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Home My WebLink AboutNORTHGATE COMMONS - ODP - 38-96 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTFIELD CLEARANCE SURVEYS FOR THE UTE LADIES' -TRESSES ORCHID (SPIRANTHES DILUVIALIS) NORTH COLLEGE BUSINESS CENTER (NORTHGATE) FORT COLLINS, COLORADO Prepared for U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Golden, Colorado Prepared by TR BOSS ENVIRONMENTAL AND BIOLOGICAL CONSULTING Fort Collins, Colorado August 1996 J� -V PO •35 \ A IY •' I _ %Ple v • O O 0. wi I• 0y — •9 r.-'—� Parks r_...� • -- �1. •,\ —r i' .,. r •OUt.r��\\r\ rt. I\— 6 __ 1 CANAL I O .tr I ` 1` I `. ` JOSH •` I ' \ A soo ;�: I RIVER • ` .• ►i +• • • "i-- O_rCN FAST•__ <%O.VINE DRIVE No.fh re,tlTBURUNi SQr r�''i ■- pSelUmg ._,• wAgai R'nery- Bss•. p •.iAndersonville 'ly a _11 F Qy Buckin am qL. MI L. P •� r Il Are Seh `. II�A 4985 ♦ ';\ _-'�;;_ <sso ' Park'iT _ , _+c _ 9 y • —AM40U 1 1 14 It At \-L .40— SOURCE: USGS 71A Minute Topographic Quadrangle, Fort C011lna, Colorado SCALE N 0 1/4 .112 1 MILE Proposed Development Site -W1 = Wetland 1 W2 = Wetland 2 7 W3 = Wetland 3 A-rrAC4AoA; ►,Tr A LOCATIONS OF 3 DELINEATED WETLANDS DRAWN: mkm IDAT E: * Presence of areas dominated by cattail, canary reed -grass and/or three -square bulrush; * Standing water. Poor Habitat Although potential orchid habitat was found on -site (e.g., areas dominated by facultative wet species, with introduced pasture grasses, weedy sites with seasonally high water table), and were orchid species (e.g., arrow -grass) were present, the areas were rated poor due to that the vegetation was not very open, was dense, and overgrown. 4 edges of the wetland prevalent species included smooth brome (Bromus inermis), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa palustris), and Canada thistle. The wetland substrate was characterized by low chromas and mottling within the B horizon. Wetland 3 Wetland 3 is a palustrine, emergent wetland that occurs in the southeastern portion of the site (Attachment A). The wetland is approximately 2.81 acres in size. The wetland receives groundwater flow from the adjacent Larimer and Weld Canal. Wetland vegetation consists of cattail, three -square bulrush, common spikerush, reed canary -grass, Nebraska sedge, Baltic rush, curly dock, and arrow - grass (Triglochin spp.). Along the edges of the wetland prevalent species included Kentucky bluegrass, common milkweed (Asclepias speciosa), quackgrass (Agropyron repens), curly dock, and Canada thistle. The wetland substrate was characterized by low chromas and mottling within the B horizon. Results of Ute Ladies' -tresses orchid Survey During the two field surveys the Ute ladies' -tresses orchid was not observed at the site. Based on the results of the two field surveys, Ute ladies' -tresses orchid habitat evaluation for the three wetlands was separated into two categories based on a habitat suitability rating. This includes no habitat and poor habitat suitability. No Habitat This category indicates areas of poor orchid habitat suitability. Such habitat is characterized by one or more of the following negative orchid indicators: * Highly disturbed areas (e.g., fill material, as found on the south bank of wetland #3); * Presence of weedy plant species (e.g., Canada thistle, quackgrass found on the edges of all three wetlands); 3 or overgrazed. Although very rare now, it is estimated that it was once common in low elevation riparian areas in Colorado, Utah, and Nevada." Prior to the field survey, the Larimer County Soil Survey, the Fort Collins-USGS 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle, and ENSR Consulting and Engineering (ENSR) wetland delineation report for the site (ENSR 1994) were reviewed. Wetland Findings The Northgate site is comprised of three wetland areas, as identified and delineated by ENSR (Attachment A). TRB agrees with ENSR's findings. According to the Soil Survey for Larimer County, soil present at the site is classified as Nunn clay loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes (SCS 1980). The soil is not classified as a hydric soil. However, inclusions of hydric soils may occur within this mapping unit. Wetland 1 Wetland 1 is a palustrine, forested wetland that occurs immediately adjacent to an irrigation ditch (Attachment A). The wetland is approximately 0.03 acres in size. The wetland receives overflow water from the adjacent irrigation ditch. Vegetation observed in the wetland includes a prevalence of wetland species such as watercress (Nasturtium officinale), speedwell (Veronica spp.), duckweed (Lemna minor), curly dock (Rumex crispus), and hybrid cottonwoods (Populus spp.). Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) was prevalent along the edges of the wetland. The wetland substrate was characterized by low chromas and mottling within the B horizon. Wetland 2 Wetland 2 is a palustrine, emergent wetland that occurs in the northern portion of the site (Attachment A). The wetland is approximately 3.90 acres in size. The wetland receives water by groundwater flow from the adjacent Larimer and Weld Canal. Wetland vegetation consists of cattail (Typha latifolia), Nebraska sedge (Carex Nebrascensis,), common spikerush (Eleocharis macrostachya), three -square bulrush (Scirpus americanus), Baltic rush (Juncus Balticus), reed canary -grass (Phalaris arundinaceae), field mint (Mentha arvensis), and foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum). Along the 2 FIELD CLEARANCE SURVEYS FOR THE UTE LADIES' -TRESSES ORCHID (SPIRANTURS DILDVIALIS) NORTH COLLEGE BUSINESS CENTER (NORTHGATE) FORT COLLINS, COLORADO Introduction on July 22 and August 5, 1996, TR Boss Environmental and Biological Consulting (TRB) conducted a Ute Ladies' -tresses orchid (Spiranthes diluvialis) survey for the North College Business Center (Northgate), Fort Collins, Colorado (SW 1/4 Sec. 36 T8N R69W). The site currently consists of 3 wetlands and old pastureland that are bounded by Willox Lane to the south, College Avenue (U.S. Highway 287) and an irrigation ditch to the west, Larimer and Weld Canal to the north and northeast, and private land to the east (Attachment A). The survey was conducted to fulfill the requirements of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Interim Requirements and Guidelines for the Federally Threatened species Spiranthes diluvialis (USFWS, November 23, 1992). The survey was conducted by Ted Boss (TRB). Dr. Boss has completed the qualification requirements established by the-USFWS to conduct Ute ladies' -tresses orchid surveys. Information regarding his qualifications is located in the USFWS Golden, Colorado Office. Interim criteria developed by the USFWS were used to conduct the field survey for Ute ladies' -tresses orchid. The USFWS (1992) developed a typical habitat description for Ute ladies' -tresses orchid: "Spiranthes diluvialis occurs in seasonally moist soils and wet meadows near springs, lakes, or perennial streams and their associated floodplains below 6,500 feet elevation in Utah, Colorado, and Nevada. 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 or summer growing seasons. Associated vegetation typically falls into the Facultative Wet wetland vegetation classification category (as used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for wetland delineation). The species occurs primarily in areas where the vegetation is relatively open and not overly dense, overgrown, �� 1