Three-years post-construction and the wetland is thriving. Plants are growing, birds are singing, coyotes are howling, and the fish are swimming. If you really want to see the wetland, our tours now include a canoe trip into the interior where the only way to access the true heart requires a machete.

Various types of physical, biological and chemical data are collected in the wetland on an ongoing basis. These data are interpreted and used for seasonal management and annual reporting purposes. Following is a sampling.

Birds

Bird surveys are conducted throughout the year by scientists at the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory. The data are used to evaluate usage by various species of interest and concern as the created wetland develops and matures with time. We also survey bird usage of existing wetlands in the vicinity of the bank. We intend to use this information to focus our future wetland development efforts by determining which wetland types, when restored, provide habitat for rare or declining birds in our region.

In 2002, a total of 110 species of birds were inventoried in the Mile High Wetland Bank site, which includes the created wetland as well as existing wetlands in the immediate vicinity. Of this total, the wetlands host 13 species of regional conservation concern .