HomeMy WebLinkAboutSPRING CREEK RANCH - PDP - 14-05 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT(h) The only wildlife movement corridor on or within 500 feet of the project area is the Spring Creek
drainage. The value of the drainage as a wildlife movement corridor is limited, however, by the proximity
of existing development along the stream corridor, human recreational use of the trail system along the
creek, and numerous road crossings. Wildlife use of the creek is restricted primarily to urban -adapted
waterfowl such as Canada goose and mallard.
5.0 WILDLIFE MITIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS
The only important wildlife habitat on or within 500 feet of the property is the Spring Creek corridor. The
City of Fort Collins requirement for 100-foot development setback from Spring Creek would be sufficient to
protect the drainage and associated wetlands and trees. Current development plans indicate that the
proposed development would maintain the setbacks required by the Land Use Code. Placement of
recreational trails in natural feature buffer zones is permitted under the City's Land Use Code as long as
the trail is "compatible with the ecological character or wildlife use. of the natural habitat or feature."
Trees 6 inches or greater in diameter on the property may be classified as significant trees by the City's
Land Use Code. Loss of trees classified as significant would need to be mitigated with replacement trees
as per Section 3.2.1 (F) of the Code.
' 6.0 REFERENCES CITED
Armstrong, D.M., M.E. Bakeman, N.W. Clippinger, A. Deans, M. Margulies, C.A. Meaney, C. Miller, M.
' O'Shea -Stone, T.R. Ryon, and M. Sanders. 1997. Report on habitat findings of the Preble's
meadow jumping mouse. Edited by M.E. Bakeman. Report presented to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service and the Colorado Division of Wildlife. 91 pp.
' Federal Register. 1998. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants: proposed threatened status for
the plant, Gaura neomexicana ssp. coloradensis. Federal Register: March 24, 1998 (Volume 63,
Number 56) pp.14060-14065.
Spackman, S., B. Jennings, J. Coles, C. Dawson, M. Minton, A. Kratz, and C. Spurrier. 1997. Colorado
rare plant field guide. Prepared for the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, and
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Fort Collins, Colorado.
SCS. 1980. Soil Survey of Larimer County Area, Colorado. Natural Resources Conservation Service
(formerly Soil Conservation Service). U.S. Government Printing Office. Washington, D. C.174 pp. +
maps.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1999. Interim survey guidelines for Preble's meadow jumping mouse.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, May 19, 1999
11
Previous habitat assessments indicated lack of suitable habitat and negative trapping surveys completed
by Cedar Creek along downstream portions of Spring Creek have been reviewed and approved by U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Colorado butterfly plant is a short-lived, perennial herb endemic to moist soils in mesic or wet
meadows of floodplain areas in southeastern Wyoming, north -central Colorado, and extreme western
Nebraska. This early to mid-seral stage species occurs primarily in habitats created and maintained by
streams active within their floodplains with vegetation that is relatively open and not overly dense or
overgrown. It is found on subirrigated, alluvial soils of drainage bottoms surrounded by mixed grass
prairie at elevations of 5,000 to 6,400 feet (Spackman et al., 1997, Federal Register, 1998). Populations
of this species are often found in low depressions or along bends in wide, active, meandering stream
channels a short distance upslope of the actual channel. The plant requires early to mid-seral riparian
habitats. Typical habitat is relatively open without dense or overgrown vegetation. It commonly occurs in
communities dominated by redtop (AgrosUs stolonifera) and Kentucky bluegrass on wetter sites and by
wild licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota), Rodman's thistle (Cirsium flodmanii), curlycup gumweed (Grindelia
squarrosa), and smooth scouring rush (Hippochaete laevigata) on drier sites. These areas are usually
intermediate in moisture between wet, streamside communities dominated by sedges, rushes, and
cattails, and dry shortgrass prairie (Federal Register 1998). Suitable streamside habitats for Colorado
butterfly plant are nonexistent along Spring Creek within the project area.
Habitat for the Ute ladies' -tresses orchid typically consists of seasonally moist soils and wet meadows
near lakes, springs, or perennial streams and their associated floodplains below 6,500 feet. Associated
vegetation species typically include those with a "FACW" Corps of Engineers classification (Equisetum,
Asclepias, Calamagrostis, Solidago, etc. genera) occurring in relatively open and not overly dense,
overgrown, or over -grazed areas. This species prefers comparatively well -drained, high moisture content
wetland soils that are not strongly anaerobic or composed of heavy clays. Conversely, sites consisting
entirely of dense stands of reed canarygrass, those characterized by standing water including
monocultures of cattails or three -square, dense clayey soils, or highly saline soils supporting a dense
community of inland saltgrass (Distichfis stricta) are not considered to be habitat for this species (U. S.
Fish and Wildlife Service memorandum: Plants - Spiranthes diluviafis, Ute ladies' -tresses orchid, dated
November 23, 1992). Wetlands supported along Spring Creek are comprised primarily of dense stands of
reed canarygrass and Emory sedge that do not create suitable habitat conditions for Ute ladies' -tresses
orchid.
(g) Because of past cultivation of non-native grass pasture over most of the property, there are no special
habitat features present except for the larger trees noted on Figure 2.
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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 (i). Items 0) and (k) are addressed under following section, 5.0 Wildlife Mitigation
Recommendations.
(a) Wildlife use of the area is described in Section 10.
(b) As indicated in Section 3.0, the only COE wetlands on the property are located within the Spring .
Creek drainage. Hydric soil wetlands are also present in non-native grassland/pasture near the Spring
Creek corridor (see Figure 2).
(c) The more elevated portions of the property provide relatively unobstructed views of the Front Range
foothills.
■ (d) Because of past residential and pasture conversion of the property, the only sites of native vegetation
' located on the property are the wetlands along Spring Creek. Two very large, native peach -leaf willow
trees also grow in non-native grassland/pasture habitat near Spring Creek (see Figure 2). Trees 6 inches
or greater in diameter on the property may be classified as significant trees by the City's Land Use Code.
' Loss of trees classified as significant would need to be mitigated with replacement trees as per Section
3.2.1 (F) of the Code. Spring Creek is the only perennial drainage that exists near the property
' boundaries.
' (f) The project area was evaluated with regards to potential habitat for state and federal listed threatened
and endangered species. Wetlands along Spring Creek were judged to be the only areas that could
possibly provide suitable habitat for three federal listed threatened species, Preble's meadow jumping
' mouse (Zapus hudsonius preb/ei), Colorado butterfly plant (Gaura neomexicana coloradensis), and Ute
ladies' -tresses orchid (Spiranthes di/uvialis). An evaluation of their potential presence is provided in the
' following paragraphs.
Suitable habitat for the jumping mouse is provided by low undergrowth consisting of grasses, (orbs, or
both in open wet meadows and riparian corridors or where tall shrubs and low trees provide adequate
cover. Potential habitat includes wet meadow habitats, native hayfields, stream channels (perennial and
intermittent), riparian habitats, or floodplains below 7,600 feet elevation in Colorado. Saturated wetlands
supporting dense stands of cattail or bulrush do not provide suitable habitat conditions for the jumping
mouse (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1999; Armstrong et al. 1997). Suitable habitat conditions were
judged to be marginal for Preble's meadow jumping mouse because of the general lack of shrub and tree
cover and the adjacent presence of upland, non-native grassland instead of moist native meadow.
9
1
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l
1
Photo 3. View of Spring Creek Drainage Along Northwest Portion of the Spring
Creek Ranch Parcel. (View is from northwest corner of property looking east.)
Creek Ranch Parcel. (View is from north -center of property looking east. The two
large peach -leaf willows are in background on the right.)
9
was what appeared to be a partial magpie nest in the American elm nearest to the southeast property
corner.
Wetlands and Spring Creek Corridor. There was no hydrologic, soils, or vegetation evidence of
wetlands over most of the project area except for the Spring Creek corridor and one lower portion of non-
native grassland/pasture near Spring Creek. Wetlands along Spring Creek in the project area are
dominated primarily by stands of reed canarygrass (Pha/aroides arundinacea) with lesser amounts of
Emory sedge (Carex emoryit). The wetland/upland boundary is defined by a relatively sharp transition in
vegetation dominance from reed canarygrass in the wetlands to dense stands of smooth brome, tall
fescue, and orchard grass. Wetlands along Spring Creek were not delineated since no development is
proposed within the Spring Creek corridor. Photos 3 and 4 provide representative views of the Spring
Creek corridor along the north edge of the project area.
The area of hydric soils noted on Figure 2 exhibited soils with a matrix color of 10 YR 2/2 with mottles (2.5
YR 416) indicating reducing conditions and classification as a wetland soil according to COE wetland
delineation guidelines2. Although this area exhibited hydric or wetland soil characteristics, there was no
evidence of dominance by wetland vegetation or wetland hydrology. Dominant vegetation in this area
was comprised of orchard grass and tall fescue, which are classified as upland species (FACU). Based
on the City of Fort Collins' Land Use Code, only one COE wetland criteria is necessary for wetland
determination, and this area of hydric soils would be classified as wetland. This area was not delineated
since it is within the 100-foot Spring Creek buffer corridor.
In terms of vegetation and wildlife species diversity, wildlife habitat value, and potential to support
sensitive plant and wildlife species, riparian and wetland habitats in conjunction with aquatic habitats
along Spring Creek represent the only important habitats within or near the project area. These habitats
are limited in areal extent along the Front Range and are usually only found in association with perennial
and intermittent drainages and other sources of surface water. Spring Creek also provides a wildlife
movement corridor for a variety of wildlife species that would not be found in areas of urban development,
although its value as a movement corridor is restricted by numerous road crossings. Wetlands and
associated open water habitats provide foraging, resting, and breeding habitat for some urban adapted
species of waterfowl such as mallard and Canada goose. Wetlands with herbaceous and woody
vegetation cover also support a variety of other wildlife populations including small mammals, mammalian
predators, songbirds, reptiles, and amphibians. Larger trees and snags in riparian habitats provide
important foraging and/or nesting habitat for woodpeckers and a variety of songbirds..
t2 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual (1987)
7
Habitat value and wildlife use of non-native grassland/pasture is limited by the lack of woody vegetation;
dominance by non-native grass species, grazing and/or mowing practices; and surrounding development,
roads, and recreation activities. Mice, voles, and pocket gopher are the only species likely to establish
resident populations in mowed field habitat. Songbirds such as western meadowlark, Brewer's blackbird,
' common grackle, and black -billed magpie may also occasionally use non-native grassland/pasture
habitat. There was no evidence of prairie dogs or prairie dog burrows observed on the property. Goose
' droppings noted on the property indicated that Canada geese occasionally graze the site. Geese likely
move up onto the property from Spring Creek. Open -country raptors including red-tailed hawk, northern
harrier, and great horned owl and mammalian predators like coyote, striped skunk, and red fox may
' occasionally hunt non-native grassland/pasture habitats. However, fencing along the Spring Creek
recreational trail restricts movement of larger terrestrial animals between the creek corridor and adjacent
areas of undeveloped land.
Non-native Grassland/Weedy. This habitat occurs as a non -landscaped area between the existing
residences. Similar to non-native grassland/pasture, this area is dominated by smooth brome but with
greater representation by annual weeds including purple mustard (Chorispora tenella), dandelion
(Taraxacum officina/e), cheatgrass (Anisantha tectorum), flixweed (Descurainia sophia), and shepherd's
purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris). A portion of this area was formerly occupied by a stand of trees, of
which most had been recently removed. Photo 2 presents a view of this area.
Wildlife use of non-native grassland/weedy habitat is similar to that described for non-native grassland/
pasture.
Trees. Trees growing on the property grow either along Spring Creek or have been planted in
association with existing residential properties. The location and size of trees documented on the
property are provided on Figure 2. Trees found near the two residences included American elm (U/mus
americana), ponderosa pine (Pins ponderosa), blue spruce (Picea pungens), Rocky Mountain juniper
(Sabina scopulorum), apple (Malus sp.), and northern hackberry (Celtis occidental/s). Trees growing
along Spring Creek are blue spruce, box elder (Negundo aceroides), and peach -leaf willow (Sa/ix
amygda/oides). Ponderosa pine and peach -leaf willow are the only trees native to the Fort Collins area.
Trees over 6 inches in diameter, except for the Siberian elms, meet City of Fort Collins criteria for
classification as significant trees.
Because of the proximity of residential developments and human recreational activities along the Spring
Creek Trail, wildlife use of trees on or near the property is restricted primarily to songbird species adapted
to urban environments. No evidence of raptor nesting activity was noted in the trees, and use of these
trees by raptors, other than possibly great horned owl, is unlikely. The only nest noted on the property
No
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Photo 1. View of Non-native Grassland/Pasture Habitat on the Spring Creek Ranch
Parcel. (View is from southeast portion of property looking northwest. Spring Creek
drainage is in background on right.)
r
Photo 2. View of Non-native Grassland/Weedy Habitat on the Spring Creek Ranch
Parcel. (View is from west edge of this habitat area looking east. Former tree stand
area with remaining one American elm and five Rocky Mountain junipers is on the
right side of photo.)
5
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t
L Spring Creek Drainage •
2 peach -leaf will, ti . and Wetlands
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. .. _ 1 S'-2' 1 (6"-10" dia.) 2 peach -leaf willows�_
(7'-8' dia.)
�. Non-native Grassland/ %-
„ Pasture
1 apple tree
a I — removed tree 1 apple tree 4
{� 2 small Siberian elms
t; 2 ponderosa pines
removed tree3,
American elm Res NNG//'-dia.'
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,�_ . & 1 American elm (t' dia.> remaining .
LEGEND
fffffffffffffffffffffff� Property Boundary
Habitat Boundary FIGURE 2
Hydric Soils Area (with no wetland vegetation)
Res - Residential Habitat Mapping
NNG - Non-native Grassland for the
Yap scale: , inch = --250 feet
Spring Creek Ranch Parcel
Date of Aerial Photograpy May 2002
4
edge. Paoli fine sandy loam is a deep, well -drained soil, while Nunn clay loam, wet is a deep, somewhat
poorly drained soil. Runoff is slow on both of these soils and the hazard of erosion is slight. No problem
erosion areas were noted on the property.
Project area soil mapping units are not classified as hydric (wetland) soils, but they can contain hydric
inclusions. The only evidence of all three wetland parameters (hydric soils, wetland hydrology, and
wetland vegetation), required by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) for wetland determination, was
found within the Spring Creek corridor (see Figure 2). Evidence of hydric soils with no indicators of
wetland vegetation or hydrology was also documented in the lower central portion of non-native
grassland/pasture (see Figure 2).
Existing land uses within the property consist entirely of rural residential and livestock pasture (see Figure
2). Topography of the site ranges from nearly level to moderately sloping with surface drainage
predominantly to the north. Surrounding land uses consist of rural residential, pasture, the Spring Creek
Recreation Trail, and roadways.
The Spring Creek corridor along the northern property boundary represents a potential wildlife movement
corridor, but wildlife use of this corridor is limited to urban adapted species because of the extent of
residential development in close proximity to much of the creek and the extensively used recreation trail
that runs along segments of the drainage.
The following sections summarize the characteristics of habitats existing on the property and wildlife use
of the area.
Non-native Grassland/Pasture. The majority of the project area supports non-native grassland/pasture.
This habitat has been converted to non-native grassland to support livestock grazing (see Figure 2).
According to the landowner (Dr. Annes) this area is typically used to graze a few head of calves in the
spring. Non-native grassland/pasture is dominated primarily by smooth brome (Bromopsis inermis)l with
lesser amounts of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) on the upper slopes. Vegetation dominance shifts
to a mix of smooth brome, tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum
intermedium), and orchard grass (Dactyiisgiomerata) on the lower and more level portions of non-native
grassland/pasture near Spring Creek. Chickory (Cichorium intybus) was noted as a subdominant in the
northwest portion of non-native grassland/pasture. Total vegetation cover in non-native
grassland/pasture was estimated to range between 85 and 95 percent. Photo 1 provides a representative
view of this habitat.
1 Scientific nomenclature for vegetation follows: Weber, W. A. and R. C. Wittmann. 1996. Colorado Flora Eastem
Slope, revised edition. University Press of Colorado, Niwot, Colorado. 524 pp.
3
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FIGURE 1
Location of the Spring Creek Ranch Parcel
�—� Scale: 1 inch = 2,000 feet
4 },1 s,� \ Map Source: USGS 7 1/2'Ouadrangle - Fort Collins, Colorado
04,
ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION STUDY REPORT
FOR THE
SPRING CREEK RANCH DEVELOPMENT PARCEL
1.0 INTRODUCTION AND LOCATION
This report documents the evaluation of habitat conditions on the proposed Spring Creek Ranch
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 an Ecological
Characterization Study Report (ECSR). The proposed development site is located in Fort Collins, Larimer
County, Colorado in the Northwest 1/4 of the Northwest 1/4 of Section 27 (T. 7 N. R. 69 W.). The
property boundaries are defined by Hull Street on the south, Spring Creek and the Spring Creek Bike Trail
to the north, the Heffington property to the east, and the Grauel property to the west. The property
location is shown on Figure 1.
2.0 METHODOLOGY
Cedar Creek completed a field survey of the Spring Creek Ranch development site on April 15. 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 Surveyof Larimer CountyArea, Colorado) was also reviewed to determine if any
known hydric (wetland) soil mapping units are 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
According to the Soil Conservation Service's (SCS) Soil Survey of Larimer County Area, Colorado the
predominant soils in the project area are Altvan-Satanta loams, 3 to 9 percent slopes; Fort Collins loam, 3
to 5 percent slopes; Nunn clay loam, wet, 1 to 3 percent slopes; and Paoli fine sandy loam, 0 to 1 percent
slopes. Altvan-Satanta loams and Fort Collins loam occupy the majority of the project area and are deep,
well -drained soils. Runoff on these soils is medium and the erosion hazard is moderate. Paoli fine sandy
loam and Nunn clay loam, wet are associated with the Spring Creek drainage along the northern property
1
ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION STUDY REPORT
FOR THE
SPRING CREEK RANCH DEVELOPMENT PARCEL
Prepared
by
Cedar Creek Associates, Inc.
Fort Collins, Colorado
Prepared
for
VF Ripley Associates, Inc.
Fort Collins, Colorado
April 18, 2005
C=Wh6ILK3=---
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916 Willshlre Ave.. Fort Collins. CO 80521 • (970) 493-4394