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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFRONT RANGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY BUILDING - SPAR - SPA130006 - REPORTS - RECOMMENDATION/REPORT W/ATTACHMENTS (20)1 TO: City of Fort Collins FROM: Clarendon Hills Home Owners Association, Wildlife Team RE: FRCC Ecological Characterization Study for the proposed developments on the land parcel adjacent to Clarendon Hills DATE: October 29, 2013 ATTACHEMENTS: (Appendix A: species list, Appendix B: petition) To whom it may concern, The Clarendon Hills Home Owners Association (CHHOA), through the Wildlife Team, submits these comments regarding Front Range Community College’s (FRCC) proposed development of the approximately 8 acre parcel adjacent to Clarendon Hills, with specific emphasis on the ecological value of the land as a wildlife corridor. We also provide specific comments and requests for clarification on the Ecological Characterization Study conducted by Wildland Consultants, Inc. on behalf of FRCC. 1. The development property is a wildlife corridor with significant habitat features that support nesting raptors: The CHHOA has compiled a list of observed species in the proposed development property, with observations occurring primarily along the irrigation ditch that cuts through the property and extends along the FRCC’s nature trail along the college’s southern border (Attachment A). CHHOA is fortunate to have professional wildlife biologist, ecologists, wildlife veterinarians, environmental engineers/consultants, and master birders in its community. The 83 taxa in the attached list have been verified by at least two observers over the last 10 years. Nine species of raptors have been documented, including an annual nesting of a pair of great horned owls. A nesting pair of Swainson’s hawks existed in the half-dead cottonwood on the south side of the property until the nest branch was pruned out by the current property owners (without mitigation or consultation with the City regarding protection for this sensitive species). A significant number of migratory bird species frequent the trees along the ditch during the summer. The diversity of mammals that use this property as a wildlife corridor is also 2 remarkable given surrounding development, and has included mega-fauna such as black bear, mountain lions, bobcats and coyotes. Special attention should be directed to the significant quality of tree and woody debris habitats along the ditch and FRCC nature trail, and the heavy use of these habitats by raptors and migratory bird species. These special habitat features support nesting birds, including but not limited to raptors. A pair of nesting great horned owls, dubbed “Athena and Hermes” by FRCC students, have been nesting in one of these trees for over a decade. Signs are posted by FRCC during mating, nesting and fledging periods to insure that the owls do not abandon the nest. Owlets are frequently seen using the grassy open areas along the CHHOA fences and in the proposed development property. Small mammals in the seeded pasture habitat, as well as doves and pigeons in the property and on campus, provide primary forage for the owls and other raptors. Important dates to protect these owls are included in the following table, compiled by FRCC faculty and students in the 2013 nesting season: Female first on nest: 1/29-1/30 Incubation period: 28-35 days *Note: Egg and hatch dates are estimates based on fledge dates, as these events were not directly observable. Owlets are estimated to be six weeks old at time of fledge. These dates are consistent with literature provided by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) which suggests that courtship of great horned owls occurs in January, and then nesting activity occurs from February through June (Raptor Monitoring Guidebook, CPW). Great horned owls brood Eggs Hatch Fledge* 1. 2/5-2/11 1. Aprx 3/12 1. 4/23 2. 2/12-2/18 2. Aprx 3/19 2. 4/30-5/1 3. 2/15-2/21 3. Aprx 3/22 3. 5/3 4. 2/18-2/24 4. Aprx 3/25 4. 5/6 3 for 21-28 days post hatch, fledging occurs 40-50 days post hatch, and then post fledge dependency to the nest occurs for another 7-14 days (D. Klute, CPW). A recommended buffer zone for these and other urban raptors is 200 meters during nesting activities (BLM Guide to Raptor Conservation in the western United States, pg. 61). However, since this owl species is more urban-adapted than many other raptors, a smaller buffer could potentially be tolerated. Due to regular wildlife use of the habitat features on the property, especially the irrigation ditch and the FRCC nature trail along this ditch, CHHOA and the City of Fort Collins both agree that the development property is a wildlife corridor. A wildlife corridor is defined as an area of natural habitat that serves as a conduit for wildlife movement between known wildlife reservoirs that have been fragmented by human activities. We have a large wildlife reservoir just to the west of Shields in the Cathy Fromme Prairie. The wildlife is drawn into Clarendon Hills (CH) from the Cathy Fromme Prairie via Fossil Creek. They utilize the cover and food sources provided by the irrigation canal and retention ponds within the CH neighborhood. Significant wildlife activity can be seen along the irrigation canal south of FRCC all the way to Ridgeview Park and beyond. A map has been submitted to the City showing the connectivity and is included here by reference (Dr. Raymond Watts, “Terrestrial Wildlife Corridors near Front Range Community College, Larimer Campus in a Landscape Context”, 2013). In essence, the wildlife corridor runs through the proposed development property and also along the FRCC nature trail. 2. Comments on the Ecological Characterization Study: The ecological characterization study (ECS) conducted by Wildland Consultants, Inc. was done at the request and initiative of FRCC. CHHOA greatly appreciates this exercise, which was not a City of Fort Collins requirement, but was in keeping with the intentions of the CHHOA and the warranty deed that restricts development and use on the proposed property. We appreciate that the ECS acknowledges the irrigation ditch as an urban wildlife corridor. We have specific comments and requests that should be addressed for the ECS to be a robust and interpretable assessment of the property’s ecological value. 4 1.) When were the observations of species use made? No dates are provided, so it is unclear how many visits were made, and what the environmental conditions were during those visits. PLEASE PROVIDE DATES AND WHETHER MIGRATORY SPECIES WOULD HAVE BEEN OBSERVED IN THOSE SAMPLE DATES. 2.) Was staff from FRCC’s own Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Natural Resources consulted in regards to the habitat quality and wildlife use of the ditch? This department and its students have conducted a number of observational studies on the nature trail and on the nesting owls. PLEASE PROVIDE A LIST OF CONTACTS CONSULTED TO ASSESS WILDLIFE USE. 3.) There is no mention that the proposed development site is currently under MAJOR disturbance due to the pipeline staging area that Xcel Energy has constructed on the south side of the ditch. IF WILDLIFE OBSERVATIONS AND ASSESSMENTS WERE MADE DURING A PERIOD OF DISTURBANCE, THIS MUST BE NOTED. Otherwise, there is no context to the limited findings presented in the ECS. 4.) The ECS states “There are no known raptor nests on the development site or adjacent areas” (Section 3.1). PLEASE CORRECT THIS TO REFLECT THE FACT THAT TO DATE, THERE HAVE BEEN NESTING RAPTORS (great horned owls) annually nesting along the corridor. Owls (Strigiformes) are classified as raptors by both state (Colorado Parks and Wildlife) and federal (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) agencies. 5.) The ECS states: “The unnamed south irrigation ditch provides a narrow wildlife movement corridor that is generally limited to the development site” (Section 3.2). An analysis of wildlife movement potential shows that animals can move from the Cathy Fromme Prairie, through the irrigation ditch corridor and CH neighborhood, and back to Cathy Fromme (see “Terrestrial Wildlife Corridors near Front Range Community College, Larimer Campus in a Landscape Context”, 2013, Dr. R. Watts). THE ECS SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT the FRCC’s OWN NATURE TRAIL and 5 GREENBELT are an EXTENSION of this WILDLIFE CORRIDOR. The proposed development site is not a stand-alone site, as the ECS contends. 3. Actions needed to protect the corridor and local biodiversity: Disruption of this wildlife corridor, and failure to preserve the special and significant habitat features associated with this corridor, will disrupt local wildlife movement and diminish the localized biodiversity of surrounding neighborhoods and of FRCC property. As such, we ask the City of Fort Collins to work with FRCC on buffer rules and best practices for development and timing of construction to minimize development disturbance along this corridor. FRCC has already demonstrated good faith with proposed buffer widths, providing a 100 ft buffer from the center of the ditch to protect wildlife use (reduced physical impacts). These buffers need to be adjusted to run from the ditch edge, not the center of the ditch, to be consistent with City recommendations. The FRCC should also consider directional parking lot lighting to reduce interference of nocturnal use of the corridor. In addition, construction activities should be limited to periods that do not interfere with raptor nesting behaviors. Specifically, construction should not occur within 200 meters of the owl nests from January 1 through June to allow for successful mating, brooding, fledging and post-fledge activities. Finally, we ask FRCC and the City of Fort Collins to work jointly with the Clarendon Hills and Coventry neighborhoods to preserve this unique urban wildlife corridor which adds value to all entities and to the public. Specifically, we ask that the City designate the area as having special habitat features for wildlife (the large trees, snags and downed woody debris) and that the FRCC work with CHHOA to maintain (or even improve!) these habitat features for long-term wildlife use. Respectfully submitted by the Clarendon Hills Wildlife Team, on behalf of the Clarendon Hills Home Owners Association and homeowners, including 289 petitioners to protect the corridor. October 29, 2013 Lead contact for CHHOA: Ingrid and Mark Layman, Ingrid.Layman@aastarship.com 6 APPENDIX A: SPECIES LIST ON THE PROPERTY AVIFAUNA (Raptors) 1 Great horned owl (nesting pair for the last decade) 2 Swainson’s hawk (nesting pair, until nest pruned out) 3 Sharp-shinned hawk 4 Coopers hawk 5 Prairie falcon* 6 Bald eagle (winter perch, flyovers) 7 Merlin falcon 8 American kestrel 9 Red-tailed hawk (Residents and migratory passerines) 10 American crow 11 American goldfinch 12 American robin 13 American tree sparrow 14 American white pelican (flyover) 15 Barn swallow 16 Black-billed magpie 17 Black-capped chickadee 18 Blue jay 19 Bohemian waxwing 20 Broad-tailed hummingbird 21 Canada goose (nesting) 22 Cedar waxwing 23 Common grackle 24 Common nighthawk (flyover) 25 Common raven 26 Dark-eyed junco 27 Downy woodpecker 28 Eurasian collared dove 29 European starling 30 Great blue heron (flyover) 31 Hairy woodpecker 32 Horned lark 33 House finch 7 34 House sparrow 35 Killdeer 36 Lazuli bunting 37 Mallard 38 Meadowlark 39 Mountain chickadee 40 Mourning dove 41 Nighthawk 42 Northern flicker 43 Red-breasted nuthatch 44 Red-winged blackbird 45 Ring-billed gull 46 Rock pigeon 47 Rough-legged hawk 48 Rufous hummingbird 49 Sandhill crane (flyover) 50 Scrub jay 51 Steller’s jay 52 Townsend’s solitaire 53 Tree swallow 54 Turkey Vulture 55 Western Kingbird 56 Western meadowlark 57 Western tanager 58 White-breasted nuthatch 59 White-crowned sparrow 60 Yellow warbler HERPETOFAUNA 61 Bull snakes 62 Common garter snake 63 Plains garter snake 64 Prairie rattlesnake* MAMMALS 65 Big brown bat 66 Other bat species 67 Black bear 68 Bobcat* 69 Cottontail rabbit 70 Coyote 8 71 Deer mouse 72 Gray fox* 73 Mountain lion* 74 Mule deer* 75 Raccoon 76 Red fox 77 Red fox squirrel 78 Striped skunk 79 Meadow vole AQUATIC SPECIES 80 Crayfish 81 Aquatic beetles 82 Hemipterans (water striders, etc.) 83 Tiger salamander *: Species with asterisks are seen less frequently Bird list primarily compiled by Alan Godwin, 4801 Langdale Ct., using the City of Fort Collins “CHECKLIST OF LOCAL BIRDS” format. File: BirdList10-15-2013 Additional bird, mammal and herptile species compiled by: neighbors bordering the property, wildlife biologists, ecological researchers and consultants, wildlife veterinarians, environmental engineers, and master birders who are homeowners in Clarendon Hills; Colorado Parks and Wildlife; and Front Range Community College Forestry, Wildlife and Natural Resources Department. Please contact Dr. Nicole Vieira or Mark Vieira for further information: Dr. Nicole Vieira, Assistant Professor Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology Department Nicole.vieira@colostate.edu Mark Vieira, Wildlife Biologist Colorado Parks and Wildlife Mark.vieira@state.co.us 9 Watching the owl nest! Hello Clarendon Hills, FRCC Expansion, impact on wildlife corridor Petition to Preserve and Protect Wildlife Diversity in Clarendon Hills Front Range Community College is rapidly moving towards the construction of a parking lot on the north side of the irrigation ditch located in the empty field South of the College We are concerned about the impact this will have on our neighborhood wildlife, and more regionally, on the biodiversity of south Fort Collins wildlife. The goal of this petition is to drive the parking lot as far north as possible and simultaneously preserve as much of the area in its natural state as possible. A wildlife corridor is defined as an area of natural habitat that serves as a conduit for wildlife movement between known wildlife reservoirs that have been fragmented by human activities. We have a large wildlife reservoir just to the west of Shields in the Cathy Fromme Prairie. The wildlife is drawn into Clarendon Hills from the Cathy Fromme Prairie via Fossil Creek. They utilize the cover and food sources provided by the irrigation canal and detention ponds. Significant wildlife activity can be seen along the irrigation canal south of FRCC all the way to Ridgeview Park and beyond. Disruption of this corridor, or failure to preserve a wide swatch of natural landscape, will disrupt local wildlife movement, detract from the beauty of our neighborhood, and diminish the biodiversity of our wild visitors. Clarendon Hills has many environmental experts and wildlife enthusiasts. From amateur birdwatchers and nature photographers to professional wildlife biologists, naturalists, and veterinarians; our neighborhood values these natural visitors. The sheer number of bird feeders, butterfly gardens, and wildlife-friendly yards reinforce this fact. We have reports of a very diverse and healthy wildlife population in this area. (See Appendix A overleaf) We fear that the expansion of FRCC will greatly diminish, if not eliminate, this amazing biodiversity and quality of life in our neighborhood. This petition documents Clarendon Hills’ desire to preserve as much of the property south of FRCC in its natural state as possible and to protect and preserve the wildlife corridor. By signing this petition you are stating your desire to support and minimize the impact of the planned FRCC parking lot development to our wild visitors. Thank you for your support. Please protect the wildlife corridor on the vacant lot south of FRCC. Address: _______________________________________________ Signed: ________________________________________ Date: ____________ Printed Name: __________________________________ Signed: ________________________________________ Date: ____________ Printed Name: __________________________________ Appendix A: Species sightings in Clarendon Hills neighborhood 1. Red fox 2. Gray fox 3. Raccoon 4. Striped skunk 5. Red fox squirrel 6. Coyote 7. Bats 8. Cottontail rabbits 9. Field mice 10. Voles 11. Mule deer 12. Bobcat 13. Mountain lion 14. Common garter snake 15. Plains garter snake 16. Bull snakes 17. Prairie rattlesnakes 18. Crayfish 19. Western tanagers 20. Broad tailed hummingbirds 21. Rufous hummingbirds 22. Black-chinned hummingbirds 23. Grackles 24. Red-winged blackbirds 25. Blue jays 26. Scrub jays 27. Flickers 28. Downy woodpeckers 29. Chickadees 30. Juncos 31. Warblers 32. Mourning doves 33. American kestrels 34. Red tailed hawks 35. Swainson’s hawks 36. Sharp-shinned hawks 37. Coopers hawks 38. Ravens 39. Crows 40. Lazuli buntings 41. Bald eagles 42. Prairie falcons 43. Mallard ducks 44. Canada geese 45. Nuthatches 46. Great blue heron 47. Rock doves 48. Magpies 49. Meadowlark 50. Nighthawks 51. Cedar waxwings 52. Great horned owls