Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge |
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IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
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Mule deer in Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge; downtown Denver is visible in the background.
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 Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
Location in the United States
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| Location | Adams County, Colorado, U.S. |
| Nearest city | Commerce City, Colorado |
| Area | 15,988 acres (64.70 km2) |
| Established | 1992 |
| Visitors | 300,000 (in 2013) |
| Governing body | United States Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge |
The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge is a special place in Colorado, covering about 15,988 acres (64.70 km2). It's a National Wildlife Refuge, which means it's a protected area for wild animals and plants. You can find it near Commerce City, Colorado, not too far from downtown Denver.
This refuge used to be a place called the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. It was a factory where the United States Army made special chemicals for defense. In 1992, the United States Congress decided to turn this area into a wildlife refuge. Before that could happen, a huge and expensive cleanup was needed to remove pollution. Today, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service takes care of the refuge. Over 330 different kinds of animals live here, including raptors, deer, raccoons, coyotes, white pelicans, black-footed ferrets, black-tailed prairie dogs, and bison.
Contents
How the Refuge Was Created
The Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA) was built in 1942. Its main job was to make special chemicals for the military. Later, in 1946, parts of the land were rented out to companies that made other chemicals for farming and industry. After the Vietnam War, the chemical defense program ended. The RMA then became a place to take apart and get rid of these chemicals safely. Another company, Shell Oil Company, also used a part of the site in the 1980s to make pesticides.
Why the Cleanup Was Needed
The RMA closed in 1985. By 1987, tests showed that the land was very polluted. It was put on a special list called the National Priorities List. This list includes places in the United States that need a big cleanup because of dangerous waste. The cleanup was paid for by a government program called Superfund, managed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Discovering Wildlife and Making a Refuge
While the environmental tests were happening in 1986, something amazing was found: a group of bald eagles were spending the winter at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. At that time, bald eagles were an endangered species, meaning they were in danger of disappearing forever. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) looked into it more and found that over 330 types of wildlife lived at the RMA.
Since the arsenal wasn't safe for people to live on, many people wanted it to become a wildlife refuge. So, on September 25, 1992, Congress passed a law called the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge Act. President George H. W. Bush signed it into law on October 9. This law said that most of the RMA would become a national wildlife refuge once the cleanup was finished. It also said that the area should be managed like a wildlife refuge even while the cleanup was still happening.
How Much Land Became the Refuge?
When the refuge was first planned, the old RMA had over 17,000 acres (69 km2) of grasslands with small lakes and ponds. However, not all of this land became part of the refuge. Some small parts were set aside for a water treatment plant and a post office. Other parts were sold. For example, about 100 acres (0.40 km2) of the Shell Oil site was sold to Commerce City in 2010. After all these changes, the refuge ended up with 15,988 acres (64.70 km2) of land.
History of the Refuge's Growth
The cleanup effort covered the entire 17,000 acres (69 km2) of the old RMA. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) slowly certified parts of the land as clean and safe.
- On January 21, 2003, 940 acres (3.8 km2) were declared ready and given to the USFWS.
- Another 5,053 acres (20.45 km2) were certified clean on January 15, 2004.
This allowed the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge to officially open on April 2, 2004. At that time, visitors could walk on trails in about 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) of the refuge, and buses took them on tours of another 3,000 acres (12 km2).
- The EPA released 7,399 acres (29.94 km2) more on July 31, 2006.
- The last 2,596 acres (10.51 km2) were declared clean and given to the refuge on October 15, 2010.
The total cost of this massive cleanup was $2.1 billion.
Who Manages the Land Today?
Even though all the land meant for the refuge has been turned over, both the USFWS and the U.S. Army still help manage it. This is because some small areas might still have old chemical devices or buried equipment that aren't safe for the public. So, the Fish & Wildlife Service manages about 14,904 acres (60.31 km2) of land. The U.S. Army manages the remaining 1,084 acres (4.39 km2). They work together to make sure the Army's land is also managed to protect wildlife.
Bringing Back the Bison
In March 2007, sixteen American bison were brought to the refuge from the National Bison Range in Montana. They were placed in a fenced area of about 1,400 acres (5.7 km2). By 2013, the number of bison grew to 87. The USFWS had to reduce the herd to 60 animals because the area wasn't big enough for so many. Officials plan to expand the bison area to 12,000 acres (49 km2) in a few years. This will allow the herd to grow to about 210 animals.
The refuge's Visitor Center opened on May 21, 2011. This center helps people learn about the refuge and its wildlife.
Plants and Animals of the Refuge
As of 2013, the USFWS had found 332 different kinds of wildlife species living in the refuge. Many of these species were in small numbers. Starting in 2011, the USFWS began a plan to remove plants that don't naturally belong there and bring back native plants. About two-thirds of the refuge is made up of mixed-grass and shortgrass prairie. The rest is a mix of forests, shrubland (areas with bushes), and areas near lakes, streams, and rivers. You can also see old irrigation ditches, ponds, and even former homesteads (old farmhouses) scattered across the land.
Visiting the Refuge
A plan for how the public can use the refuge was finished in June 1996. This plan allows people to visit and enjoy the refuge. It also includes programs to teach people about nature and encourage them to visit.
In 2013, a record 300,000 people visited the refuge. Officials expect that over one million people will visit each year once all the visitor facilities, educational programs, and wildlife management plans are fully in place.
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