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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTHE GROVE AT FORT COLLINS - FDP - FDP110015 - REPORTS - 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. Were 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 in currently in use at the project site at the end of the first growing season following planting. 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. Transects will be sited to represent the vegetation conditions common within the project area. At each one -foot interval along each transect, a "hit' will be recorded. A hit will consist of vegetation (by species), "free water", floating algae, or bare ground/rock/litter combined. The percent total plant cover will then be calculated for each transect. 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 the percent total ground cover of native grass and forb species present in the project area, the percent success of the shrub and tree plantings and the suppression of weed species. The total ground cover criterion will be met if, after three growing seasons, the total ground cover contributed by all grass, forb, and shrub species present in the project area is equal to or greater than 65 percent. In addition, there will be no evidence of erosion detrimental to 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 surficial 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. Any actions deemed necessary to enhance mitigation success and / or site stability will be taken as a result of each annual monitoring assessment. Monitoring will continue on an annual basis for a period of three years. Sampling Technique Specifics 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 of each growing season. The project area will be evaluated twice per year for weed establishment; once in mid -growing season and once at the end of each growing season for a period of three years following construction and planting. 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 Larimer County Weed Control District and those listed as noxious by the Colorado Weed Law. Species listed by Larimer County and to be controlled are as follows. Canada Thistle Dalmation toadflax Diffuse Knaoweed Leafy spurge Musk Thistle Russian knapweed Spotted knapweed Tamarisk (saltcedar) Yellow toadflax LONG-TERM MONITORING AND WEED MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE GROVE AT FORT COLLINS PREPARED BY STEPHEN LONG CEDAR CREEK ASSOCIATES 11-16-2011