South Boulder Creek

Location: Boulder County
Size:  1193 acres
Designated:  January, 2000 
Landowner:   City of Boulder 

South Boulder Creek Natural Area features a mosaic of high quality wetlands, wet meadows and mesic grasslands, including plains riparian forests and tallgrass prairie ecosystems.

A remnant of the plains cottonwood riparian ecosystem occurs in good condition along South Boulder Creek. This riparian community provides essential wildlife habitat and contributes to the biological diversity of floodplains along the Colorado's western plains.

In combination with riparian and grassland communities, wetlands found along South Boulder Creek are considered to be among the best preserved and most ecologically significant in the Boulder Valley.

The floodplain in the area includes habitat for three species of concern: a rare plant, Preble's meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei); and Bobolink (Dolichonix oryzivorous), a locally rare bird on the edge of its range. In addition, the area serves as a research site for on-going floristic and wildlife investigations.