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Home My WebLink AboutFORTY-THREE PRIME - FDP210019 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - ECS REPORT 937 Mallard Drive, Ft. Collins, CO 80521 * (970) 224-0851 * www.bluemountain1.net August 26, 2018 Chandler Souther Red Raun LLC 201 Commerce Drive, Unit 2 Fort Collins, CO 80524 RE: Ecological Characterization Study Mr. Souther: This report is submitted to satisfy the requirements to Section 3.4.1 (D) (1) of the Land Use Code of the City of Fort Collins regarding the preparation of an Ecological Characterization Study (ECS). This report was required by the City of Fort Collins Community Development and Neighborhood Services Department in correspondence regarding the project dated May 18, 2018 because of potential wetlands along the eastern boundary of the property. The site was visited by Craig Severn with Blue Mountain Environmental Consulting on August 9, 2018. One wetland was identified within an excavated channelized area that is used to convey storm water through the eastern portion of the property. The wetland was sampled in accordance with Army Corps of Engineer’s methodologies and approximate boundaries are indicated on an attached project map. Please note that the wetland boundary should be surveyed and incorporated into subsequent versions of the site plan. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. Sincerely, Matt Tobler Natural Resource Specialist, Certified Ecologist Blue Mountain Environmental Consulting, LLC 6608 Autumn Ridge Ecological Characterization Study 2 1.0 Project Background The proposed project will be a mixed-use community with a small neighborhood center, two commercial uses and 43 multi-family dwelling units. The property is located one quarter mile west of the intersection of Trilby Road and Lemay Avenue. The property is on the southwest corner of the intersection of Trilby Road and Brittany Street in Fort Collins, Colorado. It is bounded by Trilby Road on the north, Brittany Street to the east, Candlewood Drive to the south and Autumn Drive to the west. Site conditions are illustrated in civil drawings prepared by Aspen Engineering in Fort Collins, Colorado dated May 17, 2018 (here incorporated by reference). The majority of the property is an open field with trees and a shrub riparian/wetland area along the eastern portion. The eastern portion of the property appears to be a conveyance channel for storm water with culverts both entering and leaving the feature. Small areas along the southern boundary and northwest, southwest and southeast corners are landscaped and planted with hawthorne (Crataegus sp.), blue spruce (Picea pungens), juniper (Juniperus sp.) and a variety of perennial forbs. The property is surrounded by roadways with residential and commercial areas as well as a house of worship. 2.0 Ecological Characterization The elements of the Ecological Characterization Study are summarized in this section in the order listed in Section 3.4.1 (D) (1) of the Land Use Code. Site maps are provided in Appendix A; site photos are provided in Appendix B. Photo points are indicated on the Natural Features and Habitats Map in Appendix A. 2.1 Wildlife Due to the property’s suburban location and human disturbance level, wildlife value is moderate. The property consists primarily of an open field (recently mowed at time of the site visit) with a small riparian/wetland area located along the eastern portion. Most wildlife is expected to be transitional as animals travel to other small, isolated open tracts in the neighborhood. Seasonal and/or year-round use can be expected by a number of avifauna including American robin (Turdus migratorius), northern flicker (Colaptes auratus), mourning dove (Zenaidura macroura), western kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis), magpie (Pica pica), crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and raven (Corvus corax). Raptors would probably utilize the site primarily for hunting rodents and small birds. Mammals such as mice, voles, fox squirrel (Sciurus niger), eastern cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) and raccoon (Procyon lotor) could utilize the property year round. 6608 Autumn Ridge Ecological Characterization Study 3 2.2 Wetlands One wetland area was identified on the property and delineated in accordance with the Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Great Plains Region (Version 2.0). This wetland occurs along the eastern portion of the property and is located in the area of an excavated storm water conveyance channel. Culverts both convey water into and out of the channel. At the time of the site visit, a short reach of the upper wetland/channel area had a small amount of standing water originating from a culvert. The mid to lower reach had no standing water. Wetland vegetation within the channel included mid-aged lanceleaf cottonwood (Populus X acuminata), peach-leaf willow (Salix exigua), narrow-leaf willow (Salix exigua), Baltic rush (Juncus balticus) and narrow-leaf cattail (Typha angustifolia). The transition to upland status was marked by a shift in dominance to smooth brome (Bromus inermis). This wetland is not identified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory (NWI). Wetland features and the associated 50-foot buffer as required by the City of Fort Collins in Land Use Code section 3.4.1(E) are indicated on the Wetlands Map in Appendix A. Wetland data forms are provided in Appendix C. 2.3 Prominent Views The perimeter of the property is accessible to the general public via a concrete walk-way surrounding the site. The foothills and mountains, including Horsetooth Mountain, can be viewed to the west from the property. Other surrounding views are primarily of residential neighborhoods and small tracts of undeveloped land. 2.4 Native Trees and Vegetation Native vegetation is a minor component of total cover on the property. Native species are limited to the riparian/wetland area in the eastern portion of the property and include lanceleaf cottonwood, narrow-leaf willow and narrow-leaf cattail. 2.5 Non-native Trees and Vegetation Non-native trees consist of Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia). Non-native forb and grass species dominate the understory on the property and include smooth brome (Bromus inermis), wall barley (Hordeum marinum), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), and field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis). Several species on the Colorado Noxious Weeds list were identified on the property and include Canada thistle (List B), Russian olive (List B) and field bindweed (List C). 6608 Autumn Ridge Ecological Characterization Study 4 2.6 Bank, Shoreline and High Water Mark of Perennial Water According to FEMA Map Panel (08069C1200F), the Property is located in an area of minimal flood hazard and is not within the City of Fort Collins Floodplain (http://www.fcgov.com/utilities/what-we-do/stormwater/flooding/floodplain-maps-documents, accessed on July 31, 2018). The storm-water channel has no significant high water marks and does not have perennial water flows. 2.7 Sensitive and Specially Valued Species The property has potential habitat in the eastern riparian/wetland area for Preble’s meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei). The property has no potential habitat (weltands, floodplains) for Ute lady’s tresses orchid (Spiranthes diluvialis) or Colorado butterfly plant (Gaura neomexicana ssp. Coloradensis). There are no known occurrences for these three species on or near the property. No old or active prairie dog colonies are located on the property. No raptors or stick nest were observed on the property. 2.8 Special Habitat Features Special habitat features include the 300-foot reach of the riparian/wetland area. This is a very small area with minimal cover. Benefit to most wildlife would mostly be transitory habitat to all but smaller wildlife species. 2.9 Wildlife Migration Corridors The property is not connected to any significant wildlife migration corridors. 2.10 General Ecological Functions The site topography generally slopes from south to north and west to east. The entire site is now covered in tall grass with mature trees located in the riparian/wetland area and spaced around the perimeter of the property. The relative small size of the property (approximately 5.5 acres) with little diversity in habitat features limits the ecological functions of the site. 2.11 Timing of Development in Relation to Ecological Character The primary concern for the timing of development is protection of migratory birds. Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, it is unlawful for anyone to take, possess, import, export, 6608 Autumn Ridge Ecological Characterization Study 5 transport, sell, purchase, barter or offer for sale, purchase or barter, any migratory bird or the parts, nests or eggs. Avoid removing trees between April 1 and August 15. 2.12 Mitigation Measures Blue Mountain Environmental Consulting recommends the following mitigation: · Work conducted in the riparian/wetland area should minimize impacts to established large native trees, shrubs and wetland areas. · If tree removal is necessary, include the following note on the tree mitigation plan and/or landscape plan, as appropriate: “NO TREES SHALL BE REMOVED DURING THE SONGBIRD NESTING SEASON (FEBRUARY 1 TO JULY 31) WITHOUT FIRST HAVING A PROFESSIONAL ECOLOGIST OR WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST COMPLETE A NESTING SURVEY TO IDENTIFY ANY ACTIVE NESTS EXISTING ON THE PROJECT SITE. THE SURVEY SHALL BE SENT TO THE CITY ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER. IF ACTIVE NESTS ARE FOUND, THE CITY WILL COORDINATE WITH RELEVANT STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES TO DETERMINE WHETHER ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TREE REMOVAL AND CONSTRUCTION APPLY.” · Re-seed disturbed soils with native xeric cool- and warm-season grasses and forbs. · Manage noxious species that proliferate as a result of site disturbance with mechanical, cultural or chemical means. · Maintain a 50 foot buffer on the wetland per City Land Use Code 3.4.1(E) or pursue mitigation as required by the City of Fort Collins. (Army Corps of Engineers compliance is required if disturbance to the wetland is proposed.) 3.0 Conclusions and Recommendations The team at Blue Mountain Environmental Consulting believes that no significant ecological resources will be adversely impacted by development of the property. References City of Fort Collins Floodplain Maps and Documents. http://www.fcgov.com/utilities/what-we- do/stormwater/flooding/floodplain-maps-documents Colorado Parks and Wildlife Recommended Buffer Zones and Seasonal Restrictions for Raptors. http://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/WildlifeSpecies/LivingWithWildlife/RaptorBufferGuid elines2008.pdf National Wetland Inventory Mapper. Accessed on December 1, 2014. http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Mapper.html 6608 Autumn Ridge Ecological Characterization Study 6 Recommended Buffer Zones and Seasonal Restrictions for Colorado Raptors (https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/WildlifeSpecies/LivingWithWildlife/RaptorBufferGu idelines2008.pdf). Wildlife Management Guidelines, City of Fort Collins. http://www.fcgov.com/naturalareas/pdf/wildlife-management-guidelines.pdf 6608 Autumn Ridge Ecological Characterization Study 7 Appendix A: Project Maps 8 Natural Features and Habitats Map Photo Point 9 Wetlands Map 10 Appendix B: Site Photos 11 Map Number: 1 Photo Direction: East Looking east from the northwest corner of the property. Map Number: 2 Photo Direction: South Looking south from the northwest corner of the property. 12 Map Number: 2 Photo Direction: East Looking east from the southwest corner of the property. Map Number: 2 Photo Direction: NE Looking to the northeast from the southwest corner of the property. 13 Map Number: 3 Photo Direction: West Looking west from the southeast corner of the property. Map Number: 3 Photo Direction: North Looking north from the southeast corner of the property. 14 Map Number: 4 Photo Direction: West Looking west from the northeast corner of property. Map Number: 5 Photo Direction: Looking at wetland sample pint W1 (shovel on right) and upland sample point U1 (yellow clipboard on left). 15 Appendix C: Wetland Data Forms 16 17 18 19