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Home My WebLink AboutCARIBOU APARTMENTS - PDP - 18-02A - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT6.0 SIGNATURE PAGE The above report, and then field work involved for preparation of the report, was prepared and conducted by Theodore R. Boss of TR Boss Environmental and Biological Consulting. If you have any questions regarding the report, please contact me at (970) 223-5145. cerely, BossR� ore R. , PhD. TR Boss Environmental and Biological Consulting 0 5.0 SENSITIVE AND SPECIALLY VALUED SPECIES In its Conceptual Review Staff Comments (1/07/02) by the City of Fort Collins one sensitive plant species, the Ute Ladies' -Tresses Orchid (Spiranthes diluvialis), was recommended for study. The orchid occurs in seasonally moist soils and wet meadows near springs, lakes, ponds and streams and their associated floodplains below 6,500 feet. Typical sites include old stream channels and alluvial terraces, subirrigated meadows, and other sites where the soil is saturated to within 18 inches of the surface at least temporarily during the spring and summer growing seasons. Ute ladies' -tresses is found with grasses, sedges and rushes, shrubs, and riparian tresses such as willows. It rarely occurs in deeply shaded sites and prefers partially open glades or pastures and meadows in full sunlight. Common associated species include horsetail (Equiseturn spp.), milkweed (Asclepias spp.), verbena (Verbena hastata), carpet bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera), reedgrass (Calainagroastis spp.), and goldenrod (Solidago spp.). Sites not requiring a survey (as stated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) include upland sites, sites entirely inundated by standing water, monospecific stands of cattail and/or three - square bulrush, or very saline sites which may be dominated by saltgrass. It is TRB's opinion that Ute ladies' -tresses orchid habitat does not exist in the adjacent wetlands or on the proposed development site and that a survey is not warranted. 4.0 I'PETLAND DELINEATION The adjacent wetlands were delineated by TR Boss Environmental and Biological Consulting (TRB). TRB delineated the wetlands using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) three parameter approach (vegetation, soils, hydrology), as amended. The delineated wetlands are described in Section 2.2 of this report. The wetland delineation is shown in Fig. 2. Because the adjacent wetlands are greater than 1/3 acres, without significant use by waterfowl and/or shorebirds (due to the virtual lack of open water areas), the City of Fort Collins has established a 100-foot buffer zone between the proposed development and the wetlands. 3.0 WILDLIFE AND WILDLIFE MOVEMENT CORRIDORS The proposed development site is presently an Old Field and a residential lot in an urban setting. Mammalian species that would be expected to utilize this open space complex(both upland and wetlands) would include various species of rodents (nice, voles, etc.) raccoons, skunks, fox, deer, and rabbits. Domesticated species such as cats and dogs also utilize the site. Reptiles comprising the site would include snakes, with frogs being the primary amphibious species. A variety of birds would utilize both the uplands and wetlands. Within the Old Field one would expect to see sparrows, starlings, robins, magpies, crows, and a host of songbirds. The wetlands support red -winged blackbirds, marsh wrens, and rails. Because the proposed development site is surrounded in all four directions by a man-made environment: roadways to the north and east; a subdivision immediately to the south of the adjacent wetlands, and a subdivision just to the east of South Timberline Road; light commercial facilities to the west and northwest; and railroad tracks to the west, the site cannot be regarded as a Wildlife Movement Corridor due to the fragmentation of the existing environment. 2.0 SITE DESCRIPTION The 10.3 acres site is bounded by South Timberline Road on the east, a wetland to the south, wetlands and a mini -storage complex to the west, and Caribou Road the north. Presently the site is a combination of residential and zoned improved industrial area, with an upland Old Field Habitat and a residential dwelling. 2.1 Upland Old Field Habitat and Residential Area The Old Field slopes to the south and southeast toward the wetlands. It is dominated by ruderal forbs and grasses which are maintained in a mowed condition. Woody vegetation (trees and shrubs are) is sparse, with one cottonwood tree (Populus angustifolia) with a DBH greater than 6 inches being located between the residential dwelling and the adjacent wetland (Fig. 2). Small cottonwood samplings appear to have been planted along the edges of the wetland. Also there are three small clusters (no more than 5 individuals per cluster) of Russian Olive (Elaeagmis angustifolia) adjacent to the wetland. Two pine trees, sixteen spruce trees, and one deciduous tree are associated with the on -site residential dwelling (Fig. 2). The pine trees and thirteen of the spruce trees are relatively large. 2.2. Adiacent Emergent Wetlands Two emergent wetland assemblages comprise the adjacent wetlands: a robust cattail (Typha latifolia) assemblage; and a less robust three -square bulrush (Scirpus arnericaruGs) assemblage. The cattail wetland is, by far, the most extensive of the two wetland assemblages. It is comprised primarily of a monospecific stand of cattail, with an average height of over six feet. The bulrush assemblage comprises a two -to -three foot fringe landward of the cattail assemblage. Subdominant species include saltgrass (Distichilis spicata) and small sedge species (Carex spp.) The adjacent wetlands extend off -site to the west eventually ending at the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, several hundred feet from the proposed development site (Fig. 1 ). There are presently two drainage outlets for the wetlands: a primary drainage that is culverted under South Timberline Road to the east, and old pipe that drains the wetlands under the Old Field towards the northeast. 1.0 INTRODUCTION A multi -family residential project of 192 units on 10.3 acres of land is being proposed in the City of Fort Collins, Colorado. The land is located southwest of South Timberline Road and Caribou Road in the southeastern portion of the city (SE 1/4 Sec 301T7N R68W- Fort Collins, CO 7.5 Minute Quadrangle) (Fig. 1). IBecause the Development Site is adjacent to a City of Fort Collins Designated Natural Habitat (Wetlands) the developer is required to provide to the City an Ecological Characterization Report ' and a Natural Habitat (Wetland) Boundary Delineation (City of Fort Collins Land Use Code 3A.1 (D)). ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION STUDY CARIBOU PROPERTY 4125 SOUTH TIMBERLINE AVENUE, MULTI -FAMILY HOUSING FORT COLLINS, COLORADO Prepared For: FC Caribou L.P. Denver, Colorado Prepared By: TR Boss Environmental and Biological Consulting Fort Collins, Colorado May, 2002