HomeMy WebLinkAboutBLOOM FILING SIX - PDP230017 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - ECS REPORT AUCKLAND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING
Wetlands Wildlife Vegetation
Technical Memorandum
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To: Dean Barber, MIC TDC Mulberry St Fort Collins, LLC
From: Julia Auckland, Auckland Environmental Consulting
Date: December 1, 2023
Subject: Top of Bank and Riparian Forest Drip Line Delineation, Amendment to the Ecological
Characterization Study (ECS) for th e Bloom Filing One Track II Mixed Commercial Project
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1. Introduction
Auckland Environmental Consulting (Auckland) has been contracted by MIC TDC Mulberry St Fort
Collins, LLC (TDC) to provide environmental services in support of their Bloom Filing One Track II Mixed
Commercial Project (Project). The Project is located on an approximately 5-acre parcel south of Lake
Canal and north of Mulberry Street in Fort Collins, Colorado (Site). The approximate Site address is
3100 East Mulberry Street and the Larimer County Parcel Number is 8709307009.
A Site visit and this memo have been completed per the City of Fort Collins’ development review
comment to complete; “A delineation of Lake Canal’s top of bank (south side only) and the dripline of
any riparian forest if present on the south side of the ditch. This was not completed with Filing 1’s ECS.
This can be an ECS memo, a full ECS would not be needed.” These two features are needed to
determine the City’s Natural Habitat Buffer Zone along the south side of Lake Canal.
2. Methods
The Site was visited on November 22, 2023 to delineate the riparian forest drip line and top of bank
along the south side of Lake Canal per the City of Fort Collins Land Use Code (City Code) Section 3.4.1
“Natural Habitats and Features,” subsection (D) “Ecological Characterization and Natural Habitat or
Feature Boundary Definition.” The City Code Definition states “Top of bank shall mean the
topographical break in slope between the bank and the surrounding terrain. When a break in slope
cannot be found, the outer limits of riparian vegetation shall demark the top of bank.” (City Code
Section 5.1.2).
The riparian forest drip line and the top of bank along the south side of the Canal (adjacent to the Site)
were mapped using a smart phone GIS application. The mapping was verified on aerial photographs
and a topographic map of the Site.
ECS AMMENDMENT: RIPARIAN FOREST DRIP LINE AND TOP OF BANK
BLOOM FILING ONE TRACK II MIXED COMMERCIAL
PAGE 2 OF 3
AUCKLAND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING PHONE EMAIL
303-358-2687 julia.auckland@gmail.com
3. Results
Lake Canal has steep banks and the delineated top of bank was approximately eight feet higher than
the current water level (Figures 1 and 2). There are three patches of riparian forest vegetation growing
along the south side of Lake Canal. They mostly consist of large native trees, plains cottonwood
(Populus deltoides) and peachleaf willow (Salix amygdaloides), in the northwest and southeast Site
corners. In between these large trees there was a smaller patch of plains cottonwood saplings. Woody
riparian vegetation was absent along approximately one third (200 linear feet) of the south bank of
Lake Canal. The riparian forest drip line extends slightly beyond the top of bank in some areas. The
City’s Natural Habitat Buffer Zone is fifty feet for both isolated patches of riparian forest and irrigation
ditches. The remainder of the Site has been graded and is flat except for two stormwater detention
basins located on the north side.
Figure 1. Site Plan with Riparian Forest Drip Line and Top of Bank
Dead tree
Nov 22, 2023
ECS AMMENDMENT: RIPARIAN FOREST DRIP LINE AND TOP OF BANK
BLOOM FILING ONE TRACK II MIXED COMMERCIAL
PAGE 3 OF 3
AUCKLAND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING PHONE EMAIL
303-358-2687 julia.auckland@gmail.com
Figure 2. Aerial Photo with Riparian Forest Drip Line and Top of Bank
East Mulberry Street
Frontage Road North