The Middle San Juan River Conservation Opportunity Area (COA)spans approximately 34,494 ha (85,236 ac) and is located in the northwestern corner of the state. It encompasses a large portion of the Middle San Juan riparian corridor, as well as the lower reaches of the La Plata and Animas Rivers, and the adjacent upland areas.

Approximately 52% of the land in this COA is privately owned, while 36% consists of Tribal lands. The remaining 12% is made up of lands managed by the BLM (9%), the SLO (1.5%), and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (Department) and the NPS, each accounting for less than 1%. This COA includes the B-Square Ranch Important Bird Area, and approximately 2% of the COA is currently protected.

The COA supports 14 native vegetation habitats and two ruderal or introduced vegetation types, as well as agricultural vegetations, barren areas, developed and urban spaces, and open water. Agricultural vegetation (22%) and developed and urban areas (22%) dominate, together comprising 44% of the land cover. The remaining 56% consists of a diverse mix of vegetation types, with the most abundant being: Introduced Riparian Vegetation (11%), Intermountain Saltbush Shrubland (8%), Southwest Lowland Riparian Forest (7%), and Colorado Plateau Piñon-Juniper Woodland (6%). Perennial aquatic habitats include 93 km (58 mi) of warm-water streams, 71 km (44 mi) of cold-water streams, and 18 ha (44 ac) of cold-water reservoirs.

A total of 36 SGCN are found (either observed or with potential habitat) within the COA, including six classified as Conservation Impact Species (I) and 11 as Current Focal Species (F). This COA has some potential to contain microclimate refugia for amphibians and reptiles and high potential to contain microclimate refugia for mammals.

Related Resources

• Conservation Opportunity Areas section in SWAP document