HomeMy WebLinkAboutMASON STREET MOTEL - PDP/FDP - 7-98 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - WETLANDS DOCUMENTS45
INC.
916 Willshire Ave. • Fort Collins, Colorado 80521 • (970) 493-4394.
Mr. Ric Hattman October 10, 1997
Gefroh Hattman
145 W. Swallow Rd
Fort Collins, Colorado 80525
Dear Mr. Hattman:
At your request, Cedar Creek Assuciates, Inc. (Cedar Creek) completed a Corps of Engineers (COE)
prisdictional wetland survey and delineation of a parcel of land located along South Mason Street in Fort
Collins in the NE 1/4 of Section 3, T7N, R69W. The project area consists of two lots (approximately 1.08
acres) immediately north of the new Ramada Inn. This survey was conducted to fulfill the requirements of
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act regarding the delineation of wetlands prior to potential development
activities.
Study Methodology
Wetland mapping and delineation work was completed using the methods and techniques specified
for "routine on -site delineations" in tha publication Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delirieatiorl Manual
(1987). Prior to field work, project mapping was reviewed to familiarize field personnel with the project
site, and a cursory examination of the property was made prior to field mapping to provide background
information on any influencing circumstances as well as to allow verification of property boundaries and
access points through the project area. Following reconnaissance work, normal mapping activity was
initiated.
To properly characterize the wetland, a sample point was selected in the Southwe.a quarter of the
area whereby percent cover and cornposition of dominant plant species was estimated and a soil pit
excavated. Only one sample point was deemed necessary to represent the overall wetland given the
obvious nature of the wetland conditions. Species were classed as OBL (obligate wetland species),
FACW (facultative wetland species), FAC (facultative species), FACU (facultative upland species) or UPL
(upland species). Wetland soil indicators potentially included the presence of a histic epipedon, mottling,
gleying, and high organic matter coniant and/or organic matter streaking in the surface layers of sandy
soils. Potential wetland hydrologic indicators included topographic position, presence of standing water
and/or saturated soil profile conditions, drainage patterns, and oxidized root channels in the upper 12
inches of the soil profile. A formal field data sheet was completed for the sampling point and is included
with this document.
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��-'--- Subject Properly Boundary
a� Fill Material Likely Over Wetland
+v �r Wetland
Scale 1 " — 50'
Figure 1
Approximate Location r ` Wetlands Within the Subject Prop, ty
SOILS
Map Unit Nwm
-
(Series and Phase):
Orainage Cless:
Feld Observations
Taxonomy ISubproupl:
Confirm Mapped Type? Yea No
Profile Description-
Depth Matrix Color
Rattle Colon Mottle Tes:arre, Concretions,.
(inches) Horizon (Munsell Moist)
(Munsall Moist) Ab�u]ndance/Contrest Structure. etc.
0"8 �_ /O YR 3�� t
/U Y� • rJ6hn Sryr ,.. 9Z4k e-
v N/, 61{�--0
Hydric Sod Indicators:
_ Histosol
_ Concretions
_ Katie Epipe ion
_ High Organic Content in Surface Layer In Sandy Sod*
_ SLd"o Odor
_ Orgertio Streaking in Sandy Sags
"c Moisture Regime
_Bated an Local Hydric Soils List
^oing Conditions
_ Listed on National Hydrio Sella List
)eyed or Low Chrome Colon_
Ot (Exown in Rarrwks)
Remarks:
WETLAND DETERMINATION
Hydrophytic Vegetation Present) 59s No (Circle) (Clrcial
Watiand Hydrology Present? (Y a/ No
Hydric Soils Present? QLW No Is this Sampling Point Within a Wetland? No
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DATA FORM
ROUTINE WETLAND DETERMINATION
0987 COE Wetlands Delineation Manual)
Project/Site: i f m-j 1&'",0 ° —To CNn MarHj Date: /O 0 ' 7
Applicant/Owner: ,r .46y 1 w,', County: r Jow �r
Investigator: %1 ,rrT — 6 ar r tiY State:
Do Normal Circumstances exist on the site? Community ID:
Is the site significantly disturbed (Atypical Situation)? a Transect ID:
Is the area a potential Problem Area? )� Yes iNPlot ID:
(If needed, explain on reverse.)
VEGETATION
tam.:
/S�x
� 4qs
(t?i.
6"
pl.
Dpmtnent Mont Spades atralvrn Indicator
I. 40,0 L r o 6/
.
J
04 /
� nn
13
Fine W
Dominant Plant Species
Stratum
Indicator
.7-%.
/UU
9. Poi& r=-7,,., z4c, d
10. 7� A-irw-l�/1/s-t
rt^i
14._V7�, 4o:—
1e.
Percent of Dominant Species that am OBL. FACW or FAC
(excluding FAC-). _
Remarks:
HYDROLOGY
Rocordea Data (Describe in Remarks):
_ Stream. Lake, or Tide Gouge
_ Aerial Photographs
_ Other
No Recorded Data Available
Field Observations•.
/0' A15e°-0`
Depth.of Surface Water:
N� lin.)
Depth to Free Water in Pit:
„
_(in.)
Depth to Saturated Soil:
(in.)
Wetland Hydrulogy Indicators:
Primary Indkcatan:
�rtundated
�/Fr, turated in Upper 12 Inches
Water Marks
Drift Lines
$adiment Deposits
y 0minage Panama in Wetlands
Secondary ! �dicators (2 or more required):
_ Oxidized Root Channels in Upper 12 Incher.
_Wvtar-Stsined Leaves
_ Local Soil Survey Data
_ FAC-Neutral Test
_ Other (Explain in Remarks)'
Remark.
— ,s
raI70"
/a //eQ�.�� /1
regard is to consider that the entire acreage (1.08 acres) would need to be considered as v:!,--•.land for
permitting efforts.
With regard to the remaining wetland, it is a combination of open water, cattail marsh, sedg,a-/grass
meadow, and mudflat. At the time of survey, six mallards were utilizing the open water (approximately
12" - 18" deep) and raccoon tracks were observed along the shoreline. However, owing to the wetland's
position within the confines of Fort Collins, in association with its small size, it does not offer significant
value as wildlife habitat. The sample point placed in the southwest quadrant of the wetland area was
selected to represent overall wetland conditions. This sample point is dominated by herbaceous wetland
species which comprise 96% of the relative cover. Three species dominate at this point including
Phalaris arundinacea, Typha latifolia, and Scirpus pungens with 20%, 15%, and 15% relative cover,
respectively. As observable on the data sheet attached to this letter, several additional wetland species
were noted within the sample point.
Soil matrix colors are 10YR 3/2 to a depth of 8 inches and 10YR 3/1 from 8 to 16 inches, and 5Y 4/1
gleyed donditibns below 16 inches. Soil mottles in the upper 16 inches are abundant and strong
exhibiting colors of 10YR 4/6. Free water was observedI in the soil pit at a level of 16 inches, saturated
conditions were observed extending to the surface, and surface indications of springtime inundation are
evident. -
Once you have had a chance to review this inaterial, please give me a call if you have any
questions. I am reasonably sure given that the project area is over 0.33 acres, the COE will likely require
an individual permit for project development. Depending on the COE's requirements as they relate to this
project,, such a permitting effort may be relatively easy or may become more involved. We cannot tell_
until further discussion with COE has occurred. If wi can help you with this permitting, F ease let us
know, however, for your planning purposes you should be aware that our schedules in the near term are
quite busy.
I hope that this meets your needs at this time.
Sincerely,
CCIEIIDAB (CILR1912M k200CUMM,1NC.
i
Steven R. Viert
Principal
CC31DAM CCI!' 31111 k000C A' l&0, INC. Page 3 Gefroh Hatimari
In conjunction with the formal sampling site, several "check holes" were excavated to further aid
in the wetland delineation. Check holes provided additional soil and hydrologic information useful for
refining boundaries indicated by surface vegetation patterns extant about the wetland area. Such
information was also used to better characterize wetland conditions as a whole. Formal sample site data
sheets were not completed for check holes.
Following the analysis of site characteristics, the currently existing wetland boundary was marked
with orange flagging. It is expected that these locations will be formally recorded through land surveying
efforts provided by Gefroh Hattman or other contractor. The results of these field analyses are
summarized in the following section.
Results
Overall, the entire project area is composed of wetlands likely to be considered jurisdictional by the
COE or fill material which has been placed over wetlands, perhaps without proper authorization. If these
areas of fill, were unauthorized by the COE, then the entire property would count toward the acreage
classifying as wetland. In essence, it appears that the wetlands present within the confines of this
property are all that remains of a much larger wetland which historically existed in the area. . As
observable on Figure 1 and readily apparent in the field, it appears that when Mason street to the east
was constructed, wetlands underlying the street's planned location were destroyed. Furthermore, on the
east side of the property, a large amount of fill material has been deposited within a half-moorashaped
area exhibiting dimensions of approximately 58 feet (east to west) and 147 feet (north to south).
Similarly, the older development along north boundary of the property exhibits at least four vertical
feet of fill material overlying the weti:nd area. This fill extends into the property a distance ranging from
two to five feet. To the west, the existing railroad grade appears to have been constructed over the
historic wetland. The.edge of the railroad right-of-way (i.e. boundary of the subject property) is difficult to
determine in this area due to the existence of a tall and dense cattail marsh which is continuous with the
wetland internal to the property (see Figure 1). To the south, the recent construction for the new Ramada
Inn was facilitated by placement of up to an estimated six vertical feet of fill material which also extends
into the subject property from two to ;c: f,: at.
As a result of these fills, the existing expression of wetland is substantially reduced iron, its historic
buundaries. This remaining expression of wetland was flagged by Cedar Creek on October 8, 1997. If
the aforementioned fills were authorized by the COE, then the flagged boundary is the only area which
must be addressed by 404 permitting efforts. If any of the four fill areas were unauthorized by the COE,
then that portion of the property could also count as wetland area. The most conservative call in this
Ca D.UTA (CRIZE919 INC. Page 2 Gefroh Hattman