HomeMy WebLinkAboutGARDENS ON SPRING CREEK - MAJOR AMENDMENT - MJA150006 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 2 -1
Jason Holland
Subject: Gardens on Spring Creek ECS Memo
Hi Rebecca,
Attached is a letter/memo from Mike Phelan at Cedar Creek Associates as well as a map documenting the
overall site conditions and change that has taken place since the previous ECS was completed in 2001. A map
outlining habitat types is included as well.
Thanks,
Craig Russell RLA, ASLA
Principal
Russell + Mills Studios
141 S. College Ave, Suite 104
Fort Collins, CO 80524
p: 970.484.8855
c: 970.631.2072
2
Craig,
This e-mail is submitted as an update to the 2001 ECS Report for CSURF
property that covered the Gardens at Spring Creek Property before the
development of the Gardens and other project on nearby CSURF properties.
I reviewed site conditions of the Gardens at Spring Creek Property today and
produced the attached habitat map that documents current site conditions.
Based on today’s field review some habitat changes have occurred since the
2001 ECS report on undeveloped portions of the property. The primary upland
shift in habitats has been the conversion of what was formerly alfalfa hayfield to
native/non-native grassland and mowed turf grass areas (see attached Figure 1).
Native/non-native grassland and mowed turf grass areas do not meet any City of
Fort Collins criteria for protection or buffer setbacks. In addition their habitat
quality is low for wildlife use since they are consistently mowed.
The other habitat change has been the development of wetlands in two areas
that were formerly alfalfa hayfield uplands. This includes wetland development
along the re-routed segment of the Sherwood Lateral and wetland creation along
a constructed swale along the eastern property boundary (see Figure 1). In
addition, wetlands continue to be supported along the original segment of the
Sherwood Lateral adjacent to the west property boundary. All of these wetlands
are dominated primarily by narrow-leaf cattail (Typha angustifolia), and sandbar
willow (Salix exigua). The swale wetlands would likely be considered non-
jurisdictional by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers since they have no continuous
wetland or hydrologic connection to Spring Creek. Wetlands in the original and
rerouted segments of the Sherwood lateral would likely be considered
jurisdictional since they have continuous hydrologic connection to Spring Creek.
The largest swale wetland at the northeast corner of the property was created as
a Wetland Demonstration Site and also serves as a wetland mitigation area for
wetlands lost on a nearby CSURF development parcel. All wetland parcels
appear to less than 0.3 acre in size, although the largest swale wetland may be
approaching 0.3 acre. The wetland site would need to be surveyed to determine
its exact size. Wetlands over 0.3 acre would require a 100-foot buffer.
Wetlands are the only special habitat feature on the property, and the City of Fort
Collins buffer requirement of 50 feet for wetlands under 0.3 acre would apply to
these features. Wetlands and riparian habitat along Spring Creek appear to
similar to stream corridor conditions documented by the 2001 ECS Report so no
additional buffer or mitigation recommendations would apply for Spring Creek.
The Spring Creek corridor represents the only potential threatened or
endangered species habitat near the Gardens at Spring Creek Property. As long
a buffer setback are applied to the wetland areas connected to Spring Creek and
no new development encroaches into the existing Spring Creek corridor, no
threatened or endangered species consultation would be required with the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.
Craig, this concludes my update of the 2001 ECS Report for the Gardens at
Spring Creek Property. Let me know if you have any questions or need a more
formal report for the update.
Mike
T. Michael Phelan
Senior Wildlife Biologist
Cedar Creek Associates, Inc.
916 Willshire Ave.
Fort Collins, CO 80521
Office - 970-493-4394
FAX - 970-493-4394
Cell - 970-231-3680