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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNEW BELGIUM, 4TH FILING, PACKAGING HALL & BUCKINGHAM ST. - AMENDED ODP - 1-95F - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTAs indicated, much of the property has been degraded by past disturbances and land use practices. Areas to remain as open space or to be landscaped within future development sites could be considerably enhanced by the conversion of areas dominated by mostly weedy species to areas revegetated by perennial woody and herbaceous native species. It should be noted that soil conditions within the Disturbed - Dark Waste Soil and Disturbed - Kochia habitat sites would need to ameliorated through the removal of lime and other waste soil materials before any revegetation or landscaping efforts are likely to be successful. 15 (g) Because of development or past disturbances and cultivation practices over the entire property, there are no special habitat features present except for the plains cottonwoods and peachleaf willows along the southern property boundary and plains cottonwoods within the Disturbed - Partially Revegetated habitat parcel. (h) There are no suitable wildlife movement corridors on or within 500 feet of the New Belgium Brewery Company property. 5.0 WILDLIFE MITIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS Specific development plans have not been finalized for the undeveloped portions of the property. However some general mitigation recommendations are provided in this section based on existing habitat conditions. As indicated in the previous sections, there are no natural habitats within the property boundaries. Scattered pockets of plains cottonwoods and a few peachleaf willows are the only native woody species within the property boundaries. The City of Fort Collins buffer zone standard for woodlots and farmstead windbreaks is 25 feet, and it is assumed that this standard would apply to these trees. It is also recommended that a 30-foot construction buffer (surface disturbance and underground utilities) should be maintained from these trees to preclude any possible disturbance to the tree's root systems. In addition, because potential raptor nesting habitat is provided by these trees, the trees should be surveyed prior to any construction activities to confirm the presence or absence of raptor nesting activity. If an active raptor nest is discovered, a buffer zone setback, as prescribed in Section 3.4.1 of the Fort Collins Land Use Code, should be maintained during the breeding, nesting, and nestling rearing period. If existing tree stands are in conflict with future development plans, a loss of trees should be mitigated by replacement and/or plantings of additional native trees in portions of the property to be landscaped or retained as open space. Wetlands on the property are very small and of relatively low quality with respect to wildlife habitat value. It is uncertain if hydrological criteria would be met for the Army Corps of Engineers to consider the two wetlands in the Disturbed - Partially Revegetated habitat parcel to be jurisdictional. Wetlands along the irrigation ditch would not be classified as jurisdictional since water in the ditch is used for agricultural purposes. The City of Fort Collins buffer zone standard for wetlands less than one-third of an acre is 50 feet, but it is uncertain if this standard would apply to the small wetland sites within the Disturbed - Partially Revegetated habitat parcel. It is unknown if future development plans would impact or result in the loss of these wetlands. However, because of the presence of Caruso clay loam and an assumed high water table within most of the property, it should be relatively straightforward to mitigate any loss of wetlands by creating compensatory wetland sites that could remain within portions of the property to be landscaped or retained as open space. 14 adapted to urban environments. No evidence of raptor nesting activity was noted in the trees. The only nests observed were those of black -billed magpie. Nesting use of the larger trees by raptors other than possibly great horned owl, eastern screech owl, or American kestrel is unlikely. Songbird species observed in riparian forest during the field survey were mourning dove, northern flicker, common grackle, Brewer's blackbird, starling, black -billed magpie, and blue jay. 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 0) and (k) are addressed under the following section, 5.0 Wildlife Mitigation Recommendations. (a) Wildlife use of the area is described in Section 3.0. (b) As indicated in Section 3.0, the only wetlands on the property are located at two small sites within the Disturbed - Partially Revegetated habitat parcel and along the irrigation ditch that carries water along the southwest property boundary. (c) The eastern half of the property provides partial views of the Front Range mountains to the west (d) As described under Section 3.0, the only native trees or other sites of native vegetation on the property are scattered small pockets of plains cottonwoods and peachleaf willow along the southern property boundary and of plains cottonwoods within the Disturbed - Partially Revegetated habitat parcel. The remaining trees on the property are non-native. Riparian forest south of the southwest property corner is the only significant stand of native trees near the property. Individual mature peachleaf willows and plains cottonwoods also exist as residential landscaping or as remnant windbreaks within 500 feet of the southern and eastern property boundaries. Future raptor use of these trees is unlikely because of the proximity of commercial/residential developments and existing roadways. However, because potential nesting habitat is present, trees on or near the property should be surveyed prior to any construction activities near these trees. (e) There are no natural drainages within or near the property boundaries. The Cache la Poudre River corridor is over 600 feet away from the property. (f) There was no evidence of the presence of specially valued species within or near the project area. Suitable habitat conditions were judged not be present for Preble's meadow jumping mouse or for Ute ladies' -tresses orchid. 13 Because of the proximity of commercial/residential developments and existing roadways, wildlife use of riparian forest near the New Belgium Brewing Company property is restricted primarily to songbird species 11 primarily of reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea), rice cutgrass (Leersia oryzoides), Emory's sedge, and barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galb). This wetland would not be considered jurisdictional by the Corps of Engineers since the wetlands have formed in association with water used for agricultural purposes. Wetlands on the property are very small and of relatively low quality with respect to wildlife habitat value because of adjacent disturbances or roadways. These wetlands also provide minimal value in reducing or slowing runoff as well as improving water quality of runoff. Riparian Forest Riparian Forest is the only natural area identified on the City of Fort Collins Natural Habitats and Features plan within 500 feet of the New Belgium Brewery property (see Figure 2). This area is a remnant strip of floodplain forest that was once more widespread along the Cache la Poudre River corridor. The habitat area supports a number of large, mature trees as well as younger age class trees, with an understory dominated primarily by herbaceous grass and forb species. The largest trees grow at the north end and along the eastern edge of this area. The largest trees at the north end are primarily plains cottonwoods, lanceleaf cottonwoods (Populus acuminata), and peachleaf willows ranging in size from 2 to 6 feet dbh and 60 to 70 feet tall. The larger trees along the eastern edge are composed of peachleaf willows and green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanicus) ranging in size from 6 to 14 inches dbh and 50 to 60 feet tall. The remainder of the central and southern portions of this segment of riparian forest are dominated by younger plains cottonwood and lanceleaf cottonwood trees ranging in size from 3 to 12 inches dbh and 20 to 40 feet tall. Some of the larger trees were partially decadent with dead larger limbs exhibiting excavated woodpecker cavities. Herbaceous understory cover at the north end of the riparian forest parcel is dominated by kochia, western wheatgrass, common mallow, cheatgrass, smooth brome, showy milkweed, and leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula). This area had been mowed. Understory in the middle and southern portions of riparian forest on Figure 2 had not been mowed, and sites with and without a tree overstory are dominated by dense stands of smooth brome. Other herbaceous species observed at scattered locations within the understory were common sunflower, marshelder, reed canarygrass, fieldbindweed, mullein (Verbascum thapsus), asparagus (Asparagus officinalis), and hemp dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum). The only woody species noted in the understory were a few shrub -like Russian olives and box elder (Acer negundo) trees as well as chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) shrubs. Piles of waste dirt, concrete block, and trash also were noted at scattered locations in addition to old mattresses and sofas apparently indicating vagrant use of the area. Photos 5 and 6 provide representative views of the riparian forest habitat parcel. 10 flowing water at the time of the survey, and wetland vegetation growing along its banks is composed brome, western wheatgrass, and common sunflower (Helianthus annuus). Other less dominant but common species observed were netseed lambsquarters (Chenopodium beriandien), common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisdfolia), alfalfa, marshelder (Iva xanthifolia), prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola), Canada thistle, crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum), rough white aster (Virgulus falcatus), dandelion, and giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida). Photos 3 and 4 provide representative views of the Disturbed - Partially Revegetated area. No raptor nests were noted in any of the trees within the Disturbed - Partially Revegetated area. Because of the small size of this habitat parcel and surrounding disturbed and developed lands, wildlife use of this area is limited primarily to urban adapted songbirds. Mourning dove, black -billed magpie, and black - capped chickadee were the only wildlife species observed during the field survey. The Disturbed - Weedy site is located immediately east of the New Belgium Brewery facility. This area appears to be a previously cleared site that is.now vegetated primarily by annual weed species and a few grasses. This area had been mowed at the time of the field survey. No trees or shrubs were observed in this area. Dominant species recorded were kochia, field bindweed, common mallow (Malva neglecta), cheatgrass, western wheatgrass, smooth brome, redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus), prickly lettuce, and Canada thistle. There are also scattered piles of discarded dirt, plant refuse, old lumber, and tree trunk blocks in this area. This site has minimal wildlife habitat value because of the general lack of vegetation cover and proximity of commercial operations associated with the New Belgium. Brewery. Wetlands Although Caruso clay loam, a hydric soil, is mapped by the SCS for the majority of the New Belgium property only three small areas exhibited vegetation, soil, and hydrologic characteristics indicating the presence of wetlands. Two of these are at the north end of the Disturbed - Partially Revegetated area (see Figure 2). Because of the difficulties of accurately depicting the small size of these two wetlands at the scale of mapping on Figure 2, their actual size is exaggerated on the figure. Both sites appeared to be low locations within the disturbance basins where surface or ground water collects against the base of the berms. The northwest wetland is an approximately 5 feet wide by 15 feet long trench supporting showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa), cattail (Typha latifolia), and Emory's sedge (Carex emoryi). A small amount of standing surface water was present in the bottom of the trench. The other wetland is approximately 15 feet wide by 20 feet long and is dominated by alkali muhly (Muhlenbergia asperifolia), western -lined aster (Almutaster lanceolatus), showy milkweed, hairy primrose (Oenothera villosa), and Russian olive. No surface water was present in this wetland. The third wetland located on the property is supported along a relatively narrow (3 to 4 feet wide) irrigation ditch (see Figure 2) that carries water along the southwest edge of the property. The ditch was carrying 7 Habitat value and wildlife use of grass hayland habitat is limited by mowing practices and the general lack of woody vegetation diversity. Mice, voles, and western meadow lark are the only species likely to establish resident populations in grass hayland and weedy edge areas. Songbirds such as Brewer's blackbird, common grackle, and black -billed magpie may also occasionally use grass hayland habitat. A few small rodent burrows were noted in this habitat, but there was no evidence of prairie dogs or prairie dog burrows observed on the property. One carnivore scat (possibly coyote or red fox) was also noted in grass hayland habitat. Disturbed Areas The remainder of the undeveloped portions of the New Belgium Brewery property is composed of sites previously disturbed by past sugar beet refinery operations. The Disturbed - Kochia site (see Figure 2) is elevated 4 to 6 feet above surrounding terrain by lime waste deposits from the old sugar beet refinery. This area is vegetated almost entirely (100 percent cover) by dense stands of live and dead kochia plants (see Photo 2). This area has minimal wildlife habitat value because of the presence of lime waste and the dominance of a single weed species. The Disturbed - Dark Waste Soil site (see Figure 2) is not elevated but exhibited a surface layer of a dark, cinder -like waste material vegetated primarily by a sparse cover of weedy species. Vegetation cover ranged from 0 to 25 percent and is dominated by kochia and Russian thistle (SaIsola kah). Wildlife habitat value of this site was also rated as very low. Habitat diversity and quality is somewhat higher within the Disturbed - Partially Revegetated site due to the establishment of trees and a greater extent of vegetation species diversity in the herbaceous understory. This site is composed of three parallel, north -south oriented earthen berms (5 to 8 feet tall) that have created two elongated basins between the north -south property borders. The bottoms of these basins contain a number of remnant concrete foundations as well as discarded piles of concrete block, brick, trash, dirt, and lumber. However, apparently suitable soil conditions in this area has permitted the natural re-establishment of a few native and non-native woody species. The predominant woody species established in this area is plains cottonwood, especially in the eastern -most basin (see Figure 2). Chinese elm seedlings and saplings are also scattered throughout these basins as well as a number of shrub -like Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) trees. The plains cottonwood trees range in size from 6 to 18 inches dbh and 20 to 40 feet tall while most of the Russian olives are 1 to 3 inches dbh and 6 to 10 feet tall. One plum tree (Prunus sp.) was also observed in this area. Herbaceous cover is highly variable ranging from near 0 on the berms and old foundation sites to nearly 100 percent at less disturbed sites. Dominant species are kochia, field bindweed, cheatgrass, smooth 0 and alluvial fans, commonly adjacent to drainageways. This soil is not classified as hydric but it can contain hydric inclusions. Existing land uses within the nearly level New Belgium Brewing Company property consist of commercial property (New Belgium Brewery), previously Disturbed Lands, and Grass Hayland (see Figure 2). There are no natural drainages, ponds, or other water bodies on the property. One small ditch along the southwest edge of the property carries water discharged from the New Belgium Brewery off the property. The closest natural drainage is the Cache la Poudre River over 600 feet southwest of the southwest property corner. The following sections summarize the characteristics of habitats existing on the property and wildlife use of the area. . Grass Havland The majority of the undeveloped portion of the property consists of a level grass hayland dominated by grasses and annual weeds. This area had been mowed, apparently for hay production. Dominant grasses are Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis), smooth brome (Bromus inermis), cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), and western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithit). Dominant (orbs and weedy species recorded in grass hayland were field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), salsify (Tragopogon dubius), kochia (Kochia scoparia), cudycup gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), and white and yellow sweetclover (Melilotus albus and M. officinale). Total vegetation cover was estimated to average between 30 and 75 percent cover. Vegetation height was generally less than 6 inches because of mowing. A representative view of grass hayland is provided in Photo 1. The only woody plants noted in this habitat area were two moderate sized (30 to 35 feet tall and approximately 18 inches diameter at breast height, dbh) plains cottonwoods (Populus sargentit), a few Chinese elms (Ulmus pumila) along the east property boundary, and a strip of trees in a small swale near the middle of the south property boundary (see Figure 2). The Chinese elms along the east boundary include saplings and larger trees ranging in size from 6 to 12 inches dbh and 20 to 40 feet tall. One American elm (Ulmus americana), approximately 6 inches dbh and 25 feet tall, also grows along the eastern boundary. The stand of trees at the southern boundary is composed of several plains cottonwoods (ranging in size from 4 inches to 2 feet dbh and 30 to 50 feet tall), two peachleaf willows, Salix amygdaloides, (6 to 12 inches dbh and 20 to 30 feet tall), and one Chinese elm (18 inches dbh and 50 feet tall). No raptor nests were noted in any of these trees. 3 ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION STUDY REPORT FOR THE NEW BELGIUM BREWING COMPANY PROPERTY 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND LOCATION This report documents the evaluation of habitat conditions of a development parcel owned by the New Belgium Brewing Company 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 a Ecological Characterization Study. The approximate 52-acre parcel (including the existing New Belgium Brewery) addressed by this report is located in Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado in the North 1/2 of Section 12 (T. 7 N. R. 69 W.). The property boundaries are defined by Buckingham Street on the south, Linden Street on the west, Lemay Avenue on the east, and the City of Fort Collins Street Facility property to the north. The location of the property is shown on Figure 1. 2.0 METHODOLOGY Cedar Creek completed a field survey of the New Belgium Brewery property on August 29, 2000. The field survey was completed to characterize existing wildlife habitats, as well as to identify any unique or sensitive natural resource features. Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly SCS) soils mapping (Soil Survey of Latimer County Area, Colorado) was also reviewed to determine if any known hydric soil mapping units were 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 existing habitats 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 Latimer County Area, Colorado, the predominant soil over all but the far east end of the property is Caruso clay loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes. This is a deep somewhat poorly drained soil on low terraces and bottom lands. Caruso clay loam is classified as hydric soil because of a seasonally high water table. The extreme east end of the property is .occupied by Nunn clay loam, wet, 1 to 3 percent slopes. This is also a poorly drained soil on low terraces ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION STUDY REPORT FOR THE NEW BELGIUM BREWING COMPANY PROPERTY Prepared by Cedar Creek Associates, Inc. Fort Collins, Colorado Prepared for New Belgium Brewing Company Fort Collins, Colorado September 5, 2000