HomeMy WebLinkAboutNIX FARM NATURAL AREA FACILITY - PDP/FDP - 10-01 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - WETLANDS DOCUMENTS1
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Mark Sears, City of Fort Collins Natural Areas, Manager
07 February 2001
Page 2
Following analysis- of site characteristics in the field, the wetland upland boundaries were
marked in the field. Two wetland boundaries were flagged along the east boundary of the largest
wetland. The innermost boundary which is almost certain to be within the wetland is flagged
with pink flagging which is anchored to 16-penny nails driven into the frozen ground. The
outermost wetland, which is almost certain to contain the entire wetland, is flagged with yellow
flagging anchored with yellow flagging within plus or minus 20 feet.
The primary species used to identify wetlands on the west part of the site were sedges (Carex
sp.); rushes (Juncas sp.); cattails (Typba latifolia) and Sandbar Willow (Salix exigua).
The other wetlands on the site were preliminarily delineated using detailed aerial photographs
with 2' contours. These were taken into the field and probable wetlands were examined in detail.
Boundaries were determined based on vegetation analysis and marked on the aerial photographs.
The plants used to identify potential wetlands along the east portion of the site were Reed Canary
Grass (Phaleris arundinacea) and Cattail (Typba latifolis).
Conclusion and Recommendation
The preliminary delineation of wetlands should be helpful in establishing buffers for wetlands.
Exact determination of wetland boundaries; however, must wait until solid test pits can be dug
and wetland hydrology can be evaluated in the field. This will be accomplished as soon as it can
be scheduled after the ground thaws in the spring.
I hope this preliminary delineation is helpful in making a timely submission to the City. If you
have any questions or need' additional information, please let me know.
Sincerely,
JIM SELL DESIGN Inc.
ILI
ohn L. Barnett, ASLA
Director of Environmental Planning
cc: JSD files
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7 February 2001
CITY of FORT COLLINS
Mr. Mark Sears, Natural Areas Manager
281 N. College Avenue
Fort Collins CO 80524
RE: Wetlands Delineation for Nix Farm
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At your request, John Barnett of Jim Sell Design Inc. completed a preliminary wetland
delineation for the Nix Farm property. This property is located approximately %z mile west of
Timberline Road and is accessed from the east end of Laurel Street. The project site includes a
total area of approximately 27.48 acres and is bounded on the north by the K-9 training facility
and Cache la Poudre River; on the east by the Kingfisher Point Natural Area; to the southwest by
the Union Pacific Railroad and the west by an industrial site.
The purpose of this delineation is to establish wetlands as defined in the Fort Collins City Code
for the purpose of either establishing adequate buffers or for mitigation when and where
necessary
Study Methodology
The preliminary wetland delineation was completed during three field visits; an initial
reconnaissance level analysis was conducted on January 20, 2001, when the approximate
locations of wetlands were sketched on a site plan.
Because of time constraints and the threat of winter storms, the largest and farthest west wetland
was preliminarily delineated by vegetative and surface indicators only on the afternoon of
January 26, 2001. To estimate the wetland -upland boundary, sample points along the probably
boundary were selected. At each point, dominance by wetland or upland plant species was
estimated by identification of dominant species and classification as either OBL (obligate
wetland); FACW (facultative wetland); FAC (facultative); FACU (facultative upland); or UPI,
(upland species). Since the ground was frozen, soil pits could not be dug. However, a pointed
rock pick was used to dig sufficiently deep to evaluate the presence of an organic horizon on the
soil surface. Field data sheets were not completed for this preliminary wetland delineation.
Along the boundary of the largest wetland, intense grazing and frozen soil prevented a final
delineation by standard methods. A thorough assessment of plant species was only possible near
the control portions of the wetland. Near the edge, the boundary had to be estimated from parts
of plants, grazing patterns and a high percentage of organic material in the surface horizon.
E:\PROJECT FlLESTENVFIONMENTAL\lB 1\DOLIWETLANDOEUN.SEMS.DOC
ATTACHMENT VI
Wetlands Delineation for Nix Farm
EAPROJECT FILES\LAND\1%8V\doc\v1968PDPstate.doc