About Requesting CNHP Data

Make a data request

CNHP’s Biodiversity Tracking and Conservation System (BIOTICS) for natural heritage elements (occurrences of significant natural communities and rare, threatened or endangered plants and animals) has become the standard reference for consultants, scientists and planners who require accurate science-based data on the location and condition of species and natural communities in Colorado. CNHP maintains this database as an independent non-profit and thus must rely on contract work to make this invaluable resource available.

Below is a detailed description of our fee structure. CNHP has organized data requests into a tiered system to better track our data requests. Most of our professional consultants will find they typically order Tier II data. If you have any questions on the new rates please contact Michael Menefee. For reference we first provide definitions for key terms.

  • Element: A global- or state-rare species, infraspecies, or unique natural community tracked by CNHP.
  • Mapped Location (ML): Locations of CNHP tracked elements initially entered into database. Mapped locations are converted to Element Occurrences through the application of Natural Heritage Methodology.
  • Element Occurrence (EO): An Element Occurrence represents a location in which an element is, or was, present. An EO has continued (or historic) presence and/or regular recurrence at a given location and has practical conservation value.
  • Potential Conservation Area (PCA): A PCA represents CNHP’s best estimate of the primary area supporting the long-term survival of targeted elements.
  • Network of Potential Conservation Areas (NCA): A landscape area that encompasses Potential Conservation Areas which share similar species or natural communities as well as ecological processes, or a mostly intact (maintained as natural vegetation), lightly fragmented landscape that supports wide-ranging species and large scale disturbances.
  • Revised Environmental Review Rate Structure (effective July 1, 2009):
CNHP Fee Structure

Tier 3 – CNHP Website (CNHP Download Page)

Tier 3 data requests usually do not require input from the Environmental Review Coordinator. The following items may be downloaded from the CNHP website. Please note the spatial data are for non-commercial use only. Commercial users may contact CNHP’s environmental review coordinator to schedule an environmental review using more precise data.

Item Format Fee
Elements by Quad Shapefiles (SHP) Free
Non-sensitive Potential Conservation Areas (PCA) Shapefiles (SHP) Free
Network of Conservation Areas (NCA) Shapefiles (SHP) Free
CNHP Element Tracking Lists MS Excel (XLSX & TXT) Free
CNHP Field Forms MS Word (DOC) and Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Free
CNHP Technical Reports and Publications Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Free

Tier 2 – no spatial data – no Data License Agreement necessary

Tier 2 data requests do not include spatial data and, therefore, a Data License Agreement is not required. Requests may be received by species or by geographic area. The tabular reports for requests in this category are provided for a base fee ($250) PLUS either $100 /species or $5/ square mile within the client’s geographic area of interest (1-mile minimum charge). A minimum 2-mile buffer will be applied to linear requests. A $55 rush fee will be applied to rush orders. A 15% discount will be applied to data requests submitted by independent non-profit organizations and students.

Requests by Species
Base Fee
Plus # Species
$250
+ $100/species
Requests by Geographic Area
Base Fee
Plus # of Square Miles
$250
+ $5/sq. mile

Click Here to make a data request.

Tier 1 – includes spatial data –requires Data License Agreement

Tier 1 data requests include spatial data and require signature of a Data License Agreement. Requests may be received by species or by geographic area. Spatial data and associated tabular reports for these requests are provided for a base fee ($350) PLUS fees per mapped location (based on tiered fee schedule) within the client’s geographic area of interest. A minimum 2-mile buffer will be applied to linear requests. A $55 rush fee will be applied to rush orders. A 15% discount will be applied to data requests submitted by independent non-profit organizations and students.

Requests by Species or by Geographic Area
Base Fee
Plus Fees per Mapped Location (ML)
$350
+ Tiered $/ML
Description # Mapped Locations (ML) $/ML
First 100 0-100 $6.00/ML
Next 400 101-500 $5.00/ML
Next 500 501-1,000 $4.00/ML
Next 5,000 1,001-5,000 $3.00/ML
Next 5,000 5,001-10,000 $2.50/ML
Next 5,000 10,001-15,000 $2.00/ML
Next 5,000 15,001-20,000 $1.50/ML
Next 5,000 20,001-25,000 $1.00/ML

Example calculation for 685 mapped locations:
$350.00 + (100 * $6.00) + (400 * $5.00) + (185 * $4.00) = $3,340

Click Here to make a data request.

CNHP Publications

Some CNHP publications are not available on the CNHP website. Requests for these publications will be fulfilled at a rate equal to the printing/copying fee PLUS a CNHP admin fee ($25.00). Click Here to make a data request.

Other Environmental Review Services

Large-format maps can be made for any data products you order (rates will be contingent on the size of the map and the level of cartographic detail that you require). Rates for other types of environmental review services are negotiable on a project-by-project basis. Click Here to make a data request.