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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTIMBERLINE INTERNATIONAL MIXED USE - PDP200007 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - ECS REPORTJune 1, 2018 Devin Ferrey FR Holdijngs, Ltd. 125 S. Howes St., Suite 200 Fort Collins, CO 80521 RE: Ecological Characterization Study (ECS) Letter Report for the Proposed Timberline Development, Fort Collins, Colorado Devin: This letter report is submitted to satisfy the requirements of Section 3.4.1 of the Land Use Code of the City of Fort Collins regarding the submittal of an ECS report for proposed development projects. The Timberline Property project site addressed by this report is a 1.39-acre parcel located at the northwest corner of Timberline Road and International Boulevard and east of Lake Canal in portions of the southeast ¼ of the northwest ¼ and the northeast ¼ of the southwest ¼ of Section 8 (Township 7 North, Range 68 West) in Fort Collins, Colorado (see attached Figure 1). Proposed development consists of a mixed use project and associated parking and other infrastructure. Current development plans call for a 50-foot non-development setback from the east top of bank of Lake Canal. Ecological characteristics of the property were evaluated on May 21, 2018. The field survey was conducted to characterize existing wildlife habitats, as well as identify any unique or sensitive natural resource features. Prior to the initiation of the field survey, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) soils mapping (http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx) was reviewed to determine if any known hydric (wetland) or highly erosive soil mapping units are located on the property. Observations recorded during the field evaluation included: major vegetation communities / wildlife habitats present within the property; dominant vegetation associated with each community / habitat; unique habitat features; and observations of wildlife species and/or definitive sign. Photographs showing representative views of existing habitats were also taken to document site conditions. Wildlife presence and habitat use was based on on-site observations and habitat presence in conjunction with the known habitat requirements of potential wildlife species. Existing habitats were also evaluated regarding their ability to support populations of threatened, endangered, and other sensitive plant and wildlife species. The following provides a summary of information required by Fort Collins Land Use Code under 3.4.1 (D) (1) items (a) through (l). ECOLOGICAL STUDY CHARACTERIZATION CHECKLIST (a & j) Existing habitats on the property consist almost entirely of disturbed weedy or bare ground and a substantial portion of the site is currently used for storage of equipment and piles of waste dirt (see attached Figure 1 and Photos 1 and 2). Portions of the Lake Canal right-of-way are located within the west property boundary or immediately adjacent to this boundary (see Figure 1). Lake Canal is a below grade irrigation ditch, and as a result, wetlands associated with the canal are restricted entirely to the inner bank slopes of the canal. Vegetation supported on the property consists primarily of invasive weedy species including: Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense1), cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), kochia (Bassia scoparia), pitseed goosefoot (Chenopodium berlandieri), flixweed (Descurainia sophia), yellow salsify (Tragopogon dubius), false salsify (Scorzonera laciniata), leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula), and curly dock (Rumex crispus). Minor amounts of non-native grasses such as smooth brome (Bromus inermis), intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopryum intermedium), and 1 Scientific nomenclature follows USDA, NRCS Plants Database. Available online at: http://plants.usda.gov/java/ D. Ferrey 6/1/18 Page 2 of 4 crested wheatgrass (Agropyrum cristatum) are also supported on the property. A few small, remnant stands of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) may indicate the property was, at one time, a portion of a larger are used for hay production. Photos 1, 2, and 3 provide representative views of the weed-dominated, disturbed, and bare portions of the project area. Edge areas along the east and west banks of Lake Canal are more extensively vegetated by grasses such as smooth brome, cheatgrass, and intermediate wheatgrass but weedy species including leafy spurge and curly dock are also prominent. Photo 4 provides a view of Lake Canal within the project area. Tree species growing on the project area, aside from along Lake Canal banks, are restricted to pockets of sapling Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila) and lanceleaf cottonwood (Populus acuminata). All of these trees are relatively young and well under 6 inches in diameter (see Photo 3). Trees growing along Lake Canal on the east side are restricted to a small pocket of three sapling lanceleaf cottonwoods that are well under 6 inches in diameter. Trees on the west side of Lake Canal consist primarily of mostly large (well over 6 inches in diameter) and a few smaller (under 6 inches in diameter) lanceleaf cottonwoods. A few Russian olives (Elaeagnus angustifolia) and a single boxelder (Acer negundo), all over 6 inches in diameter, also grow on the west side of Lake Canal. A single multi-trunked peachleaf willow, with all trunks less than 6 inches in diameter, is also present. Trees over 6 inches in diameter may be classified by the City Forester as significant based on the Fort Collins Land Use Code. The City Forester or a private arborist will need to evaluate the health of these trees in order to determine their significance status or if they pose a safety hazard to proposed development. Aside from potentially significant trees along Lake Canal and the canal itself, the project area and adjacent areas of undeveloped land support little native vegetation and no other unique habitat features or habitats of high ecological value. Disturbed, weed-dominated areas of the project site support no natural habitat features and have minimal ecological and wildlife habitat value. Equipment and waste soil storage area have essentially no wildlife habitat value. Overall wildlife habitat value of the entire project area is very low because of past disturbance of the site, dominance by non-native grass and weedy species, and its small size in conjunction with surrounding development and roadways. Mice, cottontail rabbit, and a few urban-adapted songbirds such as house sparrow, house finch, and American robin are typical species that could be associated with project area habitats. Trees on the property could be used for perching, nesting, and foraging by urban-adapted songbirds. However, the field survey did not detect any evidence of current nesting use (stick nests) by songbirds in trees on or adjacent to the property. Barn swallows nesting in the cement culvert where Lake Canal leaves the property and two mallards loafing in the Lake Canal waterway were the only wildlife observed using of the project area during the field survey. (b) The entire project area is occupied by Ascalon sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes, which is not classified as a hydric (wetland) soil by the NRCS, and no evidence of wetland hydrology or wetland vegetation was found in the project area other than within the Lake Canal embankments. Wetlands within Lake Canal were not delineated since project development would not impact the ditch. Due to the steepness of the ditch embankments, wetlands within the canal are restricted to an approximate 1-foot wide strip adjacent to the water line (see Photo 4). The narrow strip wetlands within the canal are dominated by reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) and Emory sedge (Carex emoryi). The ditch wetlands within the project area were estimated to be well under 0.3 acre. Lake Canal wetlands would likely be classified as Jurisdictional by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers since Lake Canal originates from the Cache la Poudre River and discharges into Thompson Lake/Windsor Reservoir. D. Ferrey 6/1/18 Page 3 of 4 (c) The Timberline project area does not provide and significant views of scenic areas or natural habitats. (d & e) As indicated in Section a & j, the Timberline project area supports little native vegetation, and possible significant trees are restricted to the Lake Canal corridor (see Figure 1). Trees on the property will need to be inventoried by the City Forester to determine significance potential and possible need for mitigation, if trees need to be removed for development. The clumps of sapling lanceleaf cottonwoods and Siberian elms are not likely to be classified as significant and Siberian elm is considered an undesirable, invasive species. However, even non-significant or undesirable tree species provide some wildlife habitat for songbirds, and mitigation may be required if these tree clumps will be lost to development. (f) There are no natural drainages on the Timberline Property. Lake Canal is a constructed water conveyance ditch used for irrigation water distribution. The 50-foot buffer zone required by Section 3.4.1 of the Land Use Code (see Section i) for this ditch would be sufficient to protect water quality in the ditch and maintain possible wildlife use of the ditch as a movement corridor. (g) There is no suitable habitat for threatened, endangered, or other sensitive species in or adjacent to the Timberline property. (h) Past clearing of native vegetation and current land uses on the Timberline property has eliminated the potential for any special habitat features in the project area, aside from the large trees along Lake Canal and the canal itself as well as wetlands supported within the canal. (i) Lake Canal represents the only possible wildlife movement corridor on or adjacent to the Timberline project area. This ditch originates at the Cache la Poudre River approximately 2.6 miles northwest of the project area and continues in a southeast direction beyond the project area passing by the south end of Cooper Slough and the west side of Timnath Reservoir before finally discharging into Thomson Lake/Windsor Reservoir. So Lake Canal does provide connection between the Poudre River and these habitat areas, but numerous street crossings, including Mulberry Street and Interstate 25, do create some physical barriers to the continuity of Lake Canal between these habitat features. (k) Because of the lack of natural habitat features on the Timberline property, there is only one issue regarding the timing of property development and ecological features or wildlife use of the project area. If development requires removal of any trees along Lake Canal or if construction occurs near an occupied bird nest during the songbird nesting season (March through July), these activities could result in the loss or abandonment of a nest and may be in violation of the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. (l) Since the entire project area has been cleared of native vegetation and is dominated by weedy species and non-native grasses, as well as waste soil and equipment storage areas, project development would have no impact on natural habitats or important habitat features, other than existing trees on the property if removal is required. Current development plans call for a 50-foot buffer for the Lake Canal corridor. This buffer meets Section 3.4.1 Land Use Code requirements to protect the project area portion of the canal as a wildlife movement corridor. This buffer would also meet the City buffer standard for wetlands less than 0.3 acres in size. It is recommended that existing native and non-native trees and shrubs adjacent to the canal be preserved to the extent possible, unless they are in poor condition. Removal of any trees classified as significant would need to be mitigated with replacement trees, as determined by the City Forester based on the Land Use Code. Mitigation plantings of trees and shrubs would also be appropriate within the ditch buffer zones as long as plantings are in compliance with ditch operation and maintenance activities. Supplemental irrigation may be required for initial establishment of shrubs, trees, and herbaceous species in the buffer zone. A weed management plan should be developed in concert with habitat enhancement plantings to minimize the development of non-desirable, invasive species in the buffer zone enhancement area. D. Ferrey 6/1/18 Page 4 of 4 Because tree removal or construction near trees during the nesting season could result in the loss or abandonment of a nest, it is recommended that tree removal or construction near trees occur outside of the nesting season (March – July 31), or trees be surveyed to ensure lack of nesting prior to removal or construction activities during the nesting season. This mitigation recommendation would preclude the possible incidental take or disturbance of active songbird nests. One final mitigation recommendation is based on Article 3.2.4(D)(6) in the City of Fort Collins Land Use Code, which requires protection of natural areas and natural features from light spillage from off site sources. Therefore, the intensity of night lighting from the areas of development facing the canal buffer zone should be shielded or directed to minimize the intrusion of artificial nighttime light into this area. This concludes my evaluation of the Timberline Property. If you have any questions or require additional information regarding my evaluation, please give me a call. Sincerely, Cedar Creek Associates, Inc. T. Michael Phelan Wildlife and Wetland Consultant attachments: Figure 1, Habitat Map for the Timberline Project Area and Photos 1-4 TIMBERLINE PROJECT - LAKE CANAL NATURAL HABITAT BUFFER ZONE WEED CONTROL PLAN This guidance document presents the basis for development of the weed control plan for the Timberline Project Lake Canal Habitat Buffer Zone, if weeds are deemed to be detrimental to plant establishment success or eradication is required as per local or state regulations. As general guidance, it is recommended that no more than 10 percent of total plant cover be comprised of weeds (“weed” definition in last paragraph) in the Lake Canal buffer zone at the end of each growing season. The project area will be evaluated twice per year for weed establishment, once in mid-growing season and once at the end of each growing season for a period of three years following construction and planting. The completed plan will be submitted to the City of Fort Collins Environmental Planner, as required for review and approval. A Licensed Commercial Pesticide Applicator (LCPA) will prepare the weed control plan. All subsequent weed control activities will also be conducted by an LCPA. The plan will be in the form of an Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPM) that will consider all methods of control that could be applicable to the project area. These methods include mechanical, chemical, cultural, and biological techniques. Prior to plan preparation, a visit to the project area will be conducted at the end of the first growing season by the LCPA accompanied by representatives of the City of Fort Collins and the Timberline development team, as appropriate. The objective of this site visit will be to assess site conditions, routes of access, weedy species present, the proximity of wetlands to the proposed treatment areas, potential sources of run-on and run-off, and any other factors relevant to the weed control planning process. Site visits will continue until the City of Fort Collins Environmental Planner approves habitat conditions within the natural habitat buffer zone. Plant species to be considered as weeds and controlled and/or eradicated at this project site, as per City code, are those listed by the Larimer County Weed Control District and the State of Colorado as noxious. Dominant weeds identified in the Lake Canal 50-foot setback area by the ECS Report field survey included: cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula). Leafy spurge is listed as noxious by Larimer County and the State of Colorado, as well as Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), which was noted in other portions of the project area. These three species will likely require methods of control, and other target weed species may be identified for control at the completion of project development and enhancement measures employed in the Lake Canal buffer zone.