HomeMy WebLinkAboutENCLAVE AT REDWOOD - FDP220014 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - WILDLIFE DOCUMENTS (2) 1
To: DHI Communities; Ripley Design, Inc.
From: Cedar Creek Associates, Inc.
Date: May 11, 2021
Subject: Enclave at Redwood Project – Prairie Dog Survey Results
Cedar Creek Associates, Inc. (Cedar Creek) was contracted by DHI Communities to conduct a survey
for black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) at the property just adjacent to the Enclave at Redwood
project (Site). The property (Parcel #9701436901) is contiguous to the western border of the property and
encompasses a formerly active prairie dog colony, as shown in Figure 1. Terracon conducted a survey in
2018 as a component of the Ecological Characterization Report (2018) produced for the Enclave at Redwood
property, which was formerly known as a project called ‘The Retreat’. The results indicated that prairie dog
colony was inactive at the time of the surve y, however additional surveys were determined necessary for
the project to satisfy City of Fort Collins (City) development requirements under Article 3, Section 3.4.1 of
the City’s Land Use Code (LUC 3.4.1).
Cedar Creek conducted visual counts, a reliable and relatively rapid means of assessing prairie dog
populations, based on methodology and protocol detailed in Monitoring of Prairie Dogs on Boulder County
Open Space (Meany, C. et. al 2001). The Site was visited prior to surveying to assess the extent of the
potential colony based on location of burrows and disturbance patterns. The majority of burrows have been
filled in with soil and are covered in new vegetation, however several burrows with open cavities were
noted along a small berm in the eastern corner of the property. Photos of the burrows and potential colony
area are presented below. The survey was conducted by Cedar Creek’s Ecologist, Allison Robinson, on April
1st, 2021 at 6:30pm, which began after sitting in the location noted on Figure 1 for 15 minutes, in an effort
to minimize the impact of human disturbance on activity. Three visual counts were completed using
binoculars to scan the potential colony.
There are several dogs in the adjacent parcels to the northeast and south of property that were
consistently barking throughout the duration of the survey. Several locations were visited in an effort to
conduct the survey without noise disruption from the dogs, however this was unsuccessful even at a
distance. It was assumed that any prairie dog in the potential colony would be relatively accustomed to
barking and the survey was completed at the noted location. No prairie dogs were observed during the
April 1st survey.
During a separate evaluation of the Site that occurred on May 6th, one prairie dog was incidentally
observed near the former colony. The prairie dog was located on a small berm along the neighborhood cul-
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de-sac located just south of the former colony, as shown on the figure below. No other prairie dogs were
observed visually or audibly that afternoon or during additional Site visits, potentially due to noise-related
disturbance.
Former Prairie Dog Colony - May, 2021
Former Prairie Dog Colony – May, 2021
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