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HomeMy WebLinkAboutREDTAIL PONDS - PDP - PDP130030 - REPORTS - ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTOctober 21, 2013 Kristin Fritz Senior Project Manager Fort Collins Housing Authority 1715 W. Mountain Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 RE: Revised Characterization Study (ECS) Letter Report for the Redtail Ponds Affordable Housing Project Area Kristin: This revision of the ECS Report for the Redtail Ponds Affordable Housing Project Area is submitted in response to comments received on the July 29, 2013 ECS Report from the City of Fort Collins and to further address the requirements of Section 3.4.1 of the Land Use Code of the City of Fort Collins regarding the submittal of an ECS report for proposed development projects. The Redtail Ponds Affordable Housing project area is located immediately east of the current terminus of Fossil Boulevard on undeveloped land between Woodley’s Furniture on the north and the Cameron Park development on the south. This undeveloped parcel is in the southeast ¼ of the southeast ¼ of Section 2 (Township 6 North, Range 69 West). Ecological characteristics of the property were reviewed during a field survey on July 26, 2013. The field survey included a delineation of the east wetland boundary of the wetlands located to the west of the project area. The wetland boundary was delineated using the methodology outlined in the publication Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual (1987). Intensity of mapping conformed to the "routine on-site determination" method. The following provides a summary of information required by Fort Collins Land Use Code under 3.4.1 (D) (1) items (a) through (k). ECOLOGICAL STUDY CHARACTERIZATION CHECKLIST (a & i) Habitats in the project area consist almost entirely of disturbed weedy areas with the majority of its surface covered with soil and rock waste piles (see attached Photos 1 and 2 and Figure 1). There is also one small patch of non-native grassland at the west end of the project area (see Figure 1), comprised primarily of smooth brome (Bromus inermis). Existing vegetation cover in the disturbed weedy areas is dominated by annual and perennial weedy species including kochia (Bassia scoparia1), prickly Russian thistle (Salsola tragus), field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), flixweed (Descurainia sophia), curly dock (Rumex crispus), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), goosefoot lambsquarters (Chenopodium berlandieri), prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola), and western ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia). Woody species are limited to a few rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa) shrubs and Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila) seedlings at scattered locations across the project area. Native trees are restricted to two small clusters of eastern cottonwood trees (Populus deltoides) at the southeast and northwest property corners (see Figure 1). The group of cottonwood trees at the southeast corner consists of two single-stemmed trees (approximately 8 and 20 inches in diameter), 2 multi-stemmed trees (ranging from 6 to 10 inches in diameter), and three single-stemmed trees (less and 6 inches in diameter). Cottonwood trees at the northwest corner were not enumerated since they are outside the proposed development area, but most are less than 6 inches in diameter. Two other native trees, lanceleaf cottonwoods (Populus acuminata) grow at or near the south property boundary near the west end of the project area. The City Forester or a private arborist will need to evaluate the health of native trees on the project area in order for their significance status to be determined. There are no wetlands or other unique habitat features in the project area, other than the native trees discussed above, the Redtail Ponds Affordable Housing project area does not support any significant areas of native 1 Scientific nomenclature follows USDA, NRCS Plants Database. Available online at: http://plants.usda.gov/java/ K. Fritz 10/21/13 Page 2 of 3 vegetation or other unique habitat features. Because of surrounding roadways and commercial development, features of ecological value within 500 feet of the project area consist solely of the mosaic of open water, wetlands, and riparian habitat immediately west of the west project area boundary (see Figure 1). Wildlife habitat value on the property has been degraded by past disturbance and stockpiling of waste dirt and rock, and there is minimal wildlife use of the project area. Urban-adapted birds such as mourning dove and house finch may occasionally use the site for foraging for seeds. The few trees on or near the project area may also be used for perching, nesting, and foraging by urban-adapted songbirds. No bird nests were located in trees on the property during the July 25, 2013 field survey. Other wildlife species use of upland habitats on the property is likely limited occasional foraging by urban adapted species such as red fox, raccoon, and striped skunk, which may come on to the project area from the wetland/riparian corridor to the west. In contrast, the riparian woodlands immediately west of the project area are may be used year round and/or seasonally for perching, foraging, and nesting by a variety of songbird and other avian species, including great horned owl, eastern screech owl, downy woodpecker, western kingbird, black-capped chickadee, house wren, American robin, northern flicker, mourning dove, yellow warbler, house finch, American goldfinch, and Bullock’s oriole, among others. Trees in the riparian corridor may also be used for perching and nesting by open-country raptors such as Swainson’s hawk and red-tailed hawk, but the presence of the adjacent developments likely precludes nesting use by these two species. Mammalian wildlife species likely to use the adjacent wetland and riparian woodland habitats include to urban adapted species such as coyote, red fox, raccoon, fox squirrel, striped skunk, mule deer, and white-tailed deer. (b) There are no wetlands on the property but wetlands, open water, and riparian habitats are supported along the drainage west of the project area. A relatively steep bank and an abrupt shift from smooth brome in the uplands to narrowleaf cattail in the wetlands defines the wetland/upland boundary west of the project area. Eastern cottonwood, Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), and green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) trees dominate the tree canopy in riparian habitat adjacent to the pond and wetlands. The wetlands, open water and riparian habitats supported along this drainage are valuable habitats in that they typically support a greater diversity of plants and animals than that found in adjacent dryland habitats in urban areas. Wildlife species from adjacent upland habitats rely on wetland habitats for obtaining food, cover, and water on a regular or intermittent basis and will use the canals for movement corridors through developed urban areas. Wetlands and seasonal aquatic habitats also provide foraging and resting habitats, and movement corridors for waterfowl and other urban-adapted waterbirds. Other species potentially present in canal wetland and aquatic habitats include Woodhouse’s toad, chorus frog, leopard frog, bullfrog, and wandering garter snake. Wetlands west of the project area are in excess of 1/3 acre, and Section 3.4.1 of the City’s Land Use Code stipulates a non-development buffer of 100 feet for wetland of this size. Current project development plans indicate a development setback of 100 feet would be maintained between proposed development areas and the wetland boundary. (c) Portions of the project area provide partial views of the Front Range foothills. (d) As indicated under (a & i) the project area supports little native vegetation, and significant trees are restricted to the southeast corner and the west end of the project area. Because of past disturbances on the property, there are no other significant native or non-native trees located on the property. West of the project area in the wetland drainage and pond area there are relatively dense stands of eastern cottonwood, Russian olive, and green ash trees, several of which may be classified as significant since they exceed 6 inches in diameter. Green ash and Russian olive are non-native trees, and Russian olive is classified as a nuisance species by the City of Fort Collins. However, these trees do provide perching, foraging, and nesting habitat value for songbirds. (e) There are no natural drainages on the project area. The wetland drainage west of the property boundary is within 500 feet of the project area and is tributary to the Fossil Creek drainage. K. Fritz 10/21/13 Page 3 of 3 (f) There is no suitable habitat for any threatened, endangered, or other sensitive species on or adjacent to the project area. No other sensitive or ecologically important species are likely to use the property since its surface has been disturbed and piled with waste soil and rocks. (g) Past removal of native habitat has eliminated the potential for any special habitat features on the property other than the few significant trees. (h) The wetland drainage/riparian corridor west of the project area is the only wildlife movement corridor within 500 feet of the project area. Project development would not have any impact on this wildlife movement corridor. (j) There is only one issue regarding the timing of property development and ecological features or wildlife use of the project area. If the development proposal includes removal of any trees on the property or if construction occurs near an occupied bird nest during the songbird nesting season (April through July), these activities could result in the loss or abandonment of a nest and would be in violation of the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. (k) Since the entire project area has been converted from native habitats to disturbed/ weed-dominated areas, project development would have no impact on natural habitats or important habitat features, other than existing trees on the property. Native trees determined to be significant on the on the project should be preserved to the extent possible. Removal of any trees classified as significant would need to be mitigated with replacement trees, as determined by the City Forester based on the Land Use Code. Because tree removal or construction near trees during the nesting season could result in the loss or abandonment of a nest, it is recommended that tree removal or construction near raptor or songbird nests occur outside of the nesting season (April 1 – July 31), or trees on or near the project area be surveyed to ensure lack of nesting prior to removal or construction activities during the nesting season. This mitigation recommendation would preclude the possible incidental take or disturbance of active songbird nests. Current development plans indicated a development setback of 100 feet would be maintained from the wetlands west of the project area. This buffer area currently supports either disturbed weedy or non-native grassland habitats. Therefore, it is recommended that the buffer area be enhanced by control/removal of weedy and non- native species and revegetated with native herbaceous and woody species to create to create a native, upland shrub and tree transition zone between the wooded wetland area and more xeric grasslands at the eastern edge of the buffer zone. Native tree plantings in the buffer zone could also be used to mitigate native tree loss to project development, if necessary. Revegetation of any water quality/detention basins should also use native grass and forb species to meet buffer zone performance standards stipulated in Section 3.4.1 of the Land Use Code. This concludes Cedar Creek Associates, Inc.’s evaluation of the Redtail Ponds Affordable Housing project area. If you have any questions or require additional information regarding my evaluation, please give me a call. Sincerely, INC. T. Michael Phelan Principal Senior Wildlife Biologist attachments: Photos 1 and 2 Figure 1, Habitat Mapping for the Redtail Ponds Affordable Housing Project Area