Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutLANDMARK APARTMENTS EXPANSION - FDP190002 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 3 - WETLANDS DOCUMENTSApril 6, 2019 Ms. Kim Berry Senior Project Manager Red Tail Acquisitions, LLC-TK Consulting, Inc. 2082 Michelson Drive, 3rd Floor Irvine, CA 92612 Re: Waters of the U. S. Delineation for the Landmark Apartments Project (Corps File No. NWO-2012- 2597-DEN Ms. Berry: I completed a wetland and other Waters of the U. S. delineation for the Landmark Apartments Project located in Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado. The project area is situated in the northwest 1/4 of Section 23, Township 7 North, Range 69 West (N 40.56572, W 105.09322, NAD 83) (see attached Figure 1). A previous wetland delineation for the project area was submitted to the Corps on October 30, 2012 (see Corps File No. NWQ-2012-2597). The objective of this project is to construct and rent market-rate apartments, including parking areas and a recreational trail connection. Current development plans indicate the only construction near the property drainage and associated wetlands would be a pedestrian footbridge crossing of the drainage. All other developments would be setback 50 feet from edge of wetlands as per on City of Fort Collins buffer requirements for wetlands. The objective of the delineation work is to fulfill the requirements of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act regarding the delineation of wetlands and other Waters of the U. S. prior to potential development activities. The site can be reached by traveling north from Denver on I-25 and exiting west on the Prospect Street exit. Continue west past South College Avenue, turn south on Shields Street, and then east on Hobbit Street to its current dead end at the southwest corner of the project site. Field Delineation Methodology Wetland delineation and sampling work for the wetlands and open water features within the project area were completed on April 5, 2019 using the methods and techniques specified for "routine on-site delineations" in the publication Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual (Department of the Army 1987), supplemented by the document Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Great Plains Region (Version 2.0). The project area was evaluated and potential wetland, transition zone, and upland vegetation communities were identified. Using the three-parameter approach via test hole characteristics, the wetland/upland boundaries were flagged. Formal sample point locations were then identified. Sample point locations were selected to represent typical wetland, upland, and upland transition zone conditions on site. At each sample point, percent total cover of dominant plant species was estimated. Species were then classed as OBL (obligate wetland species), FACW (facultative wetland species), FAC (facultative species), FACU (facultative upland species) or UPL (upland species). Soil and hydrologic data were also collected to determine the presence or absence of wetlands at each sample point. Wetland soil indicators potentially included the presence of a histic epipedon, thick dark surface, redox features, gleying, depleted profile conditions, an aquic soil moisture regime, and high organic matter content and/or a stripped matrix in sandy soils. Potential wetland hydrology indicators included geomorphic position, Landmark Apartments Wetland Report Page 2 of 3 presence of standing water and/or saturated soil profile conditions, drainage patterns, watermarks, sediment deposits, and oxidized root channels in the upper 12 inches of the soil profile. Sample holes were dug to a depth of from 12 to 14 inches. Formal field data sheets were completed for each sample point evaluated (L-1 through L-3). Wetland / upland boundaries and sample points were flagged with pink fluorescent tape and numbered orange pin flags tied with pink fluorescent tape, respectively, for subsequent surveying work. The open water features were flagged with blue tape. Adjunct test holes were also dug, where appropriate, to gain additional vegetation, soil, and hydrologic information used to aid in the characterization of wetlands, uplands, and transition zones. Data sheets were not completed for test holes. The results of the field delineation are summarized in the following paragraphs. Table 1 is provided to summarize the data sheets and support the text. A vicinity map is attached (see Figure 1) as well as photos and copies of the data sheets completed during the survey. A wetland delineation map (prepared by Northern Engineering is also attached. Results – Uplands Uplands occupy the vast majority of the project area. These uplands are comprised of gently sloping to nearly level non-native grasslands north and south of the wetland drainage. Sample points L-1 and L-2 (see Table 1) were selected to represent the upland grasslands as well as the narrow upland transition zone adjacent to the edge of the delineated wetland area, respectively. The dominant plant species is smooth brome (Bromopsis inermis - UPL) at both sample sites, although lesser amounts of common cattail (Typha latifolia - OBL) and reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea - FACW) are present at sample point L-2 in the upland transition zone. There were hydrology wetland indicators observed at L-1, and no soil sample was taken since the site is dominated solely by upland plants. The upland transition zone located along the lower terrace adjacent to the wetlands is dominated by smooth brome but reed canarygrass is also present as a lesser dominant species. Although evidence of wetland hydrology is present at L-2, neither hydric soils nor dominance by wetland vegetation was present at this sample site. Photo 1 provides of view of sample points L-1 and L-2. A summary of the characteristics of these two sample points is provided in Table 1. Results - Vegetated Wetlands and Other Waters of the US The wetlands located along project site drainage consist of a central cattail (Typha latifolia) community established under flooded conditions (no sample point) bordered immediately upslope by saturated soils supporting a vegetation community (sample point L-3) dominated by common cattail (Typha latifolia - OBL) and reed canarygrass (Phalaroides arundinacea). Soils at this sample point had matrix colors of 10YR 3/1 and 4/1 with 2.5YR 4/8 mottles beginning at 5 inches. The soils were saturated at 8 inches, and standing water was present at 12 inches. Photo 1 provides of view of sample point L-3. A summary of the characteristics of this sample point is provided in Table 1. Three open water channel features within the cattail-dominated drainage were delineated. Flowing, open-water channels, with minimal cattail establishment, characterize these elements. Landmark Apartments Wetland Report Page 3 of 3 TABLE 1: SUMMARY OF SAMPLE POINT CHARACTERISTICS Sample Dominant Hydric Primary & Secondary Wetland COE Point # Species Soil Indicator(s) Hydrology Indicator(s) Wetland L-1 Bromus inermis -UPL None None No L-2 Bromus inermis -UPL Phalaris arundinacea -FACW None B3, B10 No L-3 Typha latifolia - OBL Phalaris arundinacea -FACW F3 A2, A3, B2 PEM1 Jurisdictional Considerations The unnamed drainage in the project flows southeast into Spring Creek to the south, which in turn, flows into the Cache la Poudre River. Wetland Impacts Based on current project development plans, the proposed pedestrian bridge will span the entire drainage and abutments constructed for the bridge will be well outside of the delineated wetland and open water boundaries. Therefore, there will be not fill impacts to possible jurisdictional wetlands and Other Waters of the U.S. The U. S. Army Corp of Engineers will not review or comment on projects that would have no impacts wetlands and Other Waters of the U.S and would not require a request for a Section 404 Permit. As a result there is no need to file this report to the U. S. Army Corp of Engineers or request a Secion 404 Permit. Sincerely, CEDAR CREEK ASSOCIATES, INC. Michael Phelan Wetlands and Wildlife Consultant pc: K. Turner, The Birdsall Group D. Weber, Northern Engineering, Inc.