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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTIMBERLINE - INTERNATIONAL - FDP210020 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 3 - ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Timberline & International Native Habitat Buffer Zone Restoration and Annual Monitoring Plan October, 2021 PO Box 272150 Fort Collins, CO 80527 Introduction The applicant has proposed a commercial development project at the northwest corner of the intersection of Timberline Road and International Boulevard in Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado and consists of approximately 1.2 acres of land which is bordered to the southwest by the Lake Canal. An Ecological Characterization Study (ECS) was developed by Cedar Creek Associates, Inc. (Cedar Creek) as required by Article 3, Section 3.4.1 of the City of Fort Collins (City) Land Use Code (LUC). The ECS informed the City’s determination that the natural habitats on Site will requirethe implementation of a Natural Habitat Buffer Zone (NHBZ) to mitigate potential impacts from development onecological character and quality. The Proposed Development Plan (PDP) presents the NHBZ delineations on Site, which have been modified from the standard 50’ stipulated boundaries in accordance with LUC guidelines. Approval of the proposed NHBZ delineation is contingent upon the Applicant completing additional mitigation requirements prescribed by the City’s Environmental Planning Department. This NHBZ Restoration and Annual Monitoring Plan (Plan) presents recommended restoration and monitoring approaches which have been designed to ascertain measurable habitat improvement in the NHBZ. The objective of this Plan is to describe the methods and procedures that will be used to implement restoration, assessestablishment and progress of restoration,identify potential issues, and gather information used to inform adaptive management activities. Existing SiteConditions The proposed development site is mostly disturbed with small patches of non-native grassland. There are several cottonwood saplings found along Lake Canal and Siberian elm trees in the upland portions of the property. Noxious weeds observed on Siteinclude Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) and leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula).Management strategies for these species are described in the Weed Management Best Management Practices. Restoration Plan Goals and Objectives In accordance with the City of Fort Collins guidelines (LUC 3.4.1) the NHBZ should be managed to: Preserve or enhance the ecological character or function and wildlife use of the natural habitat or feature and to minimize or adequately mitigate the foreseeable impacts of development. Preserve or enhance the existence of wildlife movement corridors between natural habitats and features, both within and adjacent to the Site. Enhance the natural ecological characteristics of the Site. If existing landscaping within the NHBZ is determined by the decision maker to be incompatible with the purposes of the buffer zone, then the applicant shall undertake restoration and mitigation measures such as re-grading and/or the replanting of native vegetation. Provide appropriate human access to natural habitats and features and their associated NHBZ’S in order to serve recreation purposes, provided that such access is compatible with the ecological character or wildlife use of the natural habitat or feature. The restoration approach and monitoring presented in this Plan has been developed to support the meeting of NHBZ goals through evaluation of revegetation establishment and progression. Monitoring results can be used to identify problem areas or potential issues early in the restoration process, inform adaptive management activities (i.e., weed management), and assess progress towards the meeting of success criteriaindicativefavorable NHBZ restoration and management. The overall management goal of the NHBZ is preservation of existing conditions. However, when ground disturbance is planned within the NHBZ, the following restoration process should be implemented to enhance the ecological character of the area. Step-by-Step Approach The following is a recommended step-by-step process designed to reduce cost, improve the ecological function, and enhance the ecological characteristics of the NHBZ while maintaining flexibility for site-specific conditions. Step 1. Creating Opportunity and Reducing Competition The noxious and weedy speciesare often non-native, aggressive spreaders, and usually considered undesirable ecologically and aesthetically. If left unmanaged, they can dominate an ecosystem by native and less competitive species, which for those reasons are typically considered more desirable species. Therefore, creating opportunities for a variety of native species to establish is vital. Some method of vegetation control must be used on the undesirable aggressive species. Typically, mechanical or chemical control is used. Mechanical control entails scraping or plowing to increase bare ground exposure which will serve as a seedbed / planting medium. Chemical control entails the use of herbicide to diminish dominance of undesirable and noxious species (see Weed Management Best Management Practices). Step 2. Soil Preparation The soil surface should be optimized for seeding or planting. An agronomic assessment is recommendedto evaluate the chemical and physical properties of the soil throughout the Site. This information can be used to determine whether soil amendments (i.e. compost) would benefit the establishing plant communities and allow for optimization of the seed mix to soil conditions. Stones, clods, sticks, rubbish, and other matter large enough to impede planting, seeding, or mowing should be collected and removed from the Site. Removed material must be disposed legally. Compaction relief should be implemented in areas where equipment used for hauling and spreading topsoil has recompacted the soil. Fine grade disturbed areas to a smooth, uniform surface plane. Prior to seeding the soil surface should be loose, allowing for good soil/seed contact. Roll and rake, remove ridges, and fill depressions to meet surface grades based on grading plans. Step 3. Seeding and Planting In general, the species used should be native and suitable to the soil and moisture conditions of the NHBZ. Seed mixes should be designed to facilitate growth of appropriate and sustainable species.If changes are to be made to the proposed seed mixbased on Site conditions, then approval must be provided by a city Environmental Planner. The proposed seed mixesare based on the City’s recommended species and presented on the Preliminary Development Plan drawing sheets. After final contouring and amendment application/incorporation, seeding should occur as soon as possible to avoid undesirable impacts from wind or precipitation. Seeding can be accomplished using broadcasting and drilling techniques wherever applicable. For broadcast seeding: the seeding rate should be doubled, seed-to soil contact should be increased immediately through manipulation which will also provide some protection from wind or water erosion and granivores. Manipulation can be accomplished by either a light disc harrowing perpendicular to the flow of energy (wind and/or water) or hand raking around sensitive areas (i.e. willow patches). For drill seeding: final drilling pass must occur on the contour, to create subtle ridges perpendicular to the flow of energy. Drill seeding should not be conducted in sensitive areas. Appropriate native seeding equipment will be used, which does not include standard turf seeding equipment or agriculture equipment. Drill seed the approved mixin two passes, each at a right angles to the other and using half the seed in each pass. Seed should be drilled at the specified application rate and to a depth of no greater than ½ inch. If areas are too wet or steep to drill seed, broadcast seed in opposite directions at twice the application rate used for drill seeding. Restore fine grade after seeding, and cover seed to a depth of ¼ of an inch by raking or dragging. Step 4. Maintenance and Management Maintenance and management activities should be implemented to ensure success of the ecological restoration project. After seeding, the area shall be covered with crimped straw, jute mesh, or other appropriate soil surface stabilization methods. Straw mulch should be certified weed-free hay or certified weed-free straw with no seed heads. Routine inspections for erosion should be performed during the time between seeding and vegetation establishment to assure no excessive erosion features form on the project area. The Weed Management Best Management Practicesfor the Site will be implemented to ensure that weeds are properly managed before,during, and after seeding activities. Overall, the contractor shall monitor seeded area for erosion control,germination, and reseeding as needed to establish cover. Annual Monitoring Plan The applicant will be responsible for ensuring execution of the monitoring and reporting protocol described below. Schedule The NHBZ will be surveyed twice a year on the following schedule: In the spring, a qualified ecologist will traverse the entirety of theSite to assess noxious weed populations prior to implementation of management strategies. This effort will result in optimized and targeted weed control efforts and provide sufficient time to manage weeds prior to seed production. At the peak of growing season, a qualified ecologist will implement the quantitative procedure described in section 4.2 to measure ground cover within the NHBZ. The ecologist will also traverse the entirety of theSite to identify potential problems or issues with restoration. During these traverses, the observer will take note of: areas of poor seedling emergence, indicators of soil fertility problems, noxious weeds or invasive plant infestation, expectations for noxious weed seeding/flowering, excessive erosion,and any other similar revegetation / restoration related issues (if observed). Annual monitoring will continue for a total of three years following restoration of the NHBZ. A brief memo containing survey findingsand recommendations will be provided to the City of Fort Collins by September 30th of each year. This will give the City of Fort Collins and the applicant ample time to discuss and implement adaptive management to address any underperforming areas prior to when on-the-ground treatment implementation would be needed, if determined necessary. Permanent Photo-points Two permanent photo-points (marked with GPS coordinates) on the Site will be established to visually catalog vegetation progress.Photo-points should be determined in the field at a location representative of the NHBZ area, each location marked with GPS coordinates, and each designated with a number which will remain consistent throughout the 3-year monitoring period. Each photo-point should be documented during the summer evaluation at the peak of the growing season, for each of the annual monitoring efforts that will follow restoration. At each point, four photos will be collected, one each in a cardinal compass direction (N-E-S-W), using a photo board that is visible in each frame to indicate the photo-point number.Sampling Methodology Cover sampling will be conducted at a minimum of 5 sample points in the NHBZ to assess progress towards standards. At each sample point, ground cover will be measured using ocular estimates in a 1 meter by 1 meter quadrat. Sample locations will be determined randomly prior to field evaluation. Upon reaching the sample point, the quadrat will be placed on the ground and the ecologist will estimate and record vegetative ground cover by species to the nearest 1%. All species, including noxious and invasive species, and their respective percent ground cover will be recorded. In addition, percent cover of litter, rock, and bare ground exposure will be estimated and recorded; when summed with vegetation estimates, these will produce 100% coverage of ground cover at each sample point. Success Criteria During the third year of annual monitoring, a determination of successful establishment in the NHBZ will be made by City Environmental Planning Department based on a Site surveys and vegetative performance compared to success criteria. The developer and/or landscape contractor is responsible for adequate seedling coverage and growth at the time of final stabilization, as defined by state and local agencies. Restored vegetation communities will be considered established when an effort to achieve the NHBZ goals has been demonstrated through mitigation and/or reclamation efforts and all of the following are met: 70% total vegetative cover (excluding noxious weeds) is reached with no bare spots larger than one square-foot. Noxious weeds do not exceed 10% total cover. Deemed acceptable by City Environmental Planning Department and erosion control. City Environmental Planning Department has the authority to deem revegetation established in lieu of meeting success criteria, as well as withhold approval despite meeting success criteria, if they so choose. If final stabilization is not achieved to the satisfaction of the agency, the developer and/or landscape contractor shall be responsible for additional corrective measures to satisfy final vegetative requirements for closeout. Literature Cited and Data Sources City of Fort Collins. 2021. Land Use Code. March 5, 2021. United States Forest Service (USFS). 1984. Brown, D.; Hallman, R.G. Reclaiming Disturbed Lands.