HomeMy WebLinkAboutFOSSIL LAKE P.U.D. - PRELIMINARY - 33-01D1 - CORRESPONDENCE - CITY STAFF (3)b) Plant young trees; use indigenous species preferred by eagles.
If necessary, selectively thin dense stands to provide better
growing conditions for the remaining trees.
c) Plant trees or tall shrubs if additional screening is needed
for feeding areas.
d) Provide artificial poles with perches or erect and install
large dead trees brought in from elsewhere, such as from log
jams above dams.
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feet. Allowable activities in feeding areas include eagle
research or management by qualified persons, current activities
being tolerated by eagles, and occasional activities of short
duration (e.g. repair of telephone line, checking stockponds).
Within large wintering areas where eagles are widely dispersed
there might be small areas which, for a variety of reasons, are
rarely used and have low potential for future use by bald eagles.
Some human activity can occur in such places without
significantly affecting bald eagles.
3. Prohibi.t-or.discourage. land. uses that -would destroy; or otherwise
make unsuitable, trees or other habitat features used as hunting
or resting perches, if few alternative perches are available.
4. At locations where suitable perches are in limited supply,
identify and protect sites where young trees can be planted.
5. Control or prohibit use of feeding areas .by livestock if
unregulated use is adversely affecting tree regeneration to the
extent that the long-term suitability of a site is jeopardized.
6. Prohibit the use of toxic materials in local rodent or predator
control programs and the use of exposed -bait furbearer traps.
7. Land uses that would result in destruction of vegetation or
physical features that screen feeding areas should be prohibited
or discouraged.
B. Enhancement
1. Improve habitat for prey species. To the extent possible,
nrovide conditions that promote regular prey availability from
both terrestrial and aquatic habitats.
2. Increase the number of hunting and resting perches in locations
where suitable perches are few in number and in locations where
tree regeneration is insufficient to maintain perches on a
sustained basis. In aquatic habitats the practices described
below will. be most beneficial when applied within 100 feet of
water because trees in this area, especially those with limbs
very near or hanging over water, are preferred perches. In
terrestrial habitats preferred perches are trees with commanding
views of prey habitat; for example, solitary trees or edges of
woodlots or forests.
Perches may be created by measures such as the following:
a) Create a clear flight path to suitable perches by cutting
selected branches or trees.
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3. Prohibit alteration of physical features such as cliffs or ridges
if the alterations would significantly lesson the visual
screening and wind protection these features provide.
4. Prohibit construction of highways, roads, railroads, gravel pits,
mines, buildings, airports, or other structures.
5. Control or prohibit use of the area by livestock if it is
determined that unrestricted use is adversely affecting tree
regeneration to the extent that the long-term suitability of the
roost is jeopardized.
B. Enhancement
1. Minimize immediate threats to trees, e.g. stabilize banks,
control erosion, place protective screening or fencing around
trees in areas where damage by beavers, livestock, or other
animals is a problem.
2. Plant young trees in locations where natural regeneration is not
sufficient to provide roosting, perching, or wind -buffered trees
on a sustained basis, or where additional buffering from human
disturbance and wind is desired. Also, new roosts could be
created by planting trees in suitable wind -protected sites where
no trees currently exist.
3. Maintain openings that allow eagles easy access to roost or perch
trees in dense stands. Provide access to potential roost or
perch trees in dense tree stands by creating openings or
selectively thinning.
GUIDELINES FOR FEEDING AREAS
A. Maintenance.
1. Prohibit or discourage actions that are likely to reduce the
abundance or availability of suitable prey to such an extent that
fewer eagles would be supported in any area. This is the most
important management consideration in feeding areas.
2. Control human access, particularly in areas of concentrated use,
during months when bald eagles are present. The posting of
important concentration areas should be considered to reduce
innocent intrusions. A distance of 1320 feet (one -quarter mile)
is suggested .as a minimum buffer zone for human presence (e.g.,
birdwatchers) in feeding areas. A larger zone may be needed if
the eagles have line -of -sight vision to activities beyond 1320
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GUIDELINES FOR NIGHT ROOSTS
Management areas for night roosts should encompass the tree(s) in
which eagles actually spend the night, trees used for perching during
arrival or departure, and other trees or physical features such as
hills, ridges, or cliffs that provide wind protection. Flight corridors
regularly used by eagles moving to or from roosts should be. included in
the plan. In all. cases. land .use: decisions, must consider the nature of
the action, its temporal and spatial relationship to the roost, and the
current level of disturbance in the area. Publicity regarding roosting
areas may increase human disturbance to a level causing eagles to
abandon the area. Locations of all roosting sites thus should be treated
as sensitive information and should not be publicized.
A. Maintenance.
1. To the extent feasible, control human activity in the vicinity of
roosts during the time of year when bald eagles are present.
Allowable activities include eagle research or management by
qualified persons and existing activity being tolerated by
roosting eagles. Certain recreational activities, such as
hiking, cross-country skiing, and birdwatching, that occur
further than 1320 feet from the a roost might be tolerated by
eagles, especially if there is complete visual screening of the
area where these activities take place. At locations where
eagles already have habituated to a high level of human activity
even relatively loud, noticeable disturbances such as road
repairs may be tolerated, particularly if such activities take
place only during the day when most eagles are away from roosts.
However, at every site there probably is a threshold of
disturbance which, if exceeded by the cumulative effect of
several activities, or a sudden increase above ambient levels,
will cause abandonment of the roost by some or all of the eagles
using it. Therefore, human activity should be minimized to the
fullest extent possible, or allowed with the stipulation that it
must cease if it disrupts use of the roost site.
Occasional activity that does not permanently affect the
suitability of the site for roosting can be allowed, provided the
activity is brief (e.g. one to five hours), and that it takes
place during the time of day when no eagles are present. There
should be sufficient monitoring to insure that the activity does
not disrupt use of the site by eagles.
2. Maintain trees in the roost area. This may require restrictions
on land uses that would result in the destruction of roost trees.
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future use by eagles from the nesting populations that hopefully will be
restored in the eastern portion of the region. The situation farther
west is different because the numbers of wintering areas and eagles are
much higher. Management is recortrriended for any location in the western
portion of the Region that annually support 15 or more eagles.
Management of sites with fewer eagle: is strongly encouraged, although
not at the expense of preserving areas that support more. Concerned
parties in each state should work together to establish priorities for
inventory and management of wintering habitats.
Guidelines for delineating the Duundaries of essential habitats are
as follows:
1. The configuration of each essential habitat should include roost
sites and associated aquatic and terrestrial feeding areas, prey
habitat, and other biological or physical features necessary for
continued use of the site.
2. Essential habitat boundaries should correspond to legal land
lines or survey descriptions to facilitate identification.
3. The configuration of each essential habitat should be contiguous
unless feeding areas and night roosts or other essential habitat
components are physically separite.
4. Essential wintering habitat may include private as well as public
land.
Recommendations concerning essential winter habitat are for the
Northern States Region only. Many adult and immature eagles from
breeding areas in the Region rely heavily on wintering areas outside the
Region. This is one of several issues that needs to be coordinated in
the five bald eagle recovery plans.
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limited in number. (The minimum two week period of use does not
apply to this criterion.)
The rationale for the first criterion is that the presence of
suitable winter habitat near breeding areas reduces the energy
expenditure and risks entailed in migration, and could result in
increased survivorship for resident eagles of all age classes and higher
reproductive success for resident adults.
The second, third, and fourth criteria deal with areas used by
migrant eagles. Hundreds of these areas exist and there is considerable
variation in the use they receive. Ultimately, the importance of any
location is determined by its contribution to survival and reproductive
success, but there is no way to measure this directly. Instead,
cnncideration is given to factors such as the length of time an area is
occupied by eagles each year, the amount of use it receives and its
potential 'for supporting more use, the regularity of use over a period
of years or during- extreme weather when suitable habitat is most
limited, and the number and extent of other wintering areas in the
vicinity. Ideally, the importance of wintering areas should be assessed
on the basis of a standard index which takes these factors into account.
Perhaps such an index can be developed but at present none exists nor
have many areas been studied sufficiently to provide the data for such
calculations. Consequently, the second and third criteria are based on
limited data from the 1979 and 1980 midwinter bald eagle surveys, plus
the opinions of several researchers. The adequacy of these criteria
will be reassessed in updates to the Plan, as more data become
available. Except for locations used primarily during winters with
severe weather, essential habitats should have a history of long-term
use (e.g., five years or more) or, if such documentation is lacking,
there should be evidence that the area is capable of supporting bald
eagles on a long-term basis.
Two weeks, which is roughly eight to 12% of the wintering period for
most migrants, was chosen somewhat arbitrarily as the minimum period a
site must be occupied annually to be considered an essential habitat.
Most essential habitats probably are used longer than this, while
relatively unimportant areas (except for locations used during severe
weather conditions) are used for shorter time periods.
Levels of use in the second and third criteria also are based on
analysis of midwinter survey data plus input from eagles researchers,
and differ throughout the Region. The numbers (5 and 15) should be
considered as reference points. Areas demonstrating historic consistent
use should be regarded as essential habitat if still suitable regardless
of present use, even if fewer than 5 or 15 birds are present. The Great
Lakes and Northeast support a low percentage (probably less than 15%) of
the winter use now occurring in the Region. Within these states a
location that regularly supports 5 or more eagles is quite unusual.
Preserving such sites is important for three reasons: (1) suitable
wintering habitat should be available throughout the Region, (2) the
amount of suitable habitat remaining in the Great Lakes and northeast
states may be quite limited, and (3) they should be maintained for
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WINTERING AREAS
Survival of individual bald eagles, particularly those in their first
year of life, probably depends heavily on conditions they encounter
during the wintering period. The physiological condition of adults at
the beginning of each breeding season, an important factor influencing
reproductive success, also is affected by how well their energy demands
are met in wintering areas. Thus, the survival and recovery of nesting
populatiolocations Regiondepends
the part wintering periodeac
h eagles suitable
tousethroughout winte
Although wintering areas unquestionably are important, it is
impossible to determine which particular locations, or how many, are
essential for the survival and recovery of the nesting populations in
the Region. This is because several thousand eagles from nesting areas
in Canada are present in the Region during winter and it is impossible
to distinguish between them and birds from U.S. nesting populations. To
insure the survival and recovery of birds from U.S. nesting populations,
significant wintering areas :rust be protected and managed. Also, the
possibility exists that some birds r;,sed at nests in Alaska and Canada
establish breeding areas in the lower 48 states, serving as an important
source of natural recruitment. Furthermore, from a legal standpoint all
bald eagles, regardless of their crigin, have threatened or endangered
status when present in the contiSuous states. Thus the fact that some
wintering areas are used primarily by eagles from Canadian or Alaskan
breeding populations should have Vttle bearing on decisions to protect
wintering habitat.
Assuming that the presence of birds indicates the presence of
required habitat, as listed abova, wintering areas in the Northern
States Region that meet any of the following criteria should be
considered essential habitats (".locations" refer to reasonable
localized, not extensive, areas).
1. Locations used annually for two weeks or longer by adult or
immature wintering eagles known (or strongly suspected) to be
from nearby breeding areas.
2. locations (excluding those along the Mississippi River) used
annually by five or more eagles for two weeks or longer in
Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, New Hampshire, New •Jersey, New York, North Dakota,
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
3. Locations used annually by 15 or more eagles for two weeks or
longer in Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska,
Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, or along the Mississippi River.
4. Locations used by bald eagles during periods of extremely harsh
weather, when suitable feeding areas and night roost sites are
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No Text
' Buffers documented in the literature:
Species--
Period
timal
AulhgtitY
LnguhatiM
Brood
Ferruginous Hawk
380-488yd.
619-781yd
781yd. (.45mi)
Holmes
Red-tailed Hawk
448-553yd
428-604yd
604yd (.34mi)
Holmes
Swainson's Hawk
171-203yd
309-382yd
382yd. (.22mi)
Holmes
Prairie Falcon
500-1000m
1000m
Holthuijzen et al.
546-1093yd
1093yd(.62mi.)
Rocky Mountain/Southwest Peregrine Falcon Recovery Team. 1984. American peregrine falcon
Rocky Mountain/Southwest population recovery plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serv. 105pp.
Swenson, J.E. 1979. Factors affecting status and reproduction of ospreys in Yellowstone National
Park. J. Wildl. Manage. 43:595-601.
mile buffer around the cliff complex.
* Surface occupancy means non -human habitation, examples would be oil and gas wells, roads, tracks, etc.
PRAHUE FALCON
Nest Site:
No surface occupancy* (beyond that which historically occurred in the area) within 1/2 mile radius
of the nest site.
* Surface occupancy means non -human habitation, examples would be oil and gas wells, roads, tracks, etc.
GOSHAWK
Reynolds et al. (1993) proposed 30 acres for the nest, a post fledge family area of 420 acres, and a
foraging area of 5400 acres in size that encompasses habitat for squirrels, rabbits, jays, woodpeckers
and grouse. For purposes here, it seems that a buffer of 1/2 mile around the nest should protect the
integrity of the nesting and post fledging effort. Nest site occupancy takes place from early March
through late September.
BURROW ING OWL
Nest Site:
No human encroachment or disturbance within 1/16 mile radius of the nest site from April 1 through
July 31. Although owls may occur throughout a prairie dog colony, there is a propensity for them
to frequent the colony margins and buffer zones should be applied to the colony perimeter.
Measures that protect and enhance prairie dog colonies will benefit this species.
REFERENCES
Call, M. 1979. Habitat management guides for birds of prey. Technical Note No.338, U.S. Bureau
of Land Management, Denver Service Center, Denver, CO. 69pp.
Grier, J.W., F.J. Gramlich, J. Mattisson, J.E. Mathisen, J.V. Kussman, J.B. Elder, and N.F. Green.
1983. The bald eagle in the northern United States. Bird Cons. 1:44-66.
Holmes, Tamara L. 1993. Behavioral responses of grassland raptors to human disturbance MS
Thesis. Colo. State Univ, Ft. Collins. 62p.
Holthuijzen, A.M.A., W.G. Eastland, A.R. Ansell, M.N. Kochert, R.D. Williams, and L.S. Young.
1990. Effects of blasting on behavior and productivity of nesting prairie falcons. Wildl.
Soc. Bull. 18:270-281.
Northern States Bald Eagle Recovery Team. 1983. Northern States Bald Eagle Recovery Plan.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 75p.
Reynolds, Richard R.T. Graham, H.M. Reiser, 1992. Management recommendations for the
northern goshawk in the southwestern United States. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-217. Ft. Collins,
CO. U.S. Dept of Agri., Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment
Station. 90pp.
V
GOLDEN EAGLE
Nest Site:
No surface occupancy* (beyond that which historically occurred in the area) within 1/4 mile radius
of the nest site and associated alternate nests. Seasonal restriction to humanencroachment within
1/2 mile of the nest and any alternate nests from February 1 to July 15.
* Surface occupancy means non -human habitation, examples would be oil and gas wells, roads, tracks, eta
PRE
Nest Site:
No surface occupancy* (beyond that which historically occurred in the area) within 1/4 mile of the
nest site. Seasonal restriction to human encroachment within 1/4 mile of the nest from April 1 to
August,3L Some osprey �populations•have habituated-and,are tolerant to human activity in the
immediate vicinity of their nests.
* Surface occupancy means non -human habitation, examples would be oil and gas wells, roads, tracks, eta
FERRUGINOUS HAWK
Nest Site:
No surface occupancy* (beyond that which historically occurred in the area) within 1/2 mile radius
of the nest site, and associated alters^t-_:. str. Seasonal rest: ic:- ;:s_,.mpn encroachment within
1/2 mile of the nest and any alternate nests from February 1 to July 15. This species is especially
prone to nest abandonment during incubation if disturbed.
* Surface occupancy means non -human habitation, examples would be oil and gas wells, roads, tracks, eta
RED-TAILED HAWK
Nest Site:
No surface occupancy* (beyond that which historically occurred in the area) within 1/3 mile radius
of the nest site, and associated alternate nests. Seasonal restriction to human encroachment within
1/3 mile of the nest and any alternate nests from March 1 to July 15.
* Surface occupancy means non -human habitation, examples would be on and gas wells, roads, tracks, eta
SWAINSON'S HAWK
Nest Site:
No surface occupancy* (beyond that which historically occurred in the area) within 1/4 mile radius
of the nest site, and associated alternate nests. Seasonal restriction to human encroachment within
1/4 mile of the nest and any alternate nests from April 1 to July 15.
* Surface occupancy means non -human habitation, examples would be oil and gas wells, roads, tracks, eta
PEREGRINE FALCON
Nest Site:
No surface occupancy* (beyond that which historically occurred in the area) within 1/2 mile of the
nest site. Seasonal restriction to human encroachment within 1/2 mile of the nest cliff(s) from
March 15 to July 31. A 1 mile buffer with a closure from February 1 to August 31 was originally
stipulated in the approved Recovery Plan, but recent field evidence suggests that the zone can be
reduced to 1/2 mile. Due to propensity to relocate nest sites, sometimes up to 1/2 mile along cliff
faces, it is more appropriate to designate 'Nesting Areas' that encompass the cliff system and a 1/2
RECOMAIIENDED BUFFER ZONES AND SEASONAL RESTRICTIONS
FOR COLORADO RAPTOR NESTS
Prepared By
Gerald R. Craig
Colorado Division of Wildlife
Updated December 17, 1996
Tolerance limits to disturbance vary among as well as within raptor species: As a rule, ferruginous
hawks and golden eagles respond at greater distances to human activities than. do ospreys and
kestrels. Some individuals within a species also habituate and tolerate human activity at a proximity
that would cause the majority of the species to abandon. their nests Although there are exceptions,
the buffer areas and seasonal restrictions suggested here reflect an informed opinion that if
implemented, should assure that the majority of individuals within a species will continue to occupy
the area. Measurements are somewhat imprecise (fractions of a mile) and reflect the need to
maintain some flexibility to adjust buffer zones depending upon intervening terrain and vegetation
screens that obscure the activity. This document is intended to be modified and refined as
additional information becomes available, hence the need for a revision date.
The term "disturbance" is also ambiguous. Experts disagree on what actually constitutes a
disturbance. Reactions may be as subtle as elevated pulse rate and as extreme as vigorous defense
or abandonment. Impacts of disturbance nay not be immediately evident. In response to human
intrusion, a pair of raptors may respond by defending the nest, but well after the disturbance has
passed, the male may remain in the vicinity for protection rather than forage to feed the nestlings.
Golden Eagles rarely defend their nests, but merely fly a half mile or more away and perch and
watch. Chilling and over heating of eggs or chicks and starvation of nestlings can result from
human activities that appeared not to have caused an immediate response.
BALD EAGLE
Nest Site:
Year round closure to surface occupancy *(beyond that which historically occurred in the area)
within 1/4 mile radius of nest. No human encroachment from November 15 through July 31 within
1/2 mile radius of the nest. Total potential area of protection is 1/2 mile radius of the nest. This
closure is more extensive than the Northern States Bald Eagle Recovery Plan due to habitat used by
Colorado's nesting Bald Eagles. Aside from two Colorado sites in coniferous forests, all others are
in cottonwood riparian zones that don't have the vegetational density, and therefore obscurity offered
by the habitats in the lake states.
' Surface occupancy means non -human habitation, examples would be oil and gas wells, roads, tracks, etc.
Winter Roost:
Activity should be eliminated within 1/4 mile radius of winter roosts between November 15 and
March 15. If periodic visits (such as oil well maintenance work) is required within the buffer zone
after development, activity should be restricted to the hours of 1000 and 1400 hours from November
15 to March 15. Limited restrictions may be necessary out to 1/2 mile if there is a direct line of
vision from the roost to the activities.
STATE OF COLORADO
Roy Romer, Governor
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF WILDLIFE
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
John W. Mumma, Director
6060 Broadway
Denver, Colorado 80216
Telephone: (303) 297-1192
Karen Manci
City of Fort Collins
Department of Natural resources
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522--580
January 24, 1997
Dear Karen:
Gerald Craig
317 West Prospect
Fort Collins, Colorado 80526
Telephone (970) 484-2836 ext 307
FAX (970)490-6066
(0*
� 3OFl
For Wildlife —
For People
This is to clarify misunderstandings about the buffer areas in the vicinity of Fossil Creek Reservoir
that were recommended by the Division of Wildlife. A three hundred yard buffer that had been
previously recommended was for the heronrys along the north shore. At a meeting on September
9, 1996, I urged that the buffer be extended to one quarter mile (440 yards) to accommodate the
bald eagle night roosts that have been documented in groves of trees on both north and south shores.
Since the eagle roosts also occurred in the heronrys, I advised that the 300 yard buffer be expanded
to 440 yards for the eagles.
Night roosts are recognized as essential habitat features in the Northern States Bald Eagle Recovery
Plan. According to the Plan, the minimum buffer distance should be increased beyond 1/4 mile
if there is no visual screening from disturbances. Since there is no vegetational or topographic
screening of the roost trees along the north shore, the buffer zone that I have recommended is
actually below that minimum requirement. In defense of the 1/4 mile buffer for Fossil Creek
Reservoir, I'm assuming that the eagles in the vicinity of Fort Collins have habituated somewhat
to increased human activity and are more tolerant. However, I cannot endorse a further reduction
to 300 yards since that distance will jeopardize the roosts.
Finally, I recommended that the buffer be applied to all trees along the reservoir shore. The
numbers of roosting eagles and roost site use may shift among different tree groves throughout the
winter for reasons known only by the eagles. At this point, the picture of eagle night roosting in
the vicinity of Fossil Creek Reservoir is incomplete and as more information is obtained, additional
roost trees will probably be located.
Sincerely,
Geral Craig
State Raptor Biologist
xc. A. Duvall
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Kenneth James S. Lochhead, Executive Director
WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Arnold Salazar, Chairman *Rebecca L. Prank, Vice Chairman•Mark LeValley, Secretary
Jesse Boyd, Member•Chuck Lewis, Member•James R. Long, Member•John R. Stulp, Member•Louis P. Swift, Member
The northwest area of the reservoir also supports nesting spotted sandpipers, a locally
declining species. One of the only two local nesting sites for great blue herons is also
located in this area. Human disturbance of heronries is one of the major factors that cause
local great blue heron populations to decline. The Colorado Division of Wildlife has
recommended, in writing, buffer areas (with no human disturbance) of 800-900 feet to
protect the Fossil Creek Reservoir heronry. However, this heronry is also used by winter
roosting bald eagles; thus, a 1/4-mile buffer area is needed.
The City and the County have both adopted the "Plan for the Region Between Fort Collins
and Loveland." Both the preferred land use and alternative land use show a 1/4-mile
buffer area from the northern edge of Fossil Creek Reservoir to "preserve setbacks around
Fossil Creek Reservoir to protect natural areas."
The draft "Fossil Creek Reservoir Area Plan" also shows a 1/4 mile buffer area on the
north shore of reservoir. The buffer area is included in the "Resource Management Area."
If this plan is adopted by City Council and County Commissioners next year, a "Resource
Management Plan" will be required prior to development approval. This plan will require
an inventory of existing biological resources, a discussion of protection options, and
mitigation of unavoidable impacts.
Approval of the existing Fossil Lake P.U.D. which neither provides the 1/4-mile buffer area
from the reservoir nor a "Resource Management Plan" to address the various concerns
and certain negative impacts of this development, will result in irreplaceable loss of habitat
for significant local, state, and federal wildlife species of concern.
F
City of Fort Collins
Commu f Planning and Environmental vices
Co recycletl paper
Natural Resources Department
MEMORANDUM
Date: September 18, 1997
To: Bob Blanchard, Current Planning Director
Thru: Tom Shoemaker, Natural Resources Director
From: Karen Manci, Environmental Planner
Re: Fossil Lake P.U.D.
Tom Shoemaker asked me to provide you copies of data (attached) to support the need
to have a 1/4-mile buffer area around Fossil Creek Reservoir.
The Fossil Creek Reservoir provides extremely vital winter habitat for the bald eagle (a
Federal Threatened Species). Field data collected in the Fort Collins area indicate that
the north side of Fossil Creek Reservoir has been used as a winter night roost by bald
eagles for at least 10 years. Maximum use is higher at this site than any of the other night
roosts in the Fort Collins area. The principal night roost trees are located immediately
adjacent to the southeast corner of the P.U.D. In addition, more detailed data collected
last winter demonstrated that a number of other trees along the northern edge of the
reservoir are being used by bald eagles for night roosting, day perching/hunting, and for
courtship display (potential future nest site).
The federal "Northern States Bald Eagle Recovery Plan" recognizes that night roosts are
essential habitat features for the bald eagle and that a minimum buffer distance of 1/4-mile
is needed to protect this use. Jerry Craig's letter (January 1997) firmly states that a 1/4-
mile buffer area is needed to protect the bald eagle winter roost at Fossil Creek Reservoir.
Although it is primarily the high bald eagle use that drives the need to protect the full 1/4-
mile buffer area around the reservoir, the Fossil Creek Reservoir area has long been
recognized by local and state professional biologists as providing extremely valuable
habitat for numerous other wildlife species as well. The wetlands on the west and
southwest side of the reservoir support the most diverse assemblage of migratory wetland
birds in the Fort Collins area. The highest local concentration of American white pelicans
(a Colorado Species of Concern) was recorded from the northwest comer of the reservoir.
3.
281 N. College Ave. • P.O. Box 580 • Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 • (970) 221-6600 • FAX (970) 224-6177