HomeMy WebLinkAboutEAGLE CLIFFS - PDP - 22-02 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTPreble's meadow jumping mouse or Ute ladies' -tresses orchid, but these habitats would not be affected
by project development. Presence of Preble's meadow jumping mouse along Fossil Creek or Mail Creek
is highly unlikely because of the fragmented nature of natural habitats along these drainages and the fact
that the jumping mouse has not been found anywhere within or near Fort Collins to date. In addition, the
drainages, in the vicinity of the property, lack suitable areas of jumping mouse hibernation habitat that exist
above normal high flow areas within the creek embankments. Burrowing owl use of the property would be
unlikely because of the collapsed condition of most of the burrows and the small size of the property.
(g) Because of past disturbances and prairie dog overgrazing of the parcel, there are no special habitat
features on the property.
(h) There are no suitable wildlife movement corridors on the property, but Fossil Creek and Mail Creek are
potential movement corridors for urban -adapted wildlife species. There is no suitable vegetation cover on
the property to attract wildlife out from the two creeks.
5.0 WILDLIFE MITIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS
There will be no impacts to important wildlife habitats or special habitat features with development of the
Eagle Cliffs property. The project would also have no adverse effect on Fossil Creek and Mail Creek as
long as best management practices are employed during construction to minimize indirect runoff and
sedimentation impacts to the creeks. Two City of Fort Collins Land Use Code (Section 3.4.1) buffer
setback requirements apply to the property. One is for a 50-foot setback from wetlands of less than 1 /3 of
an acre. The other is for a 100-foot setback from Fossil Creek and its tributaries. In addition, if prairie dogs
return to the site, or have not been totally eliminated, the Land Use Code requires that prairie dogs be
relocated or eradicated by city -approved methods.
According to current development plans a 100-foot or greater setback would be maintained for all
developed sites from Fossil Creek and Mail Creek except for lots 11, 12, and 13. The setback for these
lots would be slightly less than 100 feet, but overall the buffer distance for the entire project would be
maintained, on average, at greater than 80 percent of the minimum buffer distance (100 feet) and would
therefore be in compliance with the Land Use Code.
The only mitigation recommendation provided for the Eagle Cliffs project is that native shrubs and trees as
well as herbaceous species be planted in the buffer zone between developed sites and Fossil Creek to
enhance the Fossil Creek corridor. Plantings of shrubs and trees would create visual screening between
the creek and developed sites and minimize the potential effects of development on wildlife use of the
drainage.
1.1
housing development. Mice, voles, pocket gopher, and western meadowlark are the only species likely to
establish resident populations on the property. Songbirds such as Brewer's blackbird, common grackle,
and black -billed magpie may also occasionally use the site. Prior to the eradication of prairie dogs,
predators such as red-tailed hawk, great horned owl, and red fox may have hunted the area. Surrounding
roadways and developments minimize the chance of prairie dogs reoccupying the property. No other
wildlife species or definitive signs were observed during the field survey aside from the remnant prairie
dog burrows.
' 3.2 Trees
No trees grow on the property. A few cottonwood (Populus deltoides) and Russian olive trees grow within
' 500 feet of the property along the Fossil Creek drainage. The largest cottonwood trees in the drainage
are located near the southwest property corner. These three trees are 12 to 18 inches diameter at breast
height (dbh) and 40 to 45 feet tall. No evidence of raptor nesting activity was observed in any of the trees
along Fossil Creek.
4.0 ECOLOGICAL STUDY CHARACTERIZATION CHECKLIST
' The following provides a summary of information required by Fort Collins Land Use Code under 3.4.1 (D)
(1) items (a) through (i). Items Q) and (k) are addressed under following section, 5.0 Wildlife Mitigation
Recommendations.
' (a) Wildlife use of the area is described in Section 3.0.
' (b) No wetlands are supported on the property. The only wetlands within 500 feet of the property are
located within the steep embankments that define the Fossil Creek drainage along the southern property
' boundary
' (c) The property provides relatively unobstructed views of the.Front Range and Horsetooth Rock.
(d) There are no significant native trees or other sites of native vegetation located on the property. The
' City Forester may consider some of the native cottonwood trees within the Fossil Creek drainage
significant.
' (e) Fossil Creek and its tributary, Mail Creek, are the only natural drainages located within 500 feet of the
property.
' (f) There was no evidence of the presence of specially valued species or their habitats within the property
boundaries. Wetland habitats along Fossil Creek and Mail Creek may represent suitable habitat for
G
I
Photo 1. View of the Eagle Cliffs Development Parcel. (View is from east side of property
looking west. Old prairie dog mounds are visible in foreground. Fill dirt piles can be
seen in middle background.)
is moderate. No problem erosion areas were noted on or near the property except for the steep, erosion
cutbanks along Fossil Creek south of the Eagle Cliffs site. The existing soils on the property area are not
classified as hydric, and no evidence of hydric soils, wetland vegetation, or hydrologic features, indicating
wetland conditions on or near the property, was found during the site review except for wetlands within
the Fossil Creek drainage.
There appeared to have been no recent agricultural use of the property. The site is comprised of a nearly
level to gently sloping weedy field that currently supports an inactive prairie dog town as well as an area of
fill dirt stockpiles. Fossil Creek and Mail Creek are the only natural drainages near property.
The following sections summarize the characteristics of habitats existing on the property and wildlife use
of the area.
3.1 Weedy Field Fill Dirt Stockpiles
The entire property consists of a weedy field that has been heavily overgrazed by prairie dogs in the past.
Dominant vegetation species noted in the area included field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), kochia
(Kochia scoparia), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), flixweed (Descurainia sophia), crested wheatgrass
(Agropyron desertorum), cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), Russian thistle (Salsola kah), redroot pigweed
(Amaranthus retroBexus), buffalobur (Solanum rostratum), and many -flowered aster (Virgulus ericoides).
A few, small rubber rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus) shrubs are the only woody species
supported on the property.
Total vegetation cover was estimated to range between 15 and 40 percent. Vegetation height over most
of the property, except for the fill dirt stockpiles, was generally less than 2 inches because of the time of
year and past grazing by prairie dogs. The stockpile area of fill dirt consists of soil piles 3 to 4 feet tall and
occupies approximately 25 percent of the property. Representative views of the property are provided in
Photos 1 and 2.
A majority of the property, except for the fill dirt stockpile area, contains prairie dog mounds. Most of the
burrows were collapsed, and there was no evidence of recent prairie dog activity or presence. A number
of prairie dog skulls were also observed in proximity to the mounds. Apparently the property owner had
the town poisoned to eradicate prairie dogs from the property (pers. comm., R. Linder, VF Ripley,
1/30/02), and it appeared these efforts have been successful.
Habitat value and wildlife use of the property is limited by past overgrazing by prairie dogs, the general lack
of vegetation cover, the lack of woody vegetation diversity, small parcel size, and surrounding
developments and roadways. Areas south of Fossil Creek are currently under construction for park and
3
CMDAM CMEM
FIGURE 1
Location of the Eagle Cliffs Property
Scale: 1 2,000'
AllapSource: USGS 7 112' Quadrangle - Fort Collins, CO
19FK- —7 1
Warren
Collindale
Course ----F
Lak
Reservoir
49
- --- — - ------- 4949 32
Ot.
Trail Park
2
ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION STUDY REPORT
FOR THE
EAGLE CLIFFS DEVELOPMENT PARCEL
1.0 INTRODUCTION AND LOCATION
This report documents the evaluation of habitat conditions on the proposed Eagle Cliffs development
parcel in Fort Collins, Colorado. The report was prepared in accordance with Section 3.4.1 of the Land
Use Code of the City of Fort Collins regarding the preparation of an Ecological Characterization Study
Report. The proposed 10.31-acre development parcel is located in the northeast 1/4, of the northeast
1/4 of Section 12 (T. 6 N. R. 69 W.). The property boundaries are defined by South Lemay Avenue on
the east, Southridge Greens Boulevard on the north, and the Fossil Creek drainage on the south and
southwest. The property location is depicted on Figure 1.
2.0 METHODOLOGY
Cedar Creek completed a field survey of the Eagle Cliffs property on January 29, 2002. The field survey
was conducted to characterize existing wildlife habitats, as well as to identify any unique or sensitive
natural resource features, including wetlands. Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly SCS)
soils mapping (Soil Survey of Larimer County Area, Colorado) was also reviewed to determine if any known
hydric (wetland) soil mapping units are located on the property. Observations recorded during the field
evaluation included: major vegetation communities / wildlife habitats present within the property;
dominant vegetation associated with each community / habitat; unique habitat features; and observations
' of wildlife species and/or definitive sign. Photographs showing representative views of the property were
also taken to document site conditions. Wildlife presence and habitat use was based on on -site
' observations and habitat presence in conjunction with the known habitat requirements of potential wildlife
species. Existing habitats were also evaluated regarding their ability to support populations of threatened,
endangered, and other sensitive plant and wildlife species.
' 3.0 HABITAT CONDITIONS AND WILDLIFE USE
According to the Soil Conservation Service's (SCS) Soil Survey of Larimer County Area, Colorado, Heldt
clay loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes and Wiley silt loam, 3 to 5 percent slopes are the only soils located on the
' property. The Heldt clay loam mapping unit is located along the Fossil Creek drainage while the Wiley silt
loam mapping unit occupies the more upland portions of the site. Heldt clay loam is a deep, well -drained
' soil that formed in alluvium from clay shale. Runoff is medium on this soil. The hazard of wind erosion is
slight, and the hazard of water erosion is slight to moderate. Wiley silt loam is a deep, well -drained soil that
' formed in uniform, silty, wind -deposited material. Runoff is medium on this soil, and the hazard of erosion
1
1
ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION STUDY REPORT
FOR THE
EAGLE CLIFFS DEVELOPMENT PARCEL
Prepared
by
Cedar Creek Associates, Inc.
Fort Collins, Colorado
Prepared
for
VF Ripley Associates, Inc.
Fort Collins, Colorado
January 31, 2002
CIEDAM CM E[EM
&as-s®CIAIrIES9INC. `
916 Willshire Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80521 • (970) 493-4394