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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR6_Country Club Reserve - NHBZ Annual Monitoring and Reporting Plan 11-10-2020 FInal Country Club Reserve Natural Habitat Buffer Zone Monitoring and Reporting Plan November, 2020 PO Box 272150 Fort Collins, CO 80527 i Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 2.0 Existing Conditions ...................................................................................................................... 2 3.0 NHBZ Goals and Objectives .......................................................................................................... 3 4.0 Monitoring and Reporting Protocol ................................................................................................ 4 4.1 Schedule ............................................................................................................................... 4 4.2 Vegetation Ground Cover Sampling Methodology ..................................................................... 4 4.3 Permanent Photo Points ......................................................................................................... 5 4.4 Success Criteria ..................................................................................................................... 5 5.0 Literature Cited and Data Sources ................................................................................................ 6 Country Club Reserve Natural Habitat Buffer Zone Annual Monitoring and Reporting Plan 1.0 INTRODUCTION TB Group has proposed Country Club Reserve, a single family detached subdivision complex consisting of 160 residential lots. Surrounding the complex, 46.8 acres (58% of the Site’s total acreage), would be permanently conserved as a common open space area. The 80.2-acre project site (Site) is located in northeast Fort Collins, on the southwest corner of East Douglas Road and Turnberry Road. An Environmental Characterization Study was performed in 2006 (Walsh 2006) as required by Article 3, Section 3.4.1 of the City of Fort Collins (City) Land Use Code (LUC ) 3.4.1. A supplementary evaluation was conducted in 2016 (Cedar Creek 2016) to provide an update on the environmental conditions on Site. The results of these evaluations informed the City’s determination that two natural habitats on Site will require the implementation of a Natural Habitat Buffer Zone (NHBZ) to mitigate potential impacts from development on ecological character and quality; a small wetland encompassing less than 1/3 of an acre of the northeast corner of the Site, and a 1.0-acre wetland in the north-central portion of the Site. An additional evaluation of the NHBZ was performed in November 2020 to determine the species and extent of noxious weed populations on Site. Per LUC 3.4.1, the NHBZ should be managed to improve ecological function and enhance the ecological characteristics of the habitat within the NHBZ. This Natural Habitat Buffer Zone Annual Monitoring and Reporting Plan presents a monitoring approach that is designed to ascertain these goals, by way of assessing restoration establishment and progress, identifying potential issues, and/or informing adaptive management activities. Additionally, specific treatment recommendations are presented in a step by step approach which coincides with various phases of the restoration process. Implementation of this guideline is strongly recommended, as it will reduce the cost and improve the quality of restoration outcomes while maintaining flexibility when selecting between comparable treatments based on site-specific conditions. Weed management is a significant component to achieving ecological improvement in the NHBZ and is discussed within the broader context of our proposed approach in this document. 2.0 EXISTING CONDITIONS Results of the 2006 and 2016 field evaluations indicate the Site is dominated almost entirely by non-native pasture grass species, primarily intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) and smooth brome (Bromus inermis). The small wetland in the northeastern corner of the Site is dominated by cattail (Typha sp.) interspersed with three-square bulrush (Schoenoplectus pungens) and showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa). The uplands associated with this wetland are dominated by smooth brome, with the addition of 8 Russian olives on the south-central border of the wetland. The north-central wetland is dominated by three-square bulrush, mountain rush (Juncus arcticus), and foxtail barley. The uplands associated with this wetland are dominated by intermediate wheatgrass, with the addition of foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum) near the wetland-NHBZ boundary. The presence of noxious weeds was evaluated again in November 2020, to better inform the Weed Management Plan. Existing conditions of noxious weeds on Site are described in the Weed Management Plan. 3.0 NHBZ GOALS AND OBJECTIVES In accordance with City of Fort Collins guidelines (LUC 3.4.1), the NHBZ should be managed in accordance with the following goals: 1. 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. 2. Preserve or enhance the existence of wildlife movement corridors between natural habitats and features, both within and adjacent to the site. 3. 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. 4. 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 landscaping plan for the Site describes the seed mix and plantings that will be implemented in the NHBZ. The monitoring and reporting approach presented in this Plan is built to support the meeting NHBZ goals through quantitative evaluation of revegetation establishment and progression. Results of this approach can be used to identify problem areas or potential issues early in the restoration process, inform adaptive management activities (i.e. weed management, soil amendments), and assess progress towards the meeting of success criteria indicative favorable NHBZ restoration and management. 4.0 MONITORING AND REPORTING PROTOCOL The applicant will be responsible for ensuring execution of the monitoring and reporting protocol described below. 4.1 Schedule The NHBZ will be surveyed twice a year; 1. In the spring, a qualified ecologist will traverse the site to assess of 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. 2. 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 NHBZ to identify if there are any problematic areas onsite. During these traverses, the observer is vigilant for: areas of poor seedling emergence, indicators of soil fertility problems, noxious weeds or invasive plant infestation, excessive erosion, and any other similar revegetation / restoration related issues. Annual monitoring will continue for a total of three years following restoration of the NHBZ. A brief annual report containing survey findings, discussion, and recommendations if necessary, 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 necessary. 4.2 Vegetation Ground Cover Sampling Methodology Cover sampling will be conducted at five sample points in the NHBZ in the northeast corner of the site, and at ten sample points in the larger north-central NHBZ with the associated wetland. At each sample point, ground cover will be measured using ocular estimates in a 1 meter by 1 meter quadrat. Sample locations were determined randomly prior to field evaluation. Upon reaching the sample point, the quadrat was placed on the ground and the ecologist estimates and records ground cover by plant species, to the nearest 1%. All species, including noxious and invasive species, and their respective percent ground cover will be recorded, this will be used to calculate total plant cover. Total plant cover along with litter and rock cover, and bare ground exposure will be used to sum each sample point to 100%. 4.3 Permanent Photo Points One permanent photo-point (marked with GPS coordinates) in each NHBZ area on the Site should be established to visually catalog vegetation progress. At each point, four photos are collected, one each in a cardinal compass direction (N-E-S-W) using a photo board to indicate photo-point and direction visible in each frame. These photo points should be documented during the peak growing season evaluation for the 3 annual monitoring efforts following restoration. 4.4 Success Criteria During the third year of annual monitoring, a determination of successful establishment in the NHBZ will be made by City Planning 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. 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. Restored vegetation communities will be considered established when: 1. 70% total vegetative cover (excluding noxious weeds) is reached with no bare spots larger than one square-foot; 2. Noxious weeds do not exceed 10% total cover; and 3. Deemed acceptable by City Planning Services. City Planning Services 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. 5.0 LITERATURE CITED AND DATA SOURCES Cedar Creek Associates, Inc. 2016. Updated Ecological Characterization Study (ECS) Letter Report for the Country Club Reserve Development Parcel. Dated April 19, 2016. City of Fort Collins. 2020. Land Use Code [September 2020 update] Walsh Environmental Scientists and Engineers, LLC. 2006. Ecological Site Characterization Report. Dated February 2, 2006.