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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWATERS' EDGE - PDP - PDP160006 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - (3)November 11, 2015 Rebecca Everette Planning Services, City of Fort Collins PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 Re: Update to Ecological Site Characterization, Water’s Edge Residential Development Project, Fort Collins, Colorado Dear Rebecca: Ecology and Environment, Inc., (E & E) has prepared this update on the above-referenced project involving the Ecological Site Characterization (ESC) of the Water’s Edge residential development Project (Project), in order to meet the requirements of the City of Fort Collins’ development review process. INTRODUCTION This report presents the results of an update of existing ecological conditions at the Project site in Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado. E & E conducted this evaluation on behalf of Water’s Edge Investments, LLLP. Vignette Studios is providing the overall planning and landscape architecture for the Project. The Project is located immediately northeast of Richard's Lake, a reservoir in northern Fort Collins (Figure 1). The site includes approximately 105 acres of currently vacant land (except for two operating oil wells) located west of County Road 11 and primarily north of Brightwater Drive. The Project site includes the SE 1/4 and a portion of the SW 1/4 of Section 30, Township 8 North, Range 68 West, of the Sixth Principal Meridian. Elevation ranges from approximately 5,055 to 5,105 feet above sea level. Existing residential developments lie both north and south of the Project site. A recreation area and beach has been developed on the eastern water front by the Richard’s Lake Owners Association (RLOA) since the prior ESC reports (Walsh 2005, 2006) (Figure 1). Pursuant to email discussions with the Planning Services Department of Fort Collins, this report specifically updates these portions of the prior ESC conducted by Walsh:  Any changes in overall site condition (including vegetation, wetlands, waterfowl, and wildlife);  Any changes in location/distribution of the showy prairie gentian (Eustoma grandiflorum), a Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) rare plant recorded in 2005-2006, and any resulting changes to the associated buffers; 2  Any change in the extent of the wetlands along Richard's Lake and the tree/shrub fringe, and any resulting changes to the associated buffer;  Any new conditions or features identified on the site; and  Any new/additional mitigation measures that are recommended at this time. The site was also surveyed for significant native and non-native trees as defined in the Fort Collins Land Use Code Section 3.2.1(F). METHODOLOGY Prior to the site visit, ESC reports completed in 2005 and 2006 were reviewed for prior site conditions. In addition, federal and state special status species (SSS) including threatened and endangered species and species of special concern listed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) or Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) were reviewed (USFWS 2015, CPW 2015a). The onsite survey was conducted on September 16 and 25, 2015. The entirety of the Project area was traversed on available trails and roads by foot and vehicle to review changes in onsite conditions in regards to wildlife activity and habitats, vegetation, wetlands, and to document significant trees as defined in the Ft. Collins Land Use Code Section 3.2.1(F). A Trimble GPS was used to document any changes in the extent of wetlands, the tree/shrub fringe along Richard’s Lake, significant trees throughout the Project area and the presence/absence of showy prairie gentian (previously recorded in 2006 along the lake edge and west of the Hearthfire subdivision). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION No SSS were observed in the Project area. The bald eagle, previously a USFWS threatened species, has been removed from the endangered species list, but it still remains a CPW species of special concern (CPW 2015a). Richard’s Lake is not recorded by CPW as a foraging area for bald eagles (CPW 2015b) and the Project lacks large tree perches needed for forging and roosting. Richard’s Lake remains unchanged in regard to the use by waterfowl, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals, as compared to the use documented in the 2005 ECS (Walsh 2005). Use by commonly occurring species is expected to remain stable or decline slightly due to increasing recreational use by the RLOA. CPW documents the lake as a foraging area for geese and American white pelicans (CPW 2015b). Showy prairie gentians recorded in 2006 were not present during the site visits and no new occurrences were detected. Although the site was visited after the flowering season, vegetative portions of the plant, that should still be present in September, were absent. Since the prior detections, the high water line at Richard’s Lake has inundated the gentian habitats over multiple years. During the visit, three prior locations of the plant were under water. It appears the gentian has been eliminated from the lake margin by high water, increased human activity from the Hearthfire subdivision bordering the lake, and increasing non-native plants in the shoreline such as Canada thistle, salt cedar, and Russian-olive on the within the original areas of observance. 3 Non-native pasture grasses continue to dominate the upland areas of the Project, especially non-native grassland species such as smooth brome, crested wheatgrass, and intermediate wheatgrass. Weed species continue to occur including noxious weeds listed by the Colorado Department of Agriculture: downy brome, field bindweed, Canada thistle, musk thistle, common mullein, salt cedar, Russian-olive, and the newly detected leafy spurge. Other weeds, not recorded on the noxious weed list, include kochia, prickly lettuce, and Russian-thistle. As described in the prior reports, the outer shoreline of Richard's Lake adjacent to the Project contains a mixed woodland and shrubland of plains cottonwood, peachleaf willow, Siberian elm, Russian-olive, and other woody species. The wooded margin, defined as a wetland in the Fort Collins Land Use Code, has remained consistent in width and extent, with the exception of the disturbance of approximately 0.35 acres by the new recreation area owned by the RLOA. While the trees have grown taller, they have limited or no capability to support the nests of raptors such as osprey, red-tailed hawk, and Swainson’s hawk. In the upland area a mixture of volunteer saplings occur including Siberian elm, Russian-olive, green ash, plains cottonwood, black locust, and boxelder. None of the trees have significant status as defined in the Fort Collins Land Use Code and are unlikely to be retained in the Project. The Water’s Edge Project currently anticipates planting approximately 1,100 trees (shade, evergreen, and ornamental). Since the prior ESC, a recreation trail has been constructed from the Richard’s Lake subdivision south of the Project to the new beach and recreation area on the edge of Richard’s lake. The trail is within 10 to 20 feet of the wooded margin (Figure 1). RECOMMENDED MITIGATION MEASURES The previously recommended mitigation measures (Walsh 2005, 2006) still apply to the Water’s Edge Project. Recommended measures include:  If construction is scheduled to begin during the raptor nesting season (March 1 through July 15), conduct a raptor nesting survey along the adjacent wooded fringe. If an active raptor nest is found, avoid the nest by 0.125 mile (Cooper's hawk), 0.25 mile (Swainson's hawk), or 0.33 mile (red-tailed hawk) until after nesting is complete.  If construction is ongoing prior to the start of the raptor nesting season, phase the construction so that work begins closest to the lake before the nesting season so that any raptors are likely to move to another area rather than choosing the site and being subject to later disturbance.  If a recreational trail is constructed around the reservoir, stay as far back from (i.e., outside) the wooded fringe as practicable to minimize disturbance of nesting or migrant songbirds.  If feasible, prohibit residents of Water's Edge from allowing cats at-large and dogs at-large in the wooded fringe and shoreline areas of Richard's Lake. Enforce the restriction through the homeowners association in conjunction with Fort Collins animal control officers. These measures would also tend to minimize any impacts to water birds that might use the lake. Note that no mitigation measures are recommended for the jurisdictional shoreline areas of Richard's Lake, because the project is not anticipated to impact the wetland or wooded fringe habitats. The Project will continue to adhere to the recommended 100-foot buffer from wetlands that are greater than 1/3 acre in size and without significant use by waterfowl as defined in Fort Collins Land Use Code Section 3.4.1. 4 However, to ensure that these sensitive areas are protected during construction in upland areas, the following best management practice is proposed:  Erect a vinyl silt fence and, where needed, straw bales or straw logs between the upland construction areas and the shoreline area of Richard's Lake, including the outer edge of the wooded fringe, to prevent waterborne transport of eroded soil into the habitat and to clearly demark areas to be protected from operation of equipment or placement of material stockpiles or waste. Sincerely, ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT, INC. Scott Severs Wildlife Biologist and Project Manager © 2015 Ecology and Environment, Inc. REFERENCES Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). 2015a. Threatened and Endangered List. Available: http://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/SOC-ThreatenedEndangeredList.aspx Accessed: August 2015. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) 2015b. Natural Diversity Information Source. Colorado Parks and Wildlife Biologists, District Wildlife Managers, and Researchers. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2015. IPaC Information for Planning and Conservation. Available: https://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/ Accessed: September 2015. Walsh Environmental Scientists and Engineers (Walsh). 2005. Ecological Site Characterization Report, Water’s Edge Project. Fort Collins, Colorado Walsh Environmental Scientists and Engineers (Walsh). 2006. Ecological Issues in Relation to Fort Collins Land Use Code, Richard’s Lake Shoreline and Vicinity, Water’s Edge Development. Fort Collins, Colorado Figure 1 Water's Edge Ecological Site Characterization Update Larimer County, Colorado 3124500 3124500 3125000 3125000 3125500 3125500 1471500 1471500 1472000 1472000 1472500 1472500 W Fort Collins wetland boundary 100-foot setback Property boundary Trail Recreation area U:\Projects_2015\WatersEdge\Fig1_WatersEdge_ESC_Update.mxd 08 Oct 2015 1 inch = 150 feet NAD 1983 StatePlane Colorado North FIPS 0501 Feet 0 100 200 Feet Site Location MULBERRY ST MOUNTAIN AV 56 WILLOX LN 48 VINE DR 17 DOUGLAS RD 11 5 SHIELDS ST 15 ¤£287 VU14 VU1 ¦¨§25 Source: Vignette Studios 2015