HomeMy WebLinkAboutBROOKFIELD SECOND FILING, TRACTS D & E - PDP/FDP - FDP150025 - REPORTS - RECOMMENDATION/REPORT W/ATTACHMENTS (8)August 31, 2015
Jason W. Sherrill, CEO
Landmark Homes
1170 West Ash Street, Suite 100
Windsor, Colorado 80550
RE: Updated Ecological Characterization Study (ECS) Letter Report for Brookfield Tracts D and E, Fort Collins,
Colorado
Mr. Sherrill:
This letter report is submitted to satisfy 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 Brookfield Tracts D and E. Brookfield Tracts D and E is
a 6.12-acre site is located at the southeast corner of Le Fever Drive and Brookfield Drive between Brookfield
Drive and the Fossil Creek Reservoir Inlet Canal in Fort Collins, Colorado (see Figure 1). Ecological
characteristics of the property were reviewed on August 27, 2015. 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 entire Brookfield parcel was historically converted from native grassland to non-native grassland and
alfalfa hayfield. Currently, former alfalfa hayfield areas have been converted to recently plowed bare ground
and disturbed areas dominated by annual weedy species. Dominant habitats currently supported in the project
area are Plowed/Bare, Disturbed/Weedy, and Non-native Grassland habitats (see Figure 2). A small portion of
the project area has also been previously developed (see Figure 2). A thin strip of wetlands is supported along
the edge of the Fossil Creek Reservoir Inlet Canal, and a narrow extension of these wetlands extends from the
canal up into a small ravine at the southeast property corner (see Figure 2 and Section (b)). Project area
habitats are not native communities, and as a result, the majority of the project area has low ecological value
and supports no natural habitat features.
Recently plowed areas support no vegetation cover, and a former prairie dog town in the northwest corner of the
property has been eliminated. Property north of Brookfield Tracts D and E had also been recently plowed,
although a few active prairie dog burrows were noted in the area to the north of the Brookfield parcel. Photo 1
provides a view of Plowed/Bare habitat.
Disturbed/Weedy areas have been cleared of native vegetation primarily as a result of construction staging and
excess soil storage for adjacent residential developments. This disturbed area is dominated entirely by weedy
species including: cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum1), field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), kochia (Bassia
scoparia), prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola), curly dock (Rumex crispus), prickly Russian thistle (Salsola tragus),
nestseed lambsquarters (Chenopodium berlandieri), and common sunflower (Helianthus annuus). Another
Disturbed/Weedy area exists in a small ravine at the southeast property corner (see Figure 2). This ravine is
dominated by smooth brome, Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), musk thistle (Carduus nutans), curly dock, and
field bindweed, except for the very bottom of the ravine, which supports a narrow strip of wetlands connected to
the wetland strip along the Fossil Creek Reservoir Inlet Canal (see Figure 2 and Section (b)). Woody vegetation
is nonexistent except for a non-native hazelnut tree (Corylus cornuta). Photos 2, 3, 4 provide views of
Disturbed/Weedy habitat.
1 Scientific nomenclature follows USDA, NRCS Plants Database. Available online at: http://plants.usda.gov/java/
J. Sherrill
8/31/15
Page 2 of 4
The Fossil Creek Reservoir Inlet Canal is a constructed waterway that carries irrigation water from the Cache la
Poudre River to Fossil Creek Reservoir. The canal and the associated Non-native Grassland slope on the west
side provide the only wildlife habitat of any value on or adjacent to the property. The Non-native Grassland
slope habitat along the west side of the ditch is vegetated primarily by non-native smooth brome (Bromus
inermis) and field bindweed. Woody vegetation is nonexistent in this habitat area. Photos 5 and 6 provide
views of Non-native Grassland Habitat and the Fossil Creek Reservoir Inlet Canal, respectively.
Dense grass cover along the slope of Non-native Grassland Habitat provides terrestrial habitat for occasional
use by species such as red fox, raccoon, striped skunk, cottontail rabbit, mice, voles, and possibly deer while
aquatic habitat in the canal provides resting and loafing habitat for a few species of dabbling ducks such as
mallard and green-winged teal.
(b) According to the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) soils mapping for the Brookfield Tracts D
and E project area (http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx), the predominant soil on the
property is Nunn clay loam. Two other soil mapping units exist along the slope that runs along the west side of
the Fossil Creek Reservoir Inlet Canal. These are Larimer-Stoneham complex, 3 to 10 percent and Larim
gravely sandy loam, 5 to 40 percent slopes. These three soil mapping units are not classified as wetland
(hydric) soils by the NRCS, and there was no evidence of wetland hydrology or wetland vegetation over the
majority of the project area.
As indicated, the only wetlands in the project area exist in a narrow strips along the Fossil Creek Reservoir Inlet
Canal banks and in the bottom of a small ravine at the southeast property corner (see Figure 2). Reed
canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) is the dominant wetland species supported in these wetlands. The ravine
wetland appears to supported by a small seep that drains into the Fossil Creek Reservoir Inlet Canal from the
bottom of the ravine. This wetland lacks any surface water and is too small to be of any significant value as an
important wildlife habitat area. It does provide minor amounts of additional tall grass cover for wildlife and some
additional water filtering capacity for ravine runoff water into the Fossil Creek Reservoir Inlet Canal. Photos 4
and 6 provide views of the ravine wetland and the Fossil Creek Reservoir Inlet Canal wetlands, respectively.
(c) Brookfield Tracts D and E provide relatively unobstructed views of the Front Range foothills.
(d) As indicated under (a & i) Brookfield Tracts D & E does not support any native vegetation, and only one
possible significant tree is located in the ravine at the southeast property corner.
(e) There are no natural drainages on or near Brookfield Tracts D and E. Fossil Creek Reservoir Inlet Canal is a
constructed irrigation feature that runs along the property’s eastern property boundary.
(f) There is no suitable habitat for any threatened, endangered, or other sensitive species on or adjacent to the
Brookfield Tracts D and E. Black-tailed prairie dogs have been previously eliminated from the property, and a
possible fox den, documented by a 2000 ECS Report for the property could not be located during the August 27,
2015 survey. Residential development south of Brookfield Tracts D and E and disturbance and ground clearing
activities on Brookfield Tracts D and E and adjacent properties to the north and west has likely reduced the
suitability for fox foraging and denning activities in these areas.
(g) Past disturbance and land clearing activities of the lands on Brookfield Tracts D and E has eliminated the
potential for any special habitat features on the property except for the Fossil Creek Reservoir Inlet Canal and
associated wetlands. One native eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) grows just south of the southeast
property corner, and one non-native hazelnut tree is supported in the bottom of the small ravine at the southeast
property corner. This tree is multi-trunked, ranging in size from 6 to 8 inches diameter. The presence of this
tree is somewhat unusual since this species is no often found along the Front Range. The City Forester will
need to make a determination if this tree meets the City’s significance criteria.
J. Sherrill
8/31/15
Page 3 of 4
(h) The Fossil Creek Reservoir Inlet Canal adjacent to the Brookfield parcel serves as a wildlife movement
corridor, and a 50-foot buffer would apply to this feature as stipulated in the Buffer Zone Table in Section 3.4.1
of the Land Use Code. Overall terrestrial habitat value along the canal and the suitability of the canal as a
wildlife movement corridor is somewhat limited because of the general lack of woody vegetation cover. In
addition, the value of the canal as a wildlife movement corridor is restricted by breaks in its continuity between
natural areas. The north end of the canal is connected to the Cache la Poudre River riparian corridor over 3.5
miles to the north of the project area, but south of the river and north of the property it passes through culvert
crossings under Horsetooth Road and Harmony Road as well as developed land and extensive areas of
agricultural land. The cement box culvert under Harmony Road is typically filled wall to wall with flowing water
during growing season and does not provide a suitable movement passage under Harmony Road for terrestrial
wildlife species. South of the property the canal continues through primarily pastureland and cropland before
emptying into Fossil Creek Reservoir, approximately 1 mile to the south. The ditch is in close proximity to and
crosses under County Road 7 through another cement box culvert south of the project area. The value of the
canal corridor as aquatic habitat for waterbirds is also minimized by fluctuating water levels and steep side
banks that restrict the development of adjacent wetlands and areas suitable for foraging and nesting by most
waterbirds.
(j) Because of the lack of natural habitat features in Brookfield Tracts D and E there are no issues regarding the
timing of property development and ecological features or wildlife use of the project area.
(k) Since the entire project area has been converted to Non-native Grassland, Plowed/ Bare, Disturbed/Weedy,
and Developed habitats, project development would have no impact on natural habitats or important habitat
features, other than wetlands and the hazelnut tree. A 50-foot buffer for the Fossil Creek Reservoir Inlet Canal
wildlife movement corridor would also apply to and protect wetlands along the canal. Portions of the small
ravine wetland, as well as the hazelnut tree are outside of the 50-foot buffer for the Fossil Creek Reservoir Inlet
Canal, but no development would occur in or near the small ravine, and these habitat features would remain
undisturbed.
Currently most of the Fossil Creek Reservoir Inlet Canal 50-foot buffer supports low quality Non-native
Grassland habitat. In keeping with Section E (2) of Section 3.4.1 of the Land Use Code, it is recommended that
native shrubs and trees be planted within the buffer zone to enhance habitat diversity within the buffer zone and
provide additional vegetation screening between Fossil Creek Reservoir Inlet Canal and proposed development.
Any additional plantings would need to be in compliance with the ditch companies’ maintenance requirements
for Fossil Creek Reservoir Inlet Canal. Other activities permitted in the buffer zone include the following from
Section E (2).
(c) The decision maker may allow disturbance or construction activity within the buffer zone for the
following limited purposes:
1. mitigation of development activities;
2. restoration of previously disturbed or degraded areas or planned enhancement projects to
benefit the natural area or feature;
3. emergency public safety activities;
4. utility installations when such activities and installations cannot reasonably be located
outside the buffer zone or other nearby areas of development;
5. construction of a trail or pedestrian walkway that will provide public access for educational or
recreational purposes provided that the trail or walkway is compatible with the ecological
character or wildlife use of the natural habitat or feature; and
6. construction or installation of recreation features or public park elements, provided that such
features or elements are compatible with the ecological character or wildlife use of the
natural habitat or feature.
J. Sherrill
8/31/15
Page 4 of 4
One final mitigation recommendation is based on Article 3.2.4(D)(6) in the City of Fort Collins Land Use Code,
which requires protection of natural areas and natural features from light spillage from off site sources.
Therefore, intensity of night lighting from the sides of structures facing the Fossil Creek Reservoir Inlet Canal
buffer zone should be shielded or directed to preclude the intrusion of artificial nighttime light into the landscaped
buffer zone and adjacent Fossil Creek Reservoir Inlet Canal corridor.
This concludes Cedar Creek Associates, Inc.’s evaluation of Brookfield Tracts D and E. 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: Figure 1, Location of Brookfield Tracts D and E
Figure 2, Habitat Mapping for Brookfield Tracts D and E
Photos 1-4
pc: M. Walker, The Birdsall Group