This report summarizes the results of a rapid landscape-scale climate vulnerability assessment for the Gunnison Basin. The primary objective of this assessment was to determine what ecosystems/habitats and species are most at risk to climate change (and why) under climate change scenarios predicted for 2050. This report summarizes the results of a landscape-scale climate change vulnerability assessment of 24 ecosystems (17 terrestrial and seven freshwater...

Due to concerns that the hydrologic regime of the wetland complex in and around Summit Lake Park has been significantly altered by development of State Highway 5 (SH 5), a field study of the hydrology, soils, and vegetation above and below the roadway was initiated in 2018. The objectives of this study are to investigate the natural hydrologic processes and vegetation up-gradient from SH 5, and how they may be impacted in down-gradient areas. A review...

Mount Evans Highway (SH 5) has been severely damaged by permafrost degradation and freeze-thaw processes. We assessed the effects of the current roadway configuration on the permafrost, hydrologic processes, vegetation, and soils of the Summit Lake Park wetland complex. We also reviewed and synthesized available literature to develop design recommendations for mitigating permafrost degradation, thaw-induced subsidence and frost damage, and hydrologic...