With the town and county both considering construction in the
Pagosa skyrocket critical habitat the state is ahead of the game
protecting the plant. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has
designated 50,635 acres as critical habitat for three
wildflowers it considers threatened or endangered, offering them
some protection from construction or energy development. There
are 9,641 acres designated for the endangered Pagosa skyrocket.
Recently Alison Rohwer was spotted doing a skyrocket survey
along Hwy 84. She marks each one with an orange flag. The CDOT
now requires a survey in the right of way for any new
construction and digging. When public land is designated
critical habitat for various species, federal agencies must
consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service when projects or
activities may affect those species. The Pagosa skyrocket
(Ipomopsis polyantha) is a rare plant, endemic to Mancos shale
soils, and found only in and around Pagosa Springs in Archuleta
County, Colorado. Plants are between 1 and 2 feet t