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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSOUTHEAST FORT COLLINS COMMUNITY PARK - PDP - PDP140014 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTConsultants in Natural Resources and the Environment DENVER • DURANGO • HOTCHKISS • IDAHO ERO Resources Corp. 1842 Clarkson St. Denver, CO 80218 303.830.1188 www.eroresources.com ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION STUDY CITY OF FORT COLLINS SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY PARK LARIMER COUNTY, COLORADO Prepared for— Civitas, Inc. 1200 Bannock Street Denver, Colorado 80204 Prepared by— ERO Resources Corporation 1842 Clarkson Street Denver, Colorado 80218 (303) 830-1188 ERO Project #5572 July 28, 2014 i ERO Resources Corporation CONTENTS Introduction ..........................................................................................................................1 Project Area .........................................................................................................................2 Methods................................................................................................................................2 Vegetation ............................................................................................................................2 Federally Threatened, Endangered, and Candidate Species Potentially Affected by the Project ..................................................................................................................................3 Other Wildlife ......................................................................................................................5 Wetlands and Other Waters .................................................................................................6 Views ...................................................................................................................................7 Impacts and Recommendations ...........................................................................................7 References ............................................................................................................................8 TABLES Table 1. Federally listed threatened and endangered species potentially found in Larimer County or with potential to be affected by projects in Larimer County. .....................3 FIGURES Figure 1. Vicinity Map Figure 2. Wetlands PHOTOS Photo Log 1 ERO Resources Corporation ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION STUDY CITY OF FORT COLLINS SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY PARK LARIMER COUNTY, COLORADO JULY 28, 2014 Introduction Civitas, Inc. (Civitas), on behalf of the City of Fort Collins (City), retained ERO Resources Corporation (ERO) to conduct an Ecological Characterization Study (ECS) for the proposed Southeast Community Park (project area). The City is proposing to construct a new park in the project area that will include ball fields, multipurpose sports fields, a playground, a dog park, a BMX course, pedestrian bridges, community gardens, and other amenities. The City is also proposing to conduct a revegetation and bank stabilization project on McClellands Creek, a small perennial stream flowing through the project area. As required under Article 3, Section 3.4.1 of the Fort Collins Land Use Code, the ECS describes the following: (a) the wildlife use of the area showing the species of wildlife using the area, the times or seasons that the area is used by those species, and the “value” (meaning feeding, watering, cover, nesting, roosting, and perching) that the area provides for such wildlife species; (b) the boundary of wetlands in the area and a description of the ecological functions and characteristics provided by those wetlands; (c) any prominent views from or across the site; (d) the pattern, species, and location of any significant native trees and other native site vegetation; (e) the bank, shoreline, and high water mark of any perennial stream or body of water on the site; (f) areas inhabited by or frequently used by Sensitive and Specially Valued Species; (g) special habitat features; (h) wildlife movement corridors; (i) the general ecological functions provided by the site and its features; (j) any issues regarding the timing of development-related activities stemming from the ecological character of the area; and ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION STUDY CITY OF FORT COLLINS – SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY PARK LARIMER COUNTY, COLORADO 2 ERO Resources Corporation (k) any measures needed to mitigate the projected adverse impacts of the development project on natural habitats and features. Project Area The project area is a parcel owned by the City just south of Fossil Ridge High School. The project area is bounded by Kechter Road to the south, Lady Moon Road to the east, Saber Cat Drive to the north, and Zeigler Road to the west. The project area is in Section 4, Township 6 North, Range 68 West of the 6th Principal Meridian in Larimer County, Colorado (Figure 1). The UTM coordinates of the approximate center of the project area are 498654mE, 4484468mN, Zone 13. The latitude/longitude of the project area is 40.510927°N/105.015887°W. Methods ERO visited the project area on October 1 and 22, 2013 and on February 21, 2014. Vegetation and wildlife habitat present in the project area were noted and representative photographs were taken. Wetlands within the project area were delineated on October 22, 2013 using methods outlined in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual (Environmental Laboratory 1987) and Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Great Plains Region (Version 2.0) (Corps 2010). Vegetation The project area contains an existing baseball/softball field and a BMX track on the north side of McClellands Creek. The project area vegetation is generally disturbed grassland dominated by smooth brome (Bromus inermis) and kochia (Kochia scoparia), two nonnative species. No sensitive or rare plant communities were observed in the project area. The vegetation along McClellands Creek is primarily a dense stand of reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea), a nonnative species, with a stand of cattail (Typha angustifolia) at the eastern end of the project area just upstream of Lady Moon Road (Photos 1 through 4). Scattered crack willow (Salix fragilis) and cottonwood trees (Populus deltoides) are also present along the creek channel. The existing trees are in a variety of conditions, from good to poor. There are several trees which will require removal per the city arborist, with mitigation requirements. ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION STUDY CITY OF FORT COLLINS – SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY PARK LARIMER COUNTY, COLORADO 3 ERO Resources Corporation Federally Threatened, Endangered, and Candidate Species Potentially Affected by the Project Table 1 lists federally listed species potentially present in Larimer County or that could be affected by projects in Larimer County (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) 2014). The table includes the listing status and whether suitable habitat is present in the project area. Table 1. Federally listed threatened and endangered species potentially found in Larimer County or with potential to be affected by projects in Larimer County. Common Name Scientific Name Status* Habitat Suitable Habitat Present Mammals Canada lynx Lynx canadensis T Climax boreal forest with a dense understory of thickets and windfalls No North American wolverine Gulo gulo luscus P Higher elevations with deep, persistent snow cover in spring No Preble’s meadow jumping mouse Zapus hudsonius preblei T Shrub riparian/wet meadows No Birds Greater sage grouse Centrocercus urophasianus C Sagebrush-dominated shrub steppe habitats No Interior least tern** Sterna antillarum athalassos E Sandy/pebble beaches on lakes, reservoirs, and rivers No depletions anticipated Mexican spotted owl Strix occidentalis T Closed canopy forests in steep canyons No Piping plover** Charadrius melodus T Sandy lakeshore beaches and river sandbars No depletions anticipated Whooping crane** Grus americana E Mudflats around reservoirs and in agricultural areas ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION STUDY CITY OF FORT COLLINS – SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY PARK LARIMER COUNTY, COLORADO 4 ERO Resources Corporation Common Name Scientific Name Status* Habitat Suitable Habitat Present Insects Arapahoe snowfly Capnia arapahoe C Documented only in Young Gulch and Elkhorn Creek No Plants Colorado butterfly plant Gaura neomexicana ssp. coloradensis T Subirrigated, alluvial soils on level floodplains and drainage bottoms between 5,000 and 6,400 feet in elevation No North Park phacelia Phacelia formosula E Known only from exposures of the Coalmont Formation at elevations from 7,940 to 8,260 feet No Ute ladies’-tresses orchid Spiranthes diluvialis T Moist to wet alluvial meadows, floodplains of perennial streams, and around springs and lakes below 6,500 feet in elevation No Western prairie fringed orchid** Platanthera praeclara T Moist to wet prairies and meadows No depletions anticipated *T = Federally Threatened Species, E = Federally Endangered Species, P =Federally Proposed Species, C = Candidate Species. **Water depletions in the South Platte River may affect the species and/or critical habitat in downstream reaches in other counties or states. Source: Service 2014. The project area does not contain suitable habitat for Canada lynx, North American wolverine, greater sage grouse, Mexican spotted owl, greenback cutthroat trout, Arapahoe snowfly, or North Park phacelia. The project would not result in depletions to the South Platte River system; therefore, the project would not affect the Platte River species (interior least tern, piping plover, whooping crane, pallid sturgeon, and western prairie fringed orchid). Because of the association of Ute ladies’-tresses orchid (ULTO), Colorado butterfly plant (CBP), and Preble’s meadow jumping mouse (Preble’s) with wetland/riparian habitat along the Colorado Front Range, these species are discussed in ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION STUDY CITY OF FORT COLLINS – SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY PARK LARIMER COUNTY, COLORADO 5 ERO Resources Corporation ERO visited the project area on October 1, 2013 and determined that the project area does not fit the Service’s survey criteria for ULTO (Service 1992) for the following reasons:  Vegetation along McClellands Creek is dominated by dense stands of reed canarygrass and cattails, two species not typically associated with ULTO.  Soils in the project area are heavy clay soils, rather than the sand and gravel deposits favored by ULTO. The Service has not established formal survey guidelines for CBP, but has indicated that areas similar to, and slightly drier than, ULTO habitat should be assessed. For the same reasons as described for ULTO, CBP habitat does not exist in the project area. ERO determined the project area does not contain suitable habitat for Preble’s based on the following:  The site lacks the structured tree and shrub habitat typically associated with Preble’s.  Trapping surveys in better habitat on Fossil Creek at Highway 392 (Tiglas 2002) and the Cache la Poudre River downstream from the project area (Peterson 2004; MDG, Inc. 2000) failed to capture any Preble’s. Numerous trapping surveys on the Poudre River in Fort Collins have not captured Preble’s.  The site is isolated from known populations of Preble’s or potential habitat. The project area is separated from the Cache la Poudre River by unsuitable habitat and Fossil Creek Reservoir. The nearest known capture site is on the Cache la Poudre River at Watson Lake, more than 12 miles from the project area.  The project area is in an urban neighborhood and is generally surrounded by development. On March 14, 2014, ERO submitted a threatened and endangered habitat assessment to the Service requesting confirmation that no habitat for threatened and endangered species occurs in the project area. The Service concurred in letter dated March 17, 2014. Other Wildlife No wildlife or signs of wildlife use were noted during the site visits. The project area is surrounded by development and is heavily used for recreation. In addition to the ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION STUDY CITY OF FORT COLLINS – SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY PARK LARIMER COUNTY, COLORADO 6 ERO Resources Corporation existing ball field and BMX track, volunteer trails are present along the stream banks, and the trails are used during nice weather for walking, jogging, and dog walking by residents of nearby neighborhoods and students from the nearby high school. This recreational use likely would preclude most wildlife from using the site. Generalist bird species such as crows and black-billed magpies could occur in the project area. Urban-adapted wildlife such as red foxes, raccoons, skunks, and various rodents could use the project area, especially the McClellands Creek corridor, as a movement corridor. Red-winged blackbirds often nest in cattail wetlands and could nest in the cattail wetlands along the creek at the eastern edge of the project area. It is unknown if red-winged blackbirds or other birds nest in the project area because the site visits were conducted outside the nesting season. No raptor nests or other stick nests were observed in the trees along the creek during the site visits. Wetlands and Other Waters ERO delineated wetlands and other waters in the project area on October 22, 2013. McClellands Creek, a small perennial stream, flows through the project area from west to east. McClellands Creek has a defined bed and bank and an ordinary high water mark (OHWM). Flowing water about 12 to 18 inches deep was present in the creek on October 22, 2013. The stream banks are downcut and unstable, with erosion undercutting the banks in places. Timing of flows in the creek is influenced by irrigation return flows, resulting in year-round flow. Wetlands dominated by reed canarygrass, a nonnative invasive grass, are present along a low bench next to the creek (Figure 2). A small cattail wetland is present at the eastern edge of the project area where the creek crosses under Lady Moon Drive. The total area of wetlands along the creek is about 0.48 acre. An abandoned ditch lateral, the Dixon Canyon Lateral, branches off from McClellands Creek at the west end of the project area on the north side of the creek. The ditch lateral does not have an OHWM or surface flow, and does not have wetland vegetation. The vegetation along the ditch is dominated by smooth brome and kochia. McClellands Creek and the adjacent wetlands would likely be considered jurisdictional waters by the Corps. The ditch lateral would not be considered jurisdictional. ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION STUDY CITY OF FORT COLLINS – SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY PARK LARIMER COUNTY, COLORADO 7 ERO Resources Corporation Views The area surrounding the project area is already heavily developed with residential properties bordering the west, east, and south sides and a high school campus to the north. The project area is visible from surrounding roads. The mountains and foothills to the west can be seen from the property. Impacts and Recommendations The City proposes to construct two new baseball/softball fields, two multipurpose fields, a new BMX course, a dog park, community gardens, a playground, two parking lots, and other amenities in the project area. Two pedestrian/bicycle bridges would be constructed across the creek. Improvements to McClellands Creek would include bank stabilization, revegetation, and drop structures. Extensive grading would be required to construct the park. Most vegetation would be removed from the project area during construction, with the exception of many of the large trees along the creek, which would be preserved where possible. The City of Fort Collins Arborist has determined that all trees except four are to be removed due to their hazardous condition, and these will require mitigation. Wildlife habitat is expected to be the same or better along the creek following construction due to improvements to the stream channel and plantings using native vegetation. Although wildlife habitat would be maintained or improved over the long term, wildlife use of the project area would likely decrease due to increased recreational use of the area after construction of the park, ball fields, and other amenities. The project includes stabilizing the McClellands Creek channel and would require a Section 404 permit from the Corps. Most of the existing wetlands along the creek would be removed during construction and replaced by wetlands with equivalent or greater functions following construction. The new creek channel would have a more stable configuration and would be replanted with native species following construction. Wetland mitigation would be accomplished via the 404 permitting process with the Corps. If vegetation- or land-clearing activities occur during the nesting season for migratory birds, migratory birds or their nests or eggs could potentially be disturbed. ERO ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION STUDY CITY OF FORT COLLINS – SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY PARK LARIMER COUNTY, COLORADO 8 ERO Resources Corporation recommends that vegetation removal occurs outside of the active breeding season, which is typically between March and August, depending on the species. References Environmental Laboratory. 1987. Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual, Technical Report 7-87-1, U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station. Vicksburg, MS. MDG, Inc. 2000. Trapping survey results submitted to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the Poudre River Trail from County Line Road to Highway 392. Peterson, J. 2004. Trapping survey results submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the Cache la Poudre River at Jacoby Trail. Tiglas, D. 2002. Trapping survey results submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for Fossil Creek at Highway 392. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) - Research and Development Center. 2010. Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Great Plains Region (Version 2.0) Prepared for Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Washington, DC 20314-1000. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). 1992. Interim Survey Guidelines for Spiranthes diluvialis (Ute ladies’-tresses orchid). November 23. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). 2014. Endangered, Threatened, Proposed and Candidate Species, Colorado Counties. Available at: http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/wizard/chooseLocation!prepare.action. SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY PARK PHOTO LOG OCTOBER 1, 2013 Photo 1 - McClelland Creek at proposed Southeast Community Park. View is to the west. Photo 2 - McClelland Creek at proposed Southeast Community Park. View is to the east. SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY PARK PHOTO LOG OCTOBER 1, 2013 Photo 3 - McClelland Creek at proposed Southeast Community Park. View is to the west. Photo 4 - McClelland Creek at proposed Southeast Community Park. View is to the east. Kechter Road S aber C at Dri ve L ady Mo o n R o ad Zeigler Road Dix o n C a n al L a ter a l McClellands Creek P repared for: City of Fort Collins File: 5572 Figure 2 Wetland.mxd [dlH] July 24, 2014 Figure 2 Wetlands Southeast Community Park Aerial Image: © Copyright 2011 Microsoft 0125250 ± feet Project Area Stream Channel Wetland Path: P:\5500 Projects\5572 Southeast Community Park Ft Collins\Maps\5572 Figure 2 Wetland.mxd Project Area Prepared for: City of Fort Collins File: 5572 Figure 1.mxd [dlH] October 24, 2013 Figure 1 Vicinity Map Southeast Community Park Portions of this document include intellectual property of ESRI and its licensors and are used herein under license. Copyright © 2013] ESRI and its licensors. All rights reserved. COLORADO Location Section 4, T6N, R68W; 6th PM UTM NAD 83: Zone 13N; 498654mE, 4484468mN Latitude, Longitude: 40.510927°N, 105.015887°W USGS Fort Collins, CO Quadrangle Larimer County, Colorado 01,750500 ± feet Path: P:\5500 Projects\5572 Southeast Community Park Ft Collins\Maps\5572 Figure 1.mxd greater detail below. No depletions anticipated Fish Greenback cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarki stomias T Cold, clear, gravel headwater streams and mountain lakes No Pallid sturgeon** Scaphirhynchus albus E Large, turbid, free-flowing rivers with a strong current and gravel or sandy substrate No depletions anticipated