There are a variety of plants along the Poudre River Trail, because it actually hosts multiple ecosystems. There are the Grasslands, the Riparian Cottonwood Forests, Open Water Riverine and Open Water Ponds and Lakes.
Grassland habitats provide food for many species of birds and animals. The dry Northern Colroado climate produces little precipitation and the grasses help to prevent soil erosion from wind, rain storms and snow runoff. These open areas also help buffer the river habitats as well. The grasslands are threatened by agriculture, over-grazing, invasive noxious plant species and land development.
Grassland consist of a variety of grasses, wildflowers, cactus plants and sparse shrubs.
The forests that you walk through along the Poudre River are made up of cottonwoods, varieties of willows, boxelder, alders, and elm trees.
These are natural trees to a flood plain as they require a great deal of water. They live in soils consiting of sand, silt, gravel and cobbles. These forests grow where there is periodic flooding and a high ground water table. as they depend on constantly moist soil to thrive and to reproduce. These forests provide shade and shelter for many species of birds and mammals. The forest also helps to minimize the impact of flooding by stabilizing the soil and slowing the force of the water.
The smaller ground vegetation in Cottonwood Forests area is often bluegrass, sedge, yellow sweetclover and thistle.
This is the area of moving water in the form of the Poudre River and creeks and streams that feed into it. It also encompasses the shoreline and banks along the river. The Poudre River is a meandering stream with tight curves and oxbox lakes. It is the habitat for fish, plants and insects. Grasses, rushes, sedges and cattails as well as shrubs and trees grow along its banks.
The oxbow ponds are natural to a river like the Poudre River. They form as the river changes its course during flood events. The oxbow lakes represent the previous river bed. They provide a still water environment for fish and the plants that live in and out of the water. They also make an excellent place for water fowl to be protected from predators.
As the ponds fill in with silt and rocks, they become shallower and more likely to turn green with algae growth during hot summer days. These ponds will eventually fill in and become marshy areas full of reeds and cattails. The gravel mining that has taken place along the river over the last century creates large pits which become ponds.
In addition to the Cottonwood Forests and the Grasslands, there are many varieties of shrubs along the trail. You can see sage brush and scrub oak and shrubs that produce berries. The shrubbery is very important for small birds to find protection and for mammals and birds for food. As with the other plants, the shrubbery is important for flood mitigation and to help prevent soil erosion.