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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTHE GROVE AT FORT COLLINS - FDP - FDP110015 - CORRESPONDENCE - ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTADDITIONAL MONITORING REQUESTED BY THE CITY Construction activities will occur in close proximity to existing wetlands near the Windtrail Drainage. All attempts will be made during construction to avoid all disturbances to wetlands. Where wetland disturbances cannot be avoided, disturbances will be limited to passage over the wetlands by construction equipment. The wetlands will be protected with a construction mat across which construction equipment will travel. At the termination of construction, the construction mat will be removed and the wetland allowed to return to natural conditions. As requested by the City, the disturbances related to construction in these wetlands will be assessed at the end of the growing season following the termination of construction. Should it be determined that the effected wetlands are not re-establishing to a pre -disturbance condition as compared to the abutting undisturbed wetlands, a site preparation/planting plan will be developed and implemented to mitigate these disturbances. The disturbed/revegetated areas will be included in the vegetation monitoring activities as noted above. Given the presumed small sizes and disjunct locations of the wetlands potentially to be disturbed, the vegetation success evaluations will be completed using a plot/cover estimate technique similar to that currently inuse _ oekMW: in at the project site at the end of the first growing season following planting. Any actions deemed necessary by the applicant or the City to enhance mitigation success and / or site stability will be taken as a result of each annual monitoring assessment. Monitoring will continue on at least an annual basis for a period of three yearsor until determined by the City peWed: n that the vegetation is well established in accordance with the coverage specifications described above, whichever occurs first. Sampling Technique Specifies Plant cover will be evaluated at the end of each growing season using the point -intercept method. A 100-foot tape will be laid out along the surface at a maximum of eight locations in the planted uplands. Transacts will be sited to represent the vegetation conditions common within the project area. At each one -foot interval along each transact, a "hit" will be recorded. A hit will consist of vegetation (by species), 'free water", floating algae, or ban: ground/rock/litter combined. The percent total plant cover will then be calculated for each transact. Shrub and tree species planted will be tallied at the end of each growing season by a simple count of viable species present at the time of monitoring fieldwork. Any indications of insect or animal damage will be noted as will any indications of nutrient deficiencies. VEGETATION SUCCESS MONITORING At the end of each of the first three full growing seasons following initial planting, the Natural Habitat Buffer Zone (project area) will be monitored quantitatively to determine the overall level of site stability and vegetation establishment. The results of this assessment will be submitted to the City of Fort Collins in a report on or about December 31 of each monitoring year. Information and showings to be submitted with each annual quantitative monitoring report include a project location map, project history summary, a discussion of the conditions of the mitigation sites, a summary of the data collected, copies of all data sheets completed in the field, and a continuation of the photographic record submitted with the first annual report. As appropriate, recommendations will be made with respect to the continued maintenance and monitoring of the mitigation area. Native Species Planting Success Assessment Revegetation success will be judged based on three criteria. These criteria include jlthe percent total ground cover of native grass and forb species present in the project area, Jjthe percent success of the shrub and tree plantings and_] the suppression of weed species. The total ground cover criterion will be assessed on an annual basis. During the first orowino season the required coverage shall be fifty percent coverage with no significant bare soots Durinc the second crowing season's inspection there shall be seventy-five Percent (75%) foliage cover of the soecifcied species as found during the methodlogv described below. In the third growing season or as needed until the success criterion is met. ,the total ground cover ...- contributed by all grass, forb, and shrub species present in the project area is equal to or greater than a5 percent. In addition, there wiU be_no evidernz of erosion detrimental tg vegetation,,, establishment or site stability. Shrub and tree plantings will be considered successful where 90 percent of the number planted are present on site. In the case of shrubs, volunteer plants of all native species will be included in the tally. The weed suppression criteria will be met If, after three growing seasons, the total cover provided by weed -classed species does not exceed 10 percent across the project area. In terms of surfcial stability, the presence of rills and gullies, if any, will be noted. All gullies will be repaired at the first opportunity and reseeded / mulched at the next recognized planting season. All rills determined to be detrimental to the establishment of a stable, self-perpetuating vegetation community will be obliterated by surficial manipulation or repaired as noted for identified gullies. Deleted: will be met If, after three growing seasons, Comment f1E1]: Original proposal was 55% - that's insufficient Deleted: 65 REVISED 11/15/11 WEED CONTROL PLAN SUMMARY This section summarizes the elements of the weed control plan to be prepared for the Natural Habitat Buffer Zone (project area) if weeds are deemed to be detrimental to plant establishment success or are required to be eradicated as per regulations. No more than 10 % weeds (see below for "weed" definition), as estimated based on total plant cover, will be permitted in the project area at the end he three-year monitoring eno The project area will be evaluated Deleted: of each twice per year for weed establishment; once in mid -growing season and once at the end of each Deleted: grovnng season growing season for a period of three years following construction and planting, or as needed based on field determinations. The completed plan will be submitted to governmental agencies, including the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Program and Larimer County, as required for review and approval. The weed control plan will be prepared by a Licensed Commercial Pesticide Applicator (LCPA). All subsequent weed control activities will also be conducted by an LCPA. The plan to be prepared will take the form of an Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPM) that will consider all methods of control that would potentially be applicable to the project area. These methods include mechanical, chemical, cultural, and biological techniques. Prior to plan preparation, a visit to the project area will be conducted at the end of the first growing season by the LCPA accompanied by representatives of the City of Fort Collins, Campus Crest at Fort Collins LLC, and Larimer County, as appropriate. The objective of this site visit is to assess site conditions, routes of access, weedy species present, the relationship of surrounding water / wetland bodies to the proposed areas to be treated, potential sources of run-on and run-off, and any other factors relevant to the weed control planning process. Given the presence of wetlands adjacent to project area, initial emphasis will be given to weed control methods other than those of a chemical nature, though chemical controls do exist that are considered by the Corps of Engineers to be appropriate in such cases. Plant species to be considered as weeds and controlled and/or eradicated at this project site, as per City code, are those listed by the Latimer County Weed Control District and those listed as noxious by the Colorado Weed Law. Species listed by Larimer County, or observed on the site, and to be controlled are as follows Canada Thistle Russian knapweed Dalmation toadflax Spotted knapweed Diffuse Knaoweed Tamarisk (saltcedar) Leafy spurge Yellow toadflax Bindweed Smooth brome? Musk Thistle Russian Olive LONG-TERM MONITORING AND WEED MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE GROVE AT FORT COLLINS PREPARED BY STEPHEN LONG CEDAR CREEK ASSOCIATES 11.1&2011 Page 1 of 1 Steve Olt From: Lindsay Ex Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 9:39 AM To: Matthew Parker; Jesse Schlam; Wes Lamarque; Glen Schlueter Cc: Steve Olt Subject: Wetland and vegetation monitoring plan at the Grove Attachments: Wetlands and Monitoring Plan (Rev 11_15_11) 11_LEX edits.docx Good morning all, Please find attached the wetland and vegetation monitoring plan for the Grove at Fort Collins with my edits. Matt, can you specifically look at page 2 of the attached documented, entitled "Weed Control Plan Summary" for any comments you might have based on our prior experiences? I didn't know if we wanted to include smooth brome or cheatgrass in the weed plan summary or not ... so please let me know what you think. Jesse, Wes, and Glen — on page 3, there is a discussion about the required amount of coverage, e.g., 85% by the end of the third growing season, can you please let me know if that works for you from an erosion control perspective? The applicants were originally proposing 65%, which I am planning to say no to, but if you have any feedback I would greatly appreciate it. Please feel free to comment anywhere else on the plan — as you know, we are meeting with the applicants tomorrow at 8:30 am, so please, if you could, get back to me with your comments sooner rather than later, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks! Lindsay Lindsay Ex Environmental Planner CDNS I City of Fort Collins lex(abfcoov.com 970.224.6143 Office Hours: M 8-5; T-Th 8-12 12/6/2011