge on. It is approximately 8 miles northeast of downtown denver. Refuge administrative offices, restaurants, a book store, and. Located approximately ten miles from downtown denver, the land 15,988 acres within the acquisition boundary of rocky mountain arsenal national wildlife refuge rmanwr has a welldocumented history of significant environmental disturbance and contamination.