HomeMy WebLinkAboutNORTHFIELD FILING 1 EXPANDED - FDP190012 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - ECS REPORTSeptember 14, 2017
Jason Sherrill
Chief Executive Officer
Landmark Homes
1170 Ash Street, Suite 100
Windsor, CO 80550
RE: Ecological Characterization Study (ECS) Letter Report for the Proposed Northfield Development, Fort
Collins, Colorado
Jason:
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 Northfield
Property project site addressed by this report is a 56-acre parcel located west of Lindenmeier Road, North of the
future extension of East Suniga Road, and east of Lake Canal in the southeast ¼ of Section 1 (Township 7
North, Range 69 West) in Fort Collins, Colorado (see attached Figure 1). Proposed development consists of
472 single-family residences, community parks, and open space for detention. Ecological characteristics of the
property were evaluated on September 11, 2017.
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 information required by Fort Collins Land Use Code under 3.4.1 (D) (1)
items (a) through (l).
ECOLOGICAL STUDY CHARACTERIZATION CHECKLIST
(a & j) Existing habitats on the property consist almost entirely of grass/alfalfa hayfield with a few exceptions.
Aside from grass/alfalfa hayfield there is a linear strip of disturbed/grass/weedy habitat associated with the past
construction of a pipeline through the southern portion of the property. In addition, there is a strip of
disturbed/weedy habitat associated with the ditch berm and non-cultivated area along the east side of Lake
Canal (see attached Figure 1). The Lake Canal right-of-way is located immediately adjacent to the western
property boundary. Lake Canal is a below grade irrigation ditch, and as a result, wetlands associated with the
canal are restricted primarily to the inner bank slopes of the canal. There are only two small areas where
sandbar willow dominated wetlands extend beyond the top of the canal’s east bank (see attached Figure 1). The
majority of the property’s surface has been planted to non-native grass, primarily smooth brome (Bromus
inermis), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa1) for hay production (see attached Figure 1).
1 Scientific nomenclature follows USDA, NRCS Plants Database. Available online at: http://plants.usda.gov/java/
J. Sherrill
9/14/17
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Less dominant vegetation species recorded in grass/alfalfa hayfield included Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense),
field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), kochia (Bassia scoparia), prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola), leafy spurge
(Euphorbia esula), yellow salsify (Tragopogon dubius), and common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).
Attached Photo 1 provides a representative view of grass/alfalfa hayfield.
The ditch berm area along the east side of Lake Canal has been disturbed by ditch management activities and
past dumping of rock and plant refuse and is dominated primarily by annual and perennial weedy species
including: kochia, field bindweed, cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), prickly Russian thistle (Salsola tragus),
buffalobur (Solanum rostratum), pitseed goosefoot (Chenopodium berlandieri), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus
retroflexus), flixweed (Descurainia sophia), American licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota), common mallow (Malva
neglecta), puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris), and common mullein (Verbascum thapsus). Photos 2 and 3
provide views of Lake Canal and the adjacent, weed-dominated, berm area.
The pipeline corridor passing through the southern portion of the project area was recently constructed and the
construction corridor is mostly bare of vegetation except for scattered stands of weeds and minor amounts of
grasses seeded for revegetation of the corridor. Photo 4 provides a representative view of the pipeline corridor.
Woody species growing on or near the project area are restricted to trees growing along Lake Canal and
landscape trees on adjacent residential properties (see attached Figure 1). There are also a small number of
rubber rabbitbrush shrubs supported with the Lake Canal berm area. The remainder of the project supports only
herbaceous species because cultivation for hay production. Trees along Lake Canal are mostly over 6 inches in
diameter and may be classified by the City Forester as significant based on the Fort Collins Land Use Code.
The City Forester or a private arborist will need to evaluate the health of these trees in order for their
significance status to be determined or if they pose a safety hazard to proposed development.
Aside from potentially significant trees and Lake Canal with its associated small wetland areas, the project area
and adjacent areas of undeveloped land support little native vegetation and no other unique habitat features or
habitats of high ecological value. Grass/alfalfa hayfield and disturbed, weed-dominated, non-native habitats
support no natural habitat features and have minimal ecological and wildlife habitat value. Wildlife habitat value
of the project area is very low because of past clearing of the site, dominance by non-native grass and weedy
species and seasonal mowing for hay production. Mice, voles, cottontail rabbit, and a few urban-adapted
songbirds such as house sparrow, American robin, and western meadowlark are typical species associated with
project area habitats. Canada geese grass may also occasionally graze hayfield habitats. Trees on the
property could be used for perching, nesting, and foraging by raptors and urban-adapted songbirds. However,
the field survey did not find any evidence of past nesting use (stick nests) by songbirds or raptors in trees on or
adjacent to the property. The project site does not support any prairie dog towns, and the field survey found no
evidence (burrows, mounds, etc.) of past prairie dog use of the property.
(b) Although the northern two-thirds of the project area is occupied by Loveland clay loam and Nunn clay loam,
wet soils, which are classified as hydric (wetland) soils by the NRCS, no evidence of wetland hydrology or
wetland vegetation was found in the project area other than within and immediately adjacent to the Lake Canal
embankments. Wetlands within and adjacent to Lake Canal were not delineated since project development
would not impact the ditch or adjacent wetlands. The thin strips of reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea)
dominated wetlands within Lake Canal and two small pockets of sandbar willow dominated wetlands extending
beyond the ditch banks (see attached Figure 1) were estimated to be well under 0.3 acre in size.
Lake Canal wetlands would likely be classified as Jurisdictional by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers since Lake
Canal originates from the Cache la Poudre River and discharges into Thompson Lake/Windsor Reservoir.
(c) The Northfield Property provides relatively unobstructed views of the Front Range foothills.
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(d & e) As indicated in Section a & j, the Northfield project area supports little native vegetation, and possible
significant trees and shrubs are restricted to the Lake Canal corridor (see Figure 1). Trees on the property will
need to be inventoried by the City Forester to determine significance potential and possible need for mitigation, if
trees need to be removed for development. The single Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila) tree is considered an
undesirable, invasive species, but even non-significant or undesirable, non-native tree species provide some
wildlife habitat, and mitigation may be required if this tree is lost to development (f) There are no natural
drainages on the Northfield Property. Lake Canal is a constructed water conveyance ditch used for irrigation
water distribution. The 50-foot buffer zone required by Section 3.4.1 of the Land Use Code (see Section i) for
this ditch would be sufficient to protect water quality in the ditch and maintain possible wildlife use of the ditch as
a movement corridor.
(g) There is no suitable habitat for threatened, endangered, or other sensitive species on or adjacent to the
Northfield Property.
(h) Past agricultural and residential conversion of the lands on the Northfield Property has eliminated the
potential for any special habitat features on the property, aside from the large trees and small wetland areas
along Lake Canal.
(i) Lake Canal along the west property edge represents the only possible wildlife movement corridor on or
adjacent to the Northfield Property. This ditch originates at the Cache la Poudre River approximately 0.75 mile
west of the project area and continues in a southeast direction passing by the south end of Cooper Slough and
the west side of Timnath Reservoir before finally discharging into Thomson Lake/Windsor Reservoir. So Lake
Canal does provide connection between these habitat areas, but crossings under Mulberry Street and Interstate
25 do create some physical barriers to the continuity of Lake Canal between these habitat features.
(k) Because of the lack of natural habitat features on the Northfield Property, there is only one issue regarding
the timing of property development and ecological features or wildlife use of the project area. If development
requires removal of any trees along Lake Canal or if construction occurs near an occupied bird nest during the
songbird nesting season (March through July), these activities could result in the loss or abandonment of a nest
and may be in violation of the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
(l) Since the entire project area has been converted to agricultural land use or is disturbed and dominated by
weedy species, project development would have no impact on natural habitats or important habitat features,
other than existing trees on the property, if removal is required. Current development plans call for a 50-foot
buffer for the Lake Canal corridor. This buffer meets Section 3.4.1 Land Use Code requirements to protect the
project area portion of the canal as a wildlife movement corridor. This buffer would also meet the City buffer
standard for wetlands less than 0.3 acres in size. It is recommended that existing native and non-native trees
and shrubs adjacent to the canal be preserved to the extent possible, unless they are in poor condition.
Removal of any trees classified as significant would need to be mitigated with replacement trees, as determined
by the City Forester based on the Land Use Code. Mitigation plantings of trees and shrubs would also be
appropriate within the ditch buffer zones as long as plantings are in compliance with ditch operation and
maintenance activities.
Supplemental irrigation may be required for initial establishment of shrubs, trees, and herbaceous species in the
buffer zone. 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.
Because tree removal or construction near trees during the nesting season could result in the loss or
abandonment of a nest, it is recommended that tree removal or construction near trees occur outside of the
nesting season (March – July 31), or trees be surveyed to ensure lack of nesting prior to removal or construction
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activities during the nesting season. This mitigation recommendation would preclude the possible incidental
take or disturbance of active songbird or raptor nests.
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 canal buffer zone should be
shielded or directed to minimize the intrusion of artificial nighttime light into this area.
This concludes Cedar Creek Associates, Inc.’s evaluation of the Northfield Property. If you have any questions
or require additional information regarding my evaluation, please give me a call.
Sincerely,
Cedar Creek Associates, Inc.
T. Michael Phelan
Principal, Senior Wildlife Biologist
attachments: Figure 1, Habitat Mapping for the Northfield Property and Photos 1-4
pc: M. Walker, The Birdsall Group