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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMOUNTAIN'S EDGE (FORMERLY 2430 OVERLAND TRAIL - RESIDENTIAL) - PDP - PDP160045 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - ECS REPORTJuly 8, 2016 Jeff Mark, President The Landhuis Company 212 N. Wahsatch Avenue, Suite 301 Colorado Springs, CO 80550 RE: Ecological Characterization Study (ECS) Letter Report for the Mountain’s Edge Development Parcel Mr. Mark: 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 proposed development projects. The Mountain’s Edge project site is located at 2430 S. Overland Trail at the northeast corner of S. Overland Trail and W. Drake Road in northwest Fort Collins. The project site occupies approximately 20 acres in the southwest ¼ of the southwest ¼ of Section 21 (Township 7 North, Range 69 West). The project location is displayed on Figure 1. Ecological characteristics of the property were reviewed and evaluated on July 1, 2016. The field survey was conducted to characterize existing wildlife habitats, as well as identify any unique or sensitive natural resource features. Prior to the initiation of the field survey, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) soils mapping (http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx) was reviewed to determine if any known hydric (wetland) or highly erosive soil mapping units are located on the property. Observations recorded during the field evaluation included: major vegetation communities / wildlife habitats present within the property; dominant vegetation associated with each community / habitat; unique habitat features; and observations of wildlife species and/or definitive sign. Photographs showing representative views of existing habitats were also taken to document site conditions. Wildlife presence and habitat use was based on on- site observations and habitat presence in conjunction with the known habitat requirements of potential wildlife species. 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 ecological information required by Fort Collins Land Use Code under 3.4.1 (D) (1) items (a) through (k). ECOLOGICAL STUDY CHARACTERIZATION CHECKLIST (a & i) Topography of the project site is gently to moderately sloping to the southeast except for the northern quarter that slopes to the north toward the drive-in theater. Surrounding land uses and habitats include non- native grassland open space, residential development, roadways, drive-in movie theater, and an electric distribution substation. The only sensitive habitat areas or features on or near the property are mature trees and the remnant Dixon Creek drainage. Most of the project surface area has been converted to non-native grassland and areas of past disturbance dominated by weedy species. Existing habitats on the project site consist of non-native/native grassland, non-native grassland/shrubland, residential/disturbed with trees, and disturbed/weed dominated areas (see attached Figure 1). Non-native/Native Grassland and Non-native Grassland/Shrubland Habitats. Non-native/native grassland and non-native grassland/shrubland habitats are similar except that non-native grassland shrubland habitat supports higher concentrations of rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa), although this species is present in both habitats. In non-native/native grassland and non-native grassland shrubland habitats, smooth brome (Bromus inermis1), cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), sheep fescue (Festuca ovina), and crested wheatgrass are the dominant non-native grass species. Common, but less dominant non-native 1 Scientific nomenclature for plants follows USDA, NRCS Plants Database. Available online at: http://plants.usda.gov/java/ J. Mark 7/8/16 Page 2 of 5 grass species present are needle-and-thread (Hesperostipa comata), western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), and purple three-awn (Aristida purpurea). Common weedy species noted throughout both non- native/native grassland and non-native grassland shrubland habitats included field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), cheatgrass, false salsify (Scorzonera laciniata), common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), tumble mustard (Sisymbrium altissimum), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), flixweed (Descurainia sophia), common mullein (Verbascum thapsus), common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), smallseed false flax (Camelina microcarpa), Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica), prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola), white horehound (Marrubium vulgare), and musk thistle (Carduus nutans). Remnant native prairie species, other than grasses, observed in non-native/native grassland and non-native grassland shrubland habitats included slimflower scurfpea (Psoralidium tenuiflorum), prairie clover (Dalea purpurea), prairie sagewort (Artemisia frigida), white sagebrush (Artemisia ludoviciana), Mexican hat (Ratibida columnifera), narrow-leafed penstemon (Penstemon angustifolia), soapweed (Yucca glauca), pricklypear cactus (Opuntia polyacantha), and prickly poppy (Argemone polyanthemos). Woody vegetation in these two habitats is restricted to scattered stands of rubber rabbitbrush. Photos 1, 2, and 3 provide representative views of non-native/native grassland and non-native grassland/shrubland habitats. Non-native/native grassland and non-native grassland/shrubland habitats have been converted by past land use practices to ground dominated primarily by non-native and annual weed species. These areas were likely formerly grazed by livestock. Removal of livestock and a lack of seasonal mowing for hay production increases the diversity and height of vegetation cover and permits the continued presence of shrub cover dominated by rubber rabbitbrush. These grassland-dominated areas provide suitable habitat conditions for small mammals such as deer mouse, prairie vole, and northern pocket gopher and open grassland associated bird species like western meadowlark, horned lark, western kingbird, and Brewer’s blackbird. No evidence of prairie dog presence was found on the project area, and the height and density of current grass cover is sufficient to discourage prairie dog colonization of the property. Open-country raptors including red- tailed hawk, Swainson’s hawk, northern harrier, American kestrel, and great horned owl as well as mammals like coyote, striped skunk, raccoon, and red fox may occasionally hunt these habitats. Mule deer may also occasionally wander into the project area from undeveloped land west of S. Overland Trail. Three plots of deer-sized flattened grass indicated possible bedding on the property by mule deer. Western meadowlark and eastern cottontail were the only species observed in grassland habitats during the field survey. Disturbed/Weedy and Residential/Disturbed Habitats. These areas appeared to have been more recently disturbed by livestock use, poor land use practices and/or the removal of outbuildings, corrals and other ranching facilities. Currently one occupied rental home, garage, and small sheds are the only building remaining. As a result, annual weeds such as cheatgrass, field bindweed, flixweed, tumble mustard, and common mullein dominate vegetation cover. These weeds are also dominant in the abandoned trash trench site and the remnant segment of the Dixon Creek drainage (see Photos 4 and 5). One site, disturbed/excavated, may have been used for grain storage in the past since it supported a small, dense stand of wheat at the time of the field survey. The residential/disturbed area also supports a number of non- native trees that were planted in association with the existing residence or have established as volunteer plants from seeds of nearby trees. Many of the trees are sapling-sized and/or are in poor condition. Only one tree (eastern cottonwood) is native. A few native chokecherry and wild plum shrubs are also present. Table 1 provides a listing of trees in the residential/disturbed area and within the S. Overland Trail right-of- way adjacent to the project area. Wildlife habitat value is very low in the disturbed/weedy areas because of the lack of native vegetation, dominance by annual weeds, and low vegetation species diversity. The principal wildlife habitat value of the residential/disturbed area is provided by the trees (see Photo 6) that may be used year round and/or seasonally for perching, foraging, and nesting by a variety of songbird and other avian species. Avian species possibly using these trees include downy woodpecker, western kingbird, black-billed magpie, black- capped chickadee, house sparrow, house wren, American robin, northern flicker, mourning dove, and house finch, among others. However, the only avian species observed on the property were northern flicker, American robin, house sparrow, and western kingbird. The poor quality and small size of many of these J. Mark 7/8/16 Page 3 of 5 trees, as well as the proximity of a roadway and residential activities, may limit their overall habitat value. No evidence of nesting use was observed in any of the trees on the property. Table 1 Approximate Number of Trees and Their Size Range in the Mountain’s Edge Project Area Species Number Size Range (dbh) Comments Residential/Disturbed Area with Trees Siberian elm, Ulmus pumila 7 > 6” non-native; 1 dead Siberian elm, Ulmus pumila several < 6” non-native Green ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica 13 > 6” non-native; 1 dead Green ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica 9 < 6” non-native Eastern cottonwood, Populus deltoides 1 > 6” native Apple, Malus pumila 1 < 6” non-native Eastern cottonwood, Populus deltoides 1 > 6”” native Black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia several < 6” non-native Black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia 1 > 6” non-native S. Overland Trail Right-of-way Siberian elm, Ulmus pumila several < 6” non-native Siberian elm, Ulmus pumila 7 > 6” non-native Black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia several < 6” non-native (b) NRCS, soils mapping for the project area (http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx), indicates Altvan-Satanta loams, 0 to 3 percent slopes and 3 to 9 percent slopes underlie the entire project area. These soils are not classified as hydric (wetland) soils by the NRCS, and both are deep and well drained. Runoff is slow to medium and the hazards of wind and water erosion are slight to moderate. No problem erosion areas were noted on the property during the field survey. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requires evidence of three wetland parameters (hydric soils, wetland hydrology, and wetland vegetation) to be met for wetland determination. No indicators of any of these wetland parameters were found on the property. The Dixon Creek drainage is dominated by smooth brome, cheatgrass, and field bindweed (see Photo 4), all of which are upland associated species. Another indicator of the lack of surface and subsurface moisture in this drainage is the completed lack of any woody riparian species in the drainage. (c) The project area provides a prominent view of a portion of the Front Range foothills and the face of one of the Horsetooth Reservoir dams (see Photo 2). (d) As indicated under (a & i) the project area supports only remnant pockets of native prairie vegetation, and significant trees are restricted to the farmstead area. Trees on the property will need to be inventoried by the City Forester to determine significance potential and possible need for mitigation, if trees would be removed by development. Even non-significant or undesirable, non-native tree species provide some wildlife habitat, and mitigation may be required for trees lost to development. (e) The one drainage on the property, Dixon Creek, no longer functions as a natural drainage since upstream water flow in this drainage has been cut off by the creation of Horsetooth Reservoir and Dixon Reservoir. This remnant section of Dixon Creek does not support any wetlands or riparian habitat and does not exhibit any defined channel characteristics of an active drainage (see Photo 4). The drainage does have hydrologic J. Mark 7/8/16 Page 4 of 5 connection to a culvert under W. Drake Road and may occasionally provide tributary flow downstream to Spring Creek after heavy rainfall events. Buffer zones established for this drainage would be sufficient to protect water quality of runoff in the drainage that may reach Spring Creek. (f) There is no suitable habitat for any threatened, endangered, or other sensitive species on or adjacent to the project area. No other sensitive or ecologically important species are likely to use the property since the majority of its surface has been converted from native habitats to non-native grassland and weed-dominated habitats. (g) Past removal of most native habitat has eliminated the potential for any special habitat features on the property other than some of the trees, which may by classified as significant by the City Forester. (h) The remnant Dixon Creek drainage provides a possible continuous wildlife movement connection from Dixon Reservoir and the Front Range Foothills to the Spring Creek drainage and is interrupted only by Overland Trail, Drake Road, and Yorkshire Street. Therefore, the stipulation of a 50-foot wildlife movement corridor buffer in Section 3.4.1 of the Land Use Code would apply to this feature. The 50-foot buffer should be measured from the top of bank on both sides of the Dixon Creek drainage. (j) There is one issue regarding the timing of property development and ecological features or wildlife use of the project area. If the development proposal includes removal of any trees on the property or if construction occurs near an occupied bird nest during the raptor or songbird nesting season (February through July), these activities could result in the loss or abandonment of a nest and would be in violation of the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. No evidence of 2016 avian nesting activity was documented during the July 1, 2016 survey, but if initiation of the planned development extends into the 2017-nesting season, a follow-up nest survey may be necessary to confirm lack of nesting. (k) Since most of the project area has been converted from native grass and shrubland habitats to non- native grassland and weedy habitats, project development would have no impact on natural habitats or important habitat features, other than existing trees on the property. The remnant section of the Dixon Creek drainage would remain in place and be protected by the 50-foot buffer zone planned for each side of this feature. The Dixon Creek drainage could be further enhanced by control of weedy, undesirable species and plantings of upland native trees and shrubs. These plantings could also be used to mitigate significant and wildlife trees lost to the proposed development. Loss of trees classified as significant would need to be mitigated with replacement trees as per Section 3.2.1 (F) of the Land Use Code. Wildlife habitat quality in the Dixon Creek buffer zone could be enhanced by plantings of upland native shrub and tree species. Control and removal of weedy species such as Canada thistle, cheatgrass, tumble mustard, Dalmatian toadflax, and ragweed would also enhance existing habitat conditions. Native woody plantings would increase habitat diversity and provide additional visual screening between the proposed development and wildlife use of Dixon Creek wildlife movement corridor. The goal of plantings in the buffer zone should be to create a self-sustaining, native vegetation community to stabilize soils, improve runoff water quality, and enhance wildlife habitat. Buffer zone enhancement and planting plans should be coordinated with City Planning and Natural Resources staff. Supplemental irrigation may be required for initial establishment of shrubs, trees and herbaceous species. A weed management plan should be developed in concert with habitat enhancement plantings to minimize the development of non-desirable, invasive species in the buffer zone enhancement area. 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, the intensity of night lighting from the areas of development facing the Dixon Creek buffer zone and designated open space habitat should be shielded or directed to minimize the intrusion of artificial nighttime light into these areas. J. Mark 7/8/16 Page 5 of 5 This concludes Cedar Creek Associates, Inc.’s evaluation of the Mountain’s Edge project area. 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 pc: K. Turner-TBGroup attachments: Figure 1, Habitat Mapping for the Mountain’s Edge Project Area Photos 1 through 6 of the Mountain’s Edge Project Area