HomeMy WebLinkAboutRIVERSIDE COMMUNITY SOLAR GARDEN - PDP - PDP140013 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTJune 26, 2104
Mark Zwieg
Land Manager
Clean Energy Collective
3005 Center Green Drive, #205
Boulder, CO 80301
RE: Updated Ecological Characterization Study (ECS) Report for the Pickle Plant Project Site
Scott:
This letter report is submitted in response to the City of Fort Collins’ requirement for an ECS Report
summarizing the ecological features of the Pickle Plant site, which is proposed for solar energy
development. This letter report is an updated report of a previous Pickle Plant ECS Reported submitted
on February 15, 2011. The Pickle Plant project site is located at the northeast corner of Riverside Avenue
and East Mulberry Street. The property is bounded by the Cache la Poudre River to the north, the City of
Fort Collins’ Wastewater Treatment Facility to the East, Riverside Avenue to the west, and Mulberry
Street and existing landscaping to the south (see attached Figure 1). This 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 ECS Report.
A previous field survey was completed to review site characteristics of the project area with Lindsay Ex
with the City of Fort Collins on February 7, 2011. A second site reconnaissance was completed with
Clean Energy Collective and City of Fort Collins staff on May 19, 2014. The field surveys were conducted
to characterize existing wildlife habitats, as well as identify any unique or sensitive natural resource
features. Observations recorded during the wildlife habitat field evaluation included: major vegetation
communities/wildlife habitats present within the property, dominant vegetation associated with each
community/habitat, and unique habitat features. Existing habitats were also evaluated regarding their
ability to support populations of threatened, endangered, and other sensitive plant and wildlife species.
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) The project site was formerly occupied by a pickle production facility and was cleared of all native
vegetation. As a result the majority of the site is nearly level and dominated primarily by annual weedy
species or nearly bare areas with minimal vegetation cover (see attached Figure 1 and Photo 1).
Common weedy species recorded on the property included kochia (Bassia scoparia1), Russian thistle
(Salsola tragus), cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), redstem
stork’s bill (Erodium cicutarium), knotweed (Polygonum arenastrum), field bindweed (Convolvulus
arvensis), common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), and mouse barley (Hordeum murinum). Small
pockets of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula), a Larimer County noxious weed, are also growing along the
eastern property boundary fenceline. Areas with minimal vegetation cover appear to be the result of
highly compacted soils with a high percentage of rock in the surface layer. A remnant swath of asphalt
1 Scientific nomenclature follows USDA, NRCS Plants Database. Available online at: http://plants.usda.gov/java/
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paving further degrades the ground surface at the north edge of the property (see attached Figure 1 and
Photo 2). The only other habitat within the project area is riparian woodland/disturbed at the north end of
the property. This riparian woodland is supported on a steep slope down to the river. The drop off from
the nearly level edge of the site down to the river is approximately 50 to 60 feet with a slope of ranging
from 1.25:1 to 1:1 (80 to 100 percent slope). It was classified as disturbed because it has been cleared in
the past and embedded with timbers, concrete blocks, and other inorganic materials to stabilize the slope.
Small areas of caving asphalt along the top edge of the slope indicate there are still some problems with
slope stability. As a result of past stabilization activities, relatively small, non-native Siberian elms (Ulmus
pumila) and boxelders (Acer negundo) are the principal trees growing on the slope. The only other woody
species present are a few native rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa) shrubs growing along the top
edge of the slope.
Past clearing and commercial activities on the Pickle Plant site has removed all natural habitat features
except for the Cache la Poudre River corridor along the northern property edge. The river corridor,
riparian woodlands and a narrow strip of wetlands along the river edge represent the only ecologically
important habitats within the property boundaries. However, even the riparian woodlands have been
degraded by past slope stabilization measures, and the steep slope restricts wetland development along
the river’s edge (see attached Photos 3 and 4). Surrounding land uses of highways, railroad tracks,
wastewater treatment plant, golf course, and commercial properties further limit habitat value and wildlife
use of the Pickle Plant property.
Wildlife sign noted on the Pickle Plant site indicate Canada geese, deer, and raccoon occasionally move
the area. However, the lack of any cover and food sources for most wildlife species, as well as
surrounding land uses, restrict any consistent or important wildlife use of the site.
Features of ecological value within 500 feet of the Pickle Plant site include the Cache la Poudre River
corridor and riparian woodland between the east side of the property and the Wastewater Treatment
Plant. This stand of riparian woodland is also on a relatively steep slope but does not appear to have
been exposed to the extent of past disturbance exhibited along the slope at the north property boundary.
Trees growing in the eastern riparian woodlands are also dominated by Siberian elms and boxelders,
although these are more mature and of much larger stature than the trees growing along the north end of
the property. These trees are contained within the Wastewater Treatment Facility property and are
separated from the Pickle Plant property boundary by a 30 to 50-foot nearly level bench that does not
support any woody species.
(b) No wetlands are located on the property except at the north end of the parcel along the edge of the
Cache la Poudre River. Because of the very steep slope from the level edge of the property down to the
river, wetland development is restricted to a narrow (3 to 5-foot wide), shoreline strip of reed canarygrass
(Phalaris arundinacea) immediately adjacent to the river. The wetlands are jurisdictional but were not
mapped since project development would have no impact on the river corridor.
(c) The project does not provide any significant or unobstructed views of natural areas or other important
visual features. Views of the Cache la Poudre River corridor from all but the north edge of the property
are precluded by the steep drop off from the north edge of the property down to the river.
(d) As indicated under (a & i) there are no significant native trees or other stands of native vegetation on
the property.
(e) The only natural drainage in the project area is the Cache la Poudre River. The river corridor is
isolated from the majority of the project area by a steep slope at the north edge of the property.
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(f) Suitable habitat conditions for Preble’s meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei), Ute
ladies’-tresses orchid (Spiranthes diluvialis), and Colorado butterfly plant (Gaura neomexicana
coloradensis) were judged not to be present within the project area. Slopes down to the river are too
steep to support suitable soil moisture conditions for the orchid or butterfly plant, and wetland herbaceous
cover preferred by the jumping mouse is absent along the this portion of the river shoreline because of
steep slopes and extensive amounts of concrete blocks and other inorganic materials embedded in the
slope to prevent erosion.
(g) Because of past disturbances and over most portions of the project area, there are no special habitat
features present except for the Cache la Poudre River corridor.
(h) The Cache la Poudre River provides a movement corridor for urban-adapted wildlife species. The
river corridor is isolated from the project area, both physically and visually by the steep slope between the
river and the remainder of the property.
(j) There are no issues regarding the timing of solar panel array construction on the Pickle Plant property
and ecological features or wildlife use of the project area. None of the trees on or near the property
exhibited any evidence of raptor nesting activity, and it is unlikely any raptors would nest near the
property because of its degraded condition and the intensity of human activities surrounding the area.
(k) Development of the Pickle Plant parcel would create no additional impacts to the Cache la Poudre
River corridor beyond those that currently exist with the degraded Pickle Plant site, railroad, and
commercial land uses. The property is zoned RDR (River Downtown Redevelopment District) and City
buffer zone standards (LUC 3.4.1) do not apply to RDR zones. Based on its current zone designation;
lack of any natural habitat features; type of project proposed: and its location by existing roadways,
commercial developments; and railroad right-of-way, I do not believe that any habitat enhancement or
mitigation measures are appropriate for the majority of proposed development parcel. However, it would
be appropriate to maintain an average 50-foot buffer between development and the upper bank edge of
the Poudre River, where possible, because of slope stability concerns and to provide some habitat
enhancement for this degraded section of the river corridor. Existing asphalt paving and weedy species
should be removed to permit enhancement of the buffer with plantings of native shrubs, grasses, and
forbs. Weedy species should also be eradicated from the remainder of the property to prevent their
spread back into any buffer zone areas. Planting of trees is not feasible because of shading implications
for development of a solar array project. Removal of remnant asphalt paving should be contingent on
geotechnical and slope stability evaluations to be completed for the property prior to development.
Plantings of native vegetation within the buffer would create additional habitat diversity adjacent to the
river corridor and provide additional visual screening between the proposed development and the edge of
the river corridor.
Any habitat enhancement plantings would likely require soil treatment to relieve compaction (ripping) and
improve fertility (fertilizer amendments). Selection of species to be used for revegetation should focus on
dryland drought tolerant species since the buffer area is elevated well above the river corridor. Even with
the use of drought tolerant species, supplemental irrigation may be required for initial establishment.
Since some stability (caving soils) issues were observed in the field, the entire proposed buffer zone
along the top of the river embankment should receive a stability evaluation prior to attempting any
enhancement measures. Ideally enhancement measures for the north edge of the property would include
restoration efforts for the steep slope down to the river, but issues with the steep (1:1) slope, slope
stability, and past stabilization measures (embedded concrete blocks and other materials) may likely
preclude any meaningful restoration efforts.
It is also recommended a sufficient buffer be maintained from the riparian woodlands outside of the east
property boundary to protect these trees. The standard recommended tree protection measure is to
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restrict surface disturbance, to the extent possible, to areas outside of the drip lines of the trees. This tree
protection measure should be relatively easy to achieve with minimal constraints on development since
the tree canopy edge is outside of the Pickle Plant property boundary. In addition, the existing bench
between the property and the riparian woodland zone provides a suitable buffer width for this strip of
riparian woodland. Creating a buffer beyond this recommendation would not provide additional
enhancement for this riparian woodland since existing commercial development (the Wastewater
Treatment Facility) encroaches up to the east edge of this riparian woodland and the south end of the
woodland has no connection to any other natural area. If solar array development plans allow for any
undeveloped surface along the east property boundary, habitat enhancement recommendations for these
non-facility areas would be the same as for the buffer at the north end of the property.
One final mitigation recommendation relates to the remaining pickle plant building on the property. The
building currently exhibits holes in the east-facing wall that could permit ingress and egress for bats and
possibly owl species such as great horned or barn owls. If the decision is made to demolish this building,
the interior should be surveyed prior to demolition to ensure a lack of bat or owl use. If wildlife species
are present, they should be flushed from the building and holes sealed to prevent wildlife re-entry prior to
demolition.
Mark, this concludes my evaluation of the Pickle Plant solar array project area. If you have any questions
or require additional input regarding my evaluation, please give me a call.
Sincerely,
INC.
T. Michael Phelan, Principal
attachments: Habitat Mapping and Photos