In winter, majestic bald eagles are perched on cottonwood trees or soar over the water. The reservoir eco-system attracts raptors species including golden eagle, red-tailed hawk, northern harrier and ferruginous hawk as well as waterfowl and shorebirds.

Visitors might see plains species of lark bunting, horned lark and meadowlark. A nesting colony of black-crowned night herons use wooded wetlands on the western side of the reservoir. Colonies of prairie dogs provide habitat for nesting and brood-rearing by burrowing owls, a threatened species in Colorado.

One mile south of I-225 on Parker Road at Lehigh, adjacent to south Denver.

Wetland Loop Trail - accessed via Cottonwood Creek or Shop Creek trailheads

1.22 miles non-paved loop trail through protected wetlands