Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGNEW CAR WASH - PDP - 32-06 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTPreble's Meadow Jumping Mouse, Zapus hudsoniuspreblei 2004 Survey Field Data Compilation Form ❑ TRAPPING SURVEY ❑X EVALUATED, NOT TRAPPED ' Fill out both sections 1 and 2 if trapping survey, fill out section I only if habitat evaluation (ie.not trapped). Compilation forms neededfor updated habitat evaluations and site disqualification requests. ' SECTION 1 Surveyor: Date of Site/Habitat Assessment August 20, 2006 ' Organization/Company Wildland Consultants, Inc. Full Name(s) Eric Berg t Location: Project Name (if applicable) Mulberry Crossing Project Description (nearby road intersection, type of impact, etc.) 1.67 acre lot adjacent to Cache La Poudre ' River. SE of intersection of Leman and Mulberry in Ft. Collins U.S.G.S. Quad Name Ft. Collins County Larimer Elevation 4954 Township(s) 7N Range(s) 68W Section(s) S18 NWI/4.NW1/4 '/4Mection(s) UTM Coordinates, Zone 13 o mg 4492196 Easting 0495144 UTM Coordinate Datum NAD27 ❑ NAD83 ❑x ' Directions to Location Land Ownersfiffip private ' Habitat: General Habitat Description weedy pasture adjacent to Cache la Poudre River ' Dominant Overstory Plant Community none on lot. plains cottomvood river Dominant Understory Plant Community smooth brome. kochia on lot. Smooth brome. coyote willow. reed canan grass river. ' Current Land Use vacant lot Drainage Name: Cache la Poudre River Type: Perennial Stream X Ephemeral Stream Pond/Lake Ditch Other SECTION 2: Z. h. preblei found ? Yes ❑ No ❑ Dates of Survey Trapping Information: Type of Traps Type of Bait % Available (unsprung) Number of Nights Trapped Total Trapnights Weather conditions prior to and during survey Associated Animal Species (especially urban predators, rats, house mice) Page 18 of 20 Photo 1. View along riparian edge west to Lemay Ave. Photo 2. View along south edge of lot and riparian edge to adjacent development. Photo 3. View across lot to the south. Attachment A- Site Photographs, Data Sheets M C ' U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1999b. Potential Preble's Meadow Jumping Mice Protection Areas. Colorado Field Office, Denver, CO. 5 5.0 Conclusions ■ The Mulberry Crossing property was surveyed in August, 2006 to assess potential habitat for the Ute ladies' tresses orchid, the Colorado butterfly plant, and the Preble's meadow jumping mouse. All three species are protected under the Endangered Species Act. The development was designed to protect riparian habitat along the Cache la Poudre River. ' The development area is located in upland pasture and does not provide potential habitat for any federally listed species. A setback/buffer is proposed between the commercial development and the edge of the riparian habitat. This area will be seeded with a native ' grassland seed mix and planted with native shrubs and trees. Past negative trapping along the Cache la Poudre River in Fort Collins indicates that the mouse ' is not present within the City. Therefore, trapping for the Preble's meadow jumping mouse is not recommended for the site. ' No impacts to the riparian zone would occur with project construction. No impacts to potential habitat areas for Ute ladies' tresses orchid and Colorado butterfly plant would occur. Neither species is located in the upland pasture on the site that is slated for development. 6.0 Literature Cited ' Armstrong, D.M., M.E. Bakeman, N.W. Clippinger, A. Deans, M. Marguiles, C.A. Meaney, C. Miller, M. O'Shea -Stone, T.R. Ryon, and M. Sanders. 1987. Report on Habitat Findings of ' the Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse. Presented to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Colorado Division of Wildlife. ' Colorado Division of Wildlife. 2005. Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse Occupied Range, Colorado [GIS data]. Denver, CO. ' Fertig, W. 2000. Status Review of the Colorado butterfly plant (Laura neomexicana ssp. coloradensis). Report prepared for the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit, U.S. ' Fish and Wildlife Service, and Wyoming Game and Fish Department by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, Laramie, WY. ' O'Kane, S.L. 1988. Colorado's rare flora. Great Basin Naturalist 48(4):434-484. Plage, P. 2006. Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lakewood, CO, Personal ' Communication With E. Berg, Wildland Consultants, Inc. August 2006. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1992. Survey Guidelines for Ute Ladies' Tresses Orchid. ' Colorado Field Office, Denver, CO. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1999a. Survey Guidelines for Preble's Meadow Jumping ' Mice. Colorado Field Office, Denver, CO. ' 4 4.0 Habitat Description The site was visited in August, 2006. Site photos are provided in Attachment A. ' 4.1 Habitat Description Habitats on and adjacent to the property include seeded upland pasture and riparian. The ' seeded upland pasture occurs on the area proposed for development. Dominant plants include smooth brome grass, crested wheatgrass, kochia, Russian thistle and a few other weedy species. This area is mowed several times each growing season. There are no wetlands or riparian habitat located within the development zone. The riparian zone adjacent to the Cache la Poudre River supports a fringe of riparian habitat. Dominant plants include plains and narrowleaf cottonwood (Populus deltoides/angustifolia), coyote willow (Salix exigua), peach -leaf willow (Salix amygdaloides), Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia). Herbaceous species in this area include included smooth brome, bentgrass (Agrostis sp.), reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), sedges (Carex spp.),and other grasses and forbs. 4.2 Assessment for Threatened and Endangered Species Habitat The project site was visited by WCI in August 2006. Data sheets completed during the site visit are included in Appendix B. ' Preferred habitat for the Preble's meadow jumping mouse includes thick shrubby riparian habitat along area streams and rivers (Armstrong et al. 1997). The nearest occupied habitat for the Preble's mouse is along the Cache la Poudre River upstream of LaPorte. This area is ' approximately 10 miles upstream of the proposed project area. Numerous trapping efforts have resulted in no Preble's captures along the Cache la Poudre River, adjacent tributaries and canals downstream of LaPorte (Plage 2006). Project construction would result in no ' disturbance of riparian vegetation. Proposed setback enhancements would improve the habitat condition of upland areas adjacent to the river. Because of past negative trapping efforts in the area there is little chance that Preble's meadow jumping mice are present. ' The riparian habitat along the river provides potential habitat for the Ute ladies' tresses orchid and Colorado butterfly plant. The orchid has been documented in areas with seasonally wet ' soils and wet meadows nears springs, lakes, or perennial streams and their associated flood plains below 6,500 feet above sea level in the South Platte River Drainage (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1992). The Colorado butterfly plant typically grows on subirrigated alluvial ' soils in floodplains and drainage bottoms and in depressions along slow -moving streams (Fertig 2000, O'Kane 1988a). Project construction would result in no disturbance of potential habitat areas. Construction of the water quality pond and outfall is within an upland seeded ' area that does not provide habitat to either species. This area is mowed several times during the growing season and seeded with pasture grasses. The outfall would flow into an existing rip -rap channel with no impacts to riparian, wetland or stream bank areas. Project construction ' and operation would not impact potential habitat for either rare plant species. ' 3 1 The Colorado butterfly plant was listed as Threatened in 2000 (USFWS 2000). The species is t a short-lived perennial, endemic to moist and mesic areas in southeastern Wyoming, northcentral Colorado, and western Nebraska (USFWS 2000). It typically grows on subirrigated alluvial soils at elevations between 5000 and 6400 feet. Populations are ' commonly found in floodplains and drainage bottoms and in depressions along slow -moving streams (Fertig 2000, O'Kane 1988a). Populations are known to occur in Weld and Larimer Counties County, Colorado (Floyd 1995, USFWS 2000, Federal Register 2005). Critical habitat has been designated for the species in southern Wyoming. 2.0 Surveyor Information The habitat assessment was completed by Wildland Consultants, Inc. Wildland Consultants, Inc. is approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to complete trapping surveys ' and habitat assessments for Preble's meadow jumping mice. Wildland Consultants, Inc. holds permits from the USFWS and Colorado Division of Wildlife to complete surveys for Preble's meadow jumping mice and has completed trapping for Preble's meadow jumping mice in ' numerous locations along the Front Range. Wildland Consultants has completed numerous surveys and habitat assessments for the Ute ladies tresses orchid and Colorado butterfly plant. ' 3.0 Site Location and Project Description ' The Mulberry Crossing property is located in eastern Fort Collins, Colorado. The site is located at the northeast corner of Lemay Avenue and Mulberry Street. The Cache la Poudre River Runs along the western property boundary. UTM coordinates (NAD 83, Zone 13) for ' the approximate center of the property: 4492196N 0495144E (T7N R68W S 18 NW1/4,NW1/4; Figure 1). ' The proposed commercial development (car wash) is located on a 1.67 acre lot in an area of extensive commercial development (see attached Landscape Plan). The development would include the car wash, parking and an access road. ' A setback/buffer within a minimum width of 55-feet is proposed from the edge of the riparian habitat along the Cache la Poudre River and the edge of the proposed parking lot. This buffer ' will be seeded with a native pasture/riparian adapted grass seed mix. Extensive native shrub and tree plantings are also proposed for the buffer area (See Attachment A, Landscape Plan). ' Total size of the site is approximately 1.67 acres. The proposed Cache la Poudre River setback is approximately 0.55 acres in size. t All water used in the car washing process is recycled and stored in an underground tank. No release of water associated with car washing would occur on the site or in the adjacent Cache la Poudre River. ' Storm Water runoff will be directed into a small water quality detention area located within the river setback/buffer. The runoff will be allowed to settle prior to discharge. Discharge will be t directed into an existing rip -rap channel adjacent to Lemay Avenue without any disturbance of riparian habitat. ' 2 Threatened and Endangered Species Habitat Assessment Mulberry Crossing Car Wash Prepared For: Andrea and John Agnew P.O. Box 827 Frisco, CO 80443 Prepared By: Wildland Consultants, Inc. 1001 Jefferson Drive Berthoud, CO 80513 October 2006 1.0 Introduction This report provides an assessment of potential habitat along the Cache la Poudre River adjacent to the Mulberry Crossing Development for three federally listed species: Preble's meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei), Ute ladies' tresses orchid (Spiranthes diluvialis), and Colorado Butterfly plant (Gaura neomexicana var. coloradensis). All three species are currently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The Ute ladies' -tresses orchid was listed as Threatened in 1992 (USFWS 1992a). The species ' grows in areas with seasonally wet soils and wet meadows near springs, lakes, or perennial streams and their associated flood plains. Known populations of this species occur in Nevada, Utah, and eastern and western Colorado (USFWS 1992a). Several historically documented ' populations are known to occur along the Front Range in Colorado in the South Platte River Drainage at elevations below 6,500 feet (USFWS 1992b). 1 Wildland Consultants, Inc. Environmental Permitting and Consulting - Ecological Studies - Threatened and Endangered Species -Wetlands Susan Linner, Colorado Field Supervisor November 9, 2006 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ecological Services 755 Parfet Street, Suite 361 Lakewood, Colorado 80215 Dear Ms. Linner, Enclosed for your review and approval is a Threatened and Endangered Species Habitat Assessment Report for the proposed Mulberry Crossing Development in Fort Collins. The proposed 1.67 acre car wash is located along the Cache la Poudre River within Fort Collins. Based on nearby past negative trapping efforts along the Cache la Poudre River in Fort Collins I do not recommend completing trapping surveys on the site. Based on USFWS guidelines the river provides potential habitat to the Ute ladies' tresses orchid and Colorado butterfly plant. However, the project will not impact potential habitat areas. Based on our review of the project no impacts to listed species are anticipated with project construction. The City of Fort Collins needs concurrence (in letter form) from the Service with the Habitat Assessment Report. Please respond back to me after reviewing the report. Please call if you have questions. If needed, we can meet with the Service on the site. Sincerely, Wildland Consultants, Inc. Eric Berg Project Manager 1 � � 1001 Jefferson Drive, Berthoud, CO 50513 - (970532-4354 (Office), (970)-532-3341 (Fax) :r