Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge

The Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge is a 5,237-acre (21.19 km²) National Wildlife Refuge in the United States, located about 16 miles (26 km) northwest of Denver, Colorado. It lies west of the cities of Broomfield and Westminster and north of Arvada.

Today, it is a home to many animals, including a herd of about 150 elk, occasional black bear, mountain lions, moose, badgers, bats, coyote, two kinds of owl, mule deer, northern flicker, white pelican, black-tailed prairie dog, and porcupine. The refuge also has around 630 different kinds of plants.

Before it became a wildlife refuge in 2007, this land was used for a very different purpose. From the 1950s until 1992, the area was a large manufacturing complex that made parts for nuclear weapons.

Today, visitors can enjoy the refuge for its natural beauty and wildlife.

History

The Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge is a special place for animals and nature in the United States. It is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge is located along the Front Range of Colorado where three counties meet.

Before the 1800s, Native American people sometimes used the land. In 1868, a family named Scott settled there and raised cattle. Later, the Lindsays also raised cattle there.

In 1951, a large area of land was bought to make a place called the Rocky Flats Plant. This plant made parts for nuclear weapons. It operated for many years but stopped in the early 1990s. After that, people worked hard to clean up the land.

In 2001, the land became a wildlife refuge while cleanup work was still happening. Today, the refuge has trails for people to enjoy, and it officially opened to the public in 2018. The land has been checked and is considered safe for people and animals.

Status

The Comprehensive Conservation Plan helps protect animals and their homes. It also allows some public activities that need wildlife.

In April 2015, a court approved a land swap from 2011. This added over 600 acres to the refuge. The refuge started guided hikes in September 2015 and opened fully to the public on September 15, 2018.

Controversy

Main article: Radioactive contamination from the Rocky Flats Plant

The Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge was made after a big cleanup that cost $7 billion. Many tests checked the soil, air, and water. The tests showed the area was safe for people to visit. In 2007, the land became a wildlife refuge.

Even after the cleanup, some people still worried it wasn’t done well enough. In 2017, some local groups tried to take legal action, but a court decided their concerns were not new and not strong enough. In 2018, some school districts in Colorado decided not to let students go on trips to the area, and some leaders suggested closing the refuge to visitors.