Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutGILLESPIE FARM - ODP - 29-00 - REPORTS - ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT' proposed for the property are those that would protect the tree and maintain or enhance the No. 8 Outlet Ditch as a wildlife travel corridor. ' Since the large lanceleaf cottonwood tree is adjacent to an existing roadway no wildlife buffer is proposed. However, a construction (surface disturbance and underground utilities) buffer should be maintained ' outside of the tree drip -line to minimize any possible disturbance to the tree's root system. In addition, because potential raptor nesting habitat is provided by this tree, the tree should be surveyed prior to any ' construction activities to confirm the presence or absence of raptor nesting activity. If an active raptor nest is discovered, a buffer zone setback, as prescribed in Section 3.4.1 of the Fort Collins Land Use Code, ' should be maintained during the breeding, nesting, and nestling rearing period. One factor should be evaluated, however, before a decision regarding the preservation of this tree is finalized. Because of the ' partially decadent nature of the tree, the tree should be assessed to determine if it poses a human safety or property damage threat in the relatively near future. If its long -tern stability is unlikely, it may be more ' appropriate to remove the tree during the non -nesting season and mitigate its loss by incorporating native tree plantings within the proposed development. ' — Woody plantings and development setbacks should be employed along the west side of the No. 8 Outlet Ditch to provide visual screening between the ditch and proposed development and enhance the ditch as ' a possible wildlife travel corridor. As development progresses in this and surrounding areas, the canal may remain as the only potential wildlife travel corridor between undeveloped areas to the north and south of the project area. Development setbacks and woody plantings would also help to preserve fox use of the ' den site on the east side of the ditch as long as land on the east side of the ditch remains undeveloped. 10 (c) The majority of the property currently provides partial views of the Front Range mountains to the west (see Photo 1). (d) As described under Section 3.0, the only significant native tree is one large lanceleaf cottonwood at the southwest farmstead site. All the remaining trees in the farmstead areas are relatively small or non- native. No raptor stick nests were noted in any of these trees, and future raptor use of these trees as nest sites is unlikely because of the proximity of the trees to County Road No. 11 and existing residences on the west side of the roadway. However, because potential nesting habitat is present, trees on or near the property should be surveyed prior to any construction activities near these trees. ■ (e) There are no natural drainages within or now the property boundaries. ' (f) There was no evidence of the presence of specially valued species within or near the project area. As indicated in Section 3.0 there are no suitable or important habitats for threatened, endangered, or other tsensitive species on or adjacent to the Gillespie Farm property. (g) Because of past cultivation over the most of the property, there are no special habitat features present texcept for the one large lanceleaf cottonwood tree at the southwest farmstead. ' (h) The only potential wildlife movement corridor on or within 500 feet of the project area is the No. 8 Outlet Ditch. The value of this feature as a wildlife movement corridor is limited, however, by steep ' sideslopes and cultivation up to the edges of the ditch. To the north of the Gillespie Farm property, the ditch passes through cultivated cropland and then parallels the east side of County Road No. 11 until it connects with Elder Reservoir. To the south, the ditch continues through cultivated cropland and then ' runs along the east edge of Timberline Road (County Road No. 9E) until it empties into the Larimer and Weld Canal (see Figure 1). The No. 8 Outlet ditch passes under County Road No. 52 and County Road ' No. 50 via cement box culverts that would restrict passage of all but a few aquatic species of wildlife. Most wildlife traveling along the ditch would have to cross over the roadways in order to continue travel along ' the ditch. The steep sideslopes along the ditch also limit the suitability of the ditch as a travel corridor for medium- sized and larger mammals such as raccoon, striped skunk, and deer. Although the ditch offers limited cover and value as a terrestrial wildlife corridor, it does have some value as a loafing and feeding area or a travel corridor for waterfowl such as mallard, green -winged teal, and Canada goose. Wading birds including great blue heron may also o nall a along the ditch. .0 WILDLIFE MITIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS tThe single large eaf co ree at uthwest property corner and the No. 8 Outlet Ditch are the only wildlife habitat features of value on or near the property. The only wildlife mitigation measures M ' One possible red fox den cavity was located on the east ditch embankment near the center of the property (see Figure 2 and Photo 4). In addition, several small cavities were noted along nearly vertical portions of the east embankment where there was little or no vegetation cover. These cavities could provide suitable nest sites for species such as bank swallow and American kestrel. Farmstead Areas. Two abandoned farmstead areas exist along the western property boundary. The largest near the center of the property consists of a house and numerous other structures including, silos, ' barns, storage sheds, and corrals. A silage storage trench and equipment laydown sites are also present. Most of this area has been cleared of vegetation cover except where weedy species such as kochia have tre -invaded. Formal landscaping of turf grass, ornamentals and a few trees are supported around the residence. The trees are non-native green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanicus) and maple (Acer sp.). Two of ' the green ash trees are relatively large (1.5 to 2 feet dbh and 30 to 50 feet tall). The other farmstead in the southwest corner of the property is much smaller and consists of a single ' abandoned residence that has been unoccupied for some time. Native lanceleaf cottonwoods (Populus acuminata) and non-native Siberian elms (L lmus pumila) grow at this site. The understory is vegetated by ' smooth brome and annual weeds. There are three smaller and one large lanceleaf cottonwood. The large tree (3 feet dbh and 50 feet tall) has a partially decadent trunk with at least four excavated cavities that ' provide suitable nest sites for woodpeckers and American kestrel. The other lanceleaf cottonwoods are relatively young (4 to 12 inches dbh and 20 to 30 feet tall). ' Because of vegetation clearing, past disturbances, and the proximity of County Road No. 11 and residential developments, wildlife use of trees in the farmstead areas is restricted primarily to songbird species adapted to urban environments. No evidence of raptor nesting activity was noted in the trees. The only nest observed was a partial black -billed magpie nest in one of the larger green ash trees at the larger farmstead. Nesting use of the larger trees by raptors other than possibly great horned owl or American kestrel is unlikely. ' 4.0 ECOLOGICAL STUDY CHARACTERIZATION CHECKLIST The following provides a summary of information required by Fort Collins Land Use Code under 3.4.1 (D) ' (1) items (a) through (1). Items 0) and (k) are addressed under following section, 5.0 Wildlife Mitigation Recommendations. ' (a) Wildlife use of the area is described in Section 3.0. ' (b) As indicated in Section 3.0, there are no wetlands on the property f] Photo 3. View of Southern Portion of No. 8 Outlet Ditch. (View is from middle eastern edge of property looking south. Note lower height of ditch embankments and reduced steepness of western embankment on right compared to northern segment of ditch.) 1 Photo 4. View of Possible Red Fox Den in East Embankment of No. 8 Outlet Ditch. (Den location is near center of eastern edge of property. See Figure 2.) 7 Photo 1. Representative View of Cultivated Cropland Habitat on the Gillespie Farm Property. (View is from northeast property corner looking southwest. Corn stubble is in foreground. Plowed, unplanted fields are in background.) Photo 2. View of North End of No. 8 Outlet Ditch Near the Northeast Property Corner. (View is looking north toward County Road No. 52. Note cement box culvert in back- ground under road crossing. Also note steep embankments, concrete rip -rap along bottom of ditch. and minimal vegetation cover along the tops of embankments.) 9 Row cropland has limited value as wildlife habitat, especially when it is not near areas of natural habitat with cover. Vegetation cover and food sources are present primarily on a short-term basis in row cropland due to seasonal harvesting and cultivation. As wheat or corn crops mature, croplands receive limited use by a few species for foraging purposes. Once the crop is harvested and cover is removed, crop residue remaining after harvest provides a food source for small mammals, songbirds, and some waterfowl and game bird species. These areas may also be occasionally hunted by open -country raptors. Vegetation cover is generally lacking from fall through early spring. Photo 1 provides a view of cropland habitats on the property. Deer mouse, western harvest mouse, prairie vole, northern pocket gopher, and ground squirrels are the only species likely to establish resident populations in row cropland and the weedy edge areas. No evidence of prairie dog colonies was observed on the property. Songbirds such as western meadowlark, Brewer's blackbird, American crow, black -billed magpie, common grackle, and homed lark will also sporadically use cropland habitats. Species such as raccoon, striped skunk, ring-necked pheasant, mourning dove, and Canada goose will occasionally move into croplands to seek prey or feed on leftover grain. At the time of the survey several hundred Canada geese were observed foraging or resting in harvested cornfield portions of the property. Dryland or unflooded cropland is of limited foraging value for most other waterfowl species, however. Raptors potentially hunting over row croplands include American kestrel, red-tailed hawk, northern harrier, and Swainson's hawk. Because of past cultivation practices, habitat for threatened, endangered or other sensitive species does not exist on or adjacent to the Gillespie Farm property. No. 8 Outlet Ditch. Active cultivation and/or the ditch dirt service road exist up to the edge of the ditch embankments thereby limiting adjacent vegetation cover to low, annual weeds. Vegetation within the ditch embankments consists primarily of herbaceous cover including primarily smooth brome (Bromus inermis) on the upper portions of the embankments and scattered dumps of reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) and Emory's sedge (Carex emorjo). Much of the lower portions of the embankments have been lined with blocks of broken concrete presumably for use as rip -rap in erosion control. The ditch has been constructed below ground level, and there are no elevated berms along the ditch edges. Because of higher topography in the northeast comer of the project area, the ditch depth is nearly 20 feet along most of its northern half adjacent to the property (see Photo 2). As topography flattens along the southeast portion of the project area, ditch depth is reduced to 10 feet or less (see Photo 3). Along most portions of the ditch, the ditch embankments exhibit near vertical slopes along the east side and less vertical but relatively steep slopes on the west side. Because of the steepness of the ditch banks, wildlife travel within the ditch would be restricted primarily to waterbirds and small mammals. 5 ' southeasterly direction. Surrounding land uses consist of cultivated cropland, turf grass farm, fallow field, and residential (see Figure 2). According to the Soil Conservation Service's (SCS) Soil Survey of Larimer County Area, Colorado the predominant soils on the property are as follows. Ascalon sandy loams, 0 to 3 percent slopes ' Ascalon sandy loams, 3 to 3 percent slopes Fort Collins loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes Fort Collins loam, 3 to 5 percent slopes Fort Collins loam, 5 to 9 percent slopes ' Kim loam, 3 to 5 percent slopes Kim loam, 5 to 9 percent slopes Satanta loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes Satanta loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes ' Satanta Variant day loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes None of the soil mapping units are classified as hydric, and the field survey did not document any ' evidence of hydric soils, wetland vegetation, or hydrologic features characteristic of wetland conditions on the property. Runoff is slow to medium, and the risk of wind and water erosion is slight to moderate on all tsoil mapping units except the two steeper sloped units, Fort Collins loam, 5 to 9 percent slopes and Kim loam, 5 to 9 percent slopes. Runoff is rapid on these two soils, and the risk of erosion is severe. These ' two soils are located in the northwest and southwest comers of the property. No problem erosion areas were noted in these areas or other portions of the property during the field survey. ' The following sections summarize the characteristics of habitats existing on the property and wildlife use of the area Cultivated Cropland. At the time of the survey the entire property except for the farmsteads sites ' exhibited either plowed, unplanted parcels with minimal vegetation cover or remnant patches of vegetation cover consisting of wheat or com stubble with pockets of annual weeds dominated primarily by kochia (Kochia scoparia). Cultivation practices have resulted in the removal of native vegetation and establishment of agricultural crops as well as the invasion of plants consisting primarily of non-native, weedy grass and forb species in fallow sites and around the perimeter of the fields. Cropland field edges ' were dominated by weedy species including field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), kochia, cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), common dandelion (Taraxacum ofridnale), crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum), and common sunflower (Helianthus annuus). No woody vegetation is present on or adjacent to the property except for a few trees planted in the two farmstead areas. In addition, the only woody species noted growing within the No. 8 Outlet Ditch adjacent to the property was a single, small Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) tree. 4 CULTIVATEa-•. CROPLAND 61 CULTIVATED CRPL AND � ', TURFG"S9 FAR �. r--- . \ + r'' 'Countv Road No. 52\ �.a 1 \ 1 I 1 } FARMSTEAD CULTIV TED CROP ND (with no�na4e trees) RESID N7�IA r CULTIVATED CROPLAND ° I 0 0 1 Possible Red Fox Don % 1 No. a outlet Ditch FALLOW r' FIELD 1, 1�� I FA6iMSTEAD ( ith+nati%�e trees) it • •y f CULT�; TE6OP AND _ CULTI ITED • • CROPAND • :" N il LEGEND FIGURE 2 Property Boundary in Habitat Mapping 9 Habitat Boundary for the Gillespie Farm Property Scale: t" _ -590' 'ft. 68 W, ;ti.; FIGURE 1 \ElderReservoir Location of the Gillespie Farm Project Area j Scale: 1" = 2,000' Map Source: USGS 712' Quadrangles - Fort Collins pop — and Wellington, CO ''01 Well e oill to We115 'WN l� � r\� � u Vale".'Salmoty&Storage ry\--_ - r Co M oad No. 5_2� � s off pulte 1C T; pp AID °yamGiddings No. 8 O let Ditch 33 Ilk Gillespie Farm Project Area T. 8 N. ) urrt oad No-50 \^ YN. T. 7 N cc of i Ful I r la C.r1NAC ' .• i p.��'�R+MER �_�, A \� --- -- T A a^ 4 ' ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION STUDY REPORT FOR THE GILLESPIE FARM PROPERTY ' 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND LOCATION This report documents the evaluation of habitat conditions on the proposed Gillespie Farm development ' parcel in Fort Collins, Colorado. The report was prepared in accordance with Section 3.4.1 of the Land Use Code of the City of Fort Collins regarding the preparation of a Ecological Characterization Study. The proposed 160-acre development site is located in Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado in the Northwest 1/4 of Section 32 (T. 8 N. R. 68 W.). The property boundaries are defined by County Road No. 11 on the ' west, County Road No. 52 on the north, the No. 8 Outlet Ditch on the east, and a fenceline and cultivated cropland on the south. The location of the property and property boundaries are shown on Figure 1. 2.0 METHODOLOGY ' Cedar Creek completed a field survey of the Gillespie Farm property on January 22, 2001. Field surveys of the property were conducted to characterize existing wildlife habitats, as well as to identify any unique or sensitive natural resource features. Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly SCS) soils ' mapping (Soil Survey of Larimer County Area, Colorado) was also reviewed to determine if any known hydric soil mapping units were located on the property. Observations recorded during the field evaluation ' included: major vegetation communities / wildlife habitats present within the property; dominant vegetation associated with each community / habitat; unique habitat features; and observations of wildlife ' species and/or definitive sign. Photographs showing representative views of existing habitats were also taken to document site conditions. Wildlife presence and habitat use was based on on -site observations ' and habitat presence in conjunction with the known habitat requirements of potential wildlife species. Existing habitats were also evaluated regarding their ability to support populations of threatened, endangered, and other sensitive plant and wildlife species. 3.0 HABITAT CONDITIONS AND WILDLIFE USE ' The entire property consists of gently sloping to nearly level cultivated farmland that has been planted to row crops such as com and winter wheat (see Figure 2). The more sloping segments of cropland are tlocated within the western portion of the property. Two abandoned farmstead areas also are present along the western property boundary (see Figure 2). As indicated, the No. 8 Outlet Ditch is located along ' the eastern property boundary. Flow of irrigation water in the ditch is in a north to south direction. There are no natural drainages on or adjacent to the property, and surface runoff occurs as sheet flow in a 1 ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION STUDY REPORT FOR THE GILLESPIE FARM PROPERTY Prepared by Cedar Creek Associates, Inc. Fort Collins, Colorado Prepared for Tom Dougherty Construction, Inc. Fort Collins, Colorado January 25, 2001