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Home My WebLink AboutMARS LANDING - FDP210024 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT BIRCH ECOLOGY LLC · P.O. BOX 170 · 429 MAIN ST. · LYONS, CO 80540 · 720-350-2530 · WWW.BIRCHECOLOGY.COM March 16, 2020 Donald Cecil Galloway & Company, Inc. 5265 Ronald Regan Blvd., Suite 210 Johnstown, CO 80534 RE: Mars Landing Offsite Mitigation Study Areas Good Morning Donald, Per your request, Birch Ecology completed a wetland delineation for the East and West Study Areas adjacent to the Mars Landing project site near Skyway Drive and South College Avenue in Fort Collins, Colorado (Figures 1 - 3). As a part of our analysis, we looked at the existing conditions of the East Study Area to evaluate its suitability for use as a habitat mitigation site. As discussed in our March 2020 Wetland Delineation Report, there have been a number of hydrologic changes at the site which should be considered in developing an appropriate mitigation plan. Given the existing plant communities, we recommend that you focus on enhancing the area with additional trees and shrubs, however we have also provided some recommendations for herbaceous wetland plants, as discussed below. The following sections provide recommendations for two habitat zones, based on soil moisture requirements. The recommended plants are all desirable native species which occur in and around Fort Collins. As we have discussed, additional field observations of the site hydrology would be helpful for developing a more detailed restoration plan. This information is being provided to facilitate your discussion and restoration planning with the City of Fort Collins. Please call if you have questions. Sincerely, Heather Houston President and Senior Ecologist ±Figure 1. Project Location MapMars Landin g Offsite Mitigation Study Areas 0 1,200 2,400600Feet Prepared by:Birch Ecology LLC 429 Main Street P.O. Box 170 Lyons, CO 80540 (720) 350-2530 www. birchecology.com LEGEND Study Area Boundaries Proposed M ars Landing Project Site 1:24,000 March 2020 BASE: USGS 7.5' Loveland and Fort Collins Quadrangles, Colorado CO LOR ADO LarimerCounty ^_ Trilby RoadSouth College Avenue(Highway 287)Skyway Drive West Study Area East Study Area Proposed Mars Landing Project Site ±Figure 2. Aerial PhotoMars Landin g Offsite Mitigation Study Areas 0 75 15037.5 Feet Prepared by:Birch Ecology LLC 429 Main Street P.O. Box 170 Lyons, CO 80540 (720) 350-2530 www. birchecology.com LEGEND Stu dy Area Boundaries Prop osed Mars Landing Project Site 1:1,500 March 2020South College Avenue (Highway 287)Skyway Drive West Study Area East Study Area Storage Facility Gateway Center DriveAbandoned Segment North Louden Ditch Mars DriveProposed Mars Landing Project SiteIrrigationPond BIRCH ECOLOGY LLC · P.O. BOX 170 · 429 MAIN ST. · LYONS, CO 80540 · 720-350-2530 · WWW.BIRCHECOLOGY.COM WETLAND HABITATS In the lowest areas of the East Study Area with the wettest soil, there could be opportunities to establish additional native wetland species, provided the site has the right hydrology. It should be noted that the existing plant community is dominated by the aggressive, introduced species reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea), which will compete with the native species. It may be difficult to shift the plant species composition without eradicating the reed canarygrass, unless the site becomes much wetter. WETLAND HABITATS RECOMMENDED NATIVE SPECIES MARS LANDING OFFSITE MITIGATION STUDY AREAS SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME FAMILY ORIGIN* WETLAND STATUS** Trees Salix amygdaloides Peachleaf willow Salicaceae N FACW Salix exigua Sandbar willow Salicaceae N FACW Perennial Graminoids Carex nebrascensis Nebraska sedge Cyperaceae N OBL Carex praegracilis Clustered field sedge Cyperaceae N FACW Eleocharis palustris Creeping spikerush Cyperaceae N OBL Juncus arcticus ssp. ater (J.balticus) Baltic rush Juncaceae N FACW Juncus torreyi Torrey's rush Juncaceae N FACW Scirpus acutus Hardstem bulrush Cyperaceae N OBL Scirpus pungens (S. americanus) Threesquare bulrush Cyperaceae N OBL Sporobolus airoides Alkali sacaton Poaceae N FAC Perennial Forbs Asclepias speciosa Showy milkweed Asclepiadaceae N FAC Helianthus nuttallii Nuttall sunflower Asteraceae N FACW Verbena hastata Blue vervain Verbenaceae N FACW * Origin: N = Native; I = Introduced; I+ = Colorado State-Listed Noxious Weed ** Wetland Status: OBL = Obligate Wetland; FACW = Facultative Wetland; FAC = Facultative; FACU = Facultative Upland; UPL = Obligate Upland, NL/NO = Not Listed BIRCH ECOLOGY LLC · P.O. BOX 170 · 429 MAIN ST. · LYONS, CO 80540 · 720-350-2530 · WWW.BIRCHECOLOGY.COM TRANSITIONAL / MESIC HABITATS The moist soil that occurs at the periphery of the wetland zone could be enhanced by planting additional native trees and shrubs. However, as noted above, temporary irrigation will be required during the first few growing seasons, and perhaps longer - depending on the site hydrology. This transitional area currently supports several Russian olive (Eleagnus angustifolia) trees, a state-listed noxious weed. Removal of these invasive species and establishing native trees and shrubs in their place would be a significant enhancement which could be used for mitigation. TRANSITIONAL / MESIC HABITATS RECOMMENDED NATIVE SPECIES MARS LANDING OFFSITE MITIGATION STUDY AREAS SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME FAMILY ORIGIN* WETLAND STATUS** Trees Populus deltoides Plains cottonwood Salicaceae N FAC Shrubs Chrysothamnus nauseosus Rubber rabbitbrush Asteraceae N NL Prunus americana Wild plum Rosaceae N UPL Prunus virginiana var. melanocarpa Choke cherry Rosaceae N FACU Rhus trilobata Skunk brush Anacardiaceae N NL Ribes aureum Yellow currant Grossulariaceae N FACU Ribes cereum Wax currant Grossulariaceae N NL Rosa woodsii Woods' rose Rosaceae N FACU * Origin: N = Native; I = Introduced; I+ = Colorado State-Listed Noxious Weed ** Wetland Status: OBL = Obligate Wetland; FACW = Facultative Wetland; FAC = Facultative; FACU = Facultative Upland; UPL = Obligate Upland, NL/NO = Not Listed