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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRIT ATHLETICS FACILITY - PDP - PDP160024 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTGRIT Athletics Facility Ecological Characterization Study 1 Copyright © 2016 BMEC All Rights Reserved GRIT ATHLETICS FACILITY ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION STUDY © July 2016 Larimer County, Colorado Prepared by: BLUE MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING Supporting Sustainable Management of Natural Resources 937 MALLARD DRIVE, FT. COLLINS, CO 80521 (970) 224-0851 GRIT Athletics Facility Ecological Characterization Study 2 Copyright © 2016 BMEC All Rights Reserved GRIT Athletics Facility Ecological Characterization Study 3 Copyright © 2016 BMEC All Rights Reserved TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 5 2.0 SITE DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................................ 5 3.0 ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION ................................................................................... 5 3.1 WILDLIFE .......................................................................................................................... 6 3.2 WETLANDS ....................................................................................................................... 6 3.3 PROMINENT VIEWS ........................................................................................................... 6 3.4 NATIVE TREES AND VEGETATION ..................................................................................... 6 3.5 NON-NATIVE TREES AND VEGETATON……………………………………………...……7 3.6 BANK, SHORELINE AND HIGH WATER MARK OF PERENNIAL WATER ............................... 7 3.7 SENSITIVE AND SPECIALLY VALUED SPECIES ................................................................... 7 3.8 SPECIAL HABITAT FEATURES............................................................................................ 7 3.9 WILDLIFE MIGRATION CORRIDORS ................................................................................... 7 3.10 GENERAL ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS ............................................................................... 7 3.11 TIMING OF DEVELOPMENT IN RELATION TO ECOLOGICAL CHARACTER ......................... 8 3.12 MITIGATE MEASURES ..................................................................................................... 8 4.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................................... 8 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................... 8 APPENDIX A: PROJECT MAPS ................................................................................................. 9 APPENDIX B: SITE PHOTOGRAPHS ....................................................................................... 13 GRIT Athletics Facility Ecological Characterization Study 4 Copyright © 2016 BMEC All Rights Reserved GRIT Athletics Facility Ecological Characterization Study 5 Copyright © 2016 BMEC All Rights Reserved 1.0 Introduction This report documents ecological characteristics of the GRIT Athletics Facility. The Property is located on 1.19 acres (Parcel # 8715212013) in east Fort Collins. This report conforms to Section 3.4.1 (D) (1) of the Land Use Code of the City of Fort Collins regarding the preparation of an Ecological Characterization Study (ECS). This report was required by the City of Fort Collins Community Development and Neighborhood Services in correspondence dated June 2016 because the project is within 500 feet of wetlands and riparian habitat associated with Boxelder Creek. The City of Fort Collins contact for the project is Environmental Planner Stephanie Blochowiak. Ms. Blochowiak has indicated an abbreviated and/or memo ECS is sufficient for the project. 2.0 Site Description The proposed GRIT Athletics Facility encompasses 1.19 acres (51,836 square feet) and is located at 822 SE Frontage Road, Fort Collins, Colorado. The Property is bounded by commercial development to the north and south and by the Boxelder Creek floodplain to the east. The legal description for the site is LOTS 13 AND 14, INTERCHANGE BUSINESS PARK (2002002944), Fort Collins, Colorado. A City of Fort Collins Natural Habitats and Features Inventory Map is provided in Appendix A. The Property consists of several ornamental trees along the Southeast Frontage Road (western border) and in a 15’ x 30’ landscape planter, approximately 0.18 acres of pavement and 0.90 acres of disturbed land that has been cleared/bladed and used as overflow parking for neighboring businesses. The site was visited by Clint Hinebaugh (Natural Resource Specialist) with Blue Mountain Environmental Consulting on July 22, 2016. 3.0 Ecological Characterization The elements of the Ecological Characterization Study are summarized in the order listed in Section 3.4.1 (D) (1) of the Land Use Code. According to the City of Fort Collins Natural Habitats and Features Inventory Map, the project site does not contain any natural habitats or features. Habitat in the vicinity of the project includes aquatic, emergent wetland, wet meadow and non-native grassland located along the intersection of Boxelder Creek and East Mulberry Road (Colorado Highway 14). GRIT Athletics Facility Ecological Characterization Study 6 Copyright © 2016 BMEC All Rights Reserved 3.1 Wildlife Due to the Property’s urban location and high human disturbance level, wildlife value is poor. Most wildlife use can be expected to be transitional as animals travel along the Boxelder Creek corridor. Seasonal and/or year-round use can be expected by a number of urban adapted avifauna including American robin (Turdus migratorius), mourning dove (Zenaidura macroura), Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto), magpie (Pica pica), and swallow (Hirundinidae spp.) American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and common raven (Corvus corax). Mammals such as mice, voles, fox squirrel (Sciurus niger), raccoon (Procyon lotor) and eastern cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) could utilize the Property year round. With the exception of some songbirds, no wildlife or signs of wildlife were observed during the site visit. 3.2 Wetlands There are no wetlands on the Property. According to the National Wetlands Inventory (https://www.fws.gov/wetlands/data/mapper.html) a 15.15-acre freshwater emergent wetland (PEM1A) that is associated with Boxelder Creek is located approximately 120 feet to the east of the Property boundary. According to the City of Fort Collins FEMA Map Panel (08069C1000F), the eastern portion of the Property is in a High Floodway (http://www.fcgov.com/utilities/what-we- do/stormwater/flooding/floodplain-maps-documents, accessed on July 24, 2016). 3.3 Prominent Views There are no prominent views onsite. The area surrounding the site is already heavily developed, with commercial and residential property bordering all sides of the proposed development. 3.4 Native Trees and Vegetation None. 3.5 Non-native Trees and Vegetation Approximately 0.90 acres of the Property is highly disturbed and is dominated by early seral species. Annual and perennial weeds such as cheatgrass (Anisantha tectorum), kochia (Kochia scoparia), field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) and Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) were all observed during the site visit. GRIT Athletics Facility Ecological Characterization Study 7 Copyright © 2016 BMEC All Rights Reserved According to the Site Plan, provided by the TB Group, the five existing ornamental landscape trees on the Property (three along the Southeast Frontage Road and two in the landscape planter in the parking lot) will remain undisturbed on the Property. 3.6 Bank, Shoreline and High Water Mark of Perennial Water None. 3.7 Sensitive and Specially Valued Species The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Information, Planning and Conservation System (IPAC) was accessed to determine species of concern in Larimer County, which include the Preble’s meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei), Ute lady’s tresses orchid (Spiranthes diluvialis) and Colorado butterfly plant (Gaura neomexicana ssp. coloradensis), all of which are associated with riparian/wetland areas. There are no known occurrences or habitat for sensitive and/or specially valued species on the Property. 3.8 Special Habitats and Features No special habitats or features are present on the Property. The Natural Habitats and Features Inventory Map provided by the City of Fort Collins (Appendix A) identifies prominent features in the vicinity of the Property, including aquatic, emergent wetland, wet meadow and non-native grassland habitats. 3.9 Wildlife Migration Corridors Boxelder Creek, located approximately 120 feet to the east of the Property, likely provides a wildlife migration corridor for raccoons, skunks and other urban-adapted species. Development of the GRIT Athletic Facility would be consistent with adjacent properties, and we development would not affect the functioning of Boxelder Creek as a wildlife corridor. 3.10 General Ecological Functions The 1.19-acre site does not support any significant areas of native vegetation or other unique habitat features. GRIT Athletics Facility Ecological Characterization Study 8 Copyright © 2016 BMEC All Rights Reserved 3.11 Timing of Development in Relation to Ecological Character The primary concern for the timing of development is protection of nesting birds adjacent to the project site. Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, it is unlawful for anyone to take, possess, import, export, transport, sell, purchase, barter or offer for sale, purchase or barter, any migratory bird or the parts, nests or eggs. The coniferous and deciduous trees located to the north and east of the project site should be visually checked for nesting activity prior to construction so that the project complies with the temporary 450-foot radius Limit of Development (LOD) from February 15 th to July 15 th for occupied nests. 3.12 Mitigate Measures Although occupied raptor nest sites are unlikely, a nest search is recommended within two weeks prior to the start of construction to avoid Migratory Bird Treaty Act infractions. 4.0 Conclusions and Recommendations Blue Mountain Environmental Consulting believes that no significant ecological resources will be adversely impacted by development on this site. References City of Fort Collins Floodplain Maps and Documents. http://www.fcgov.com/utilities/what-we- do/stormwater/flooding/floodplain-maps-documents Colorado Parks and Wildlife Recommended Buffer Zones and Seasonal Restrictions for Raptors. http://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/WildlifeSpecies/LivingWithWildlife/RaptorBufferGuid elines2008.pdf National Wetland Inventory Mapper. Accessed on July 24, 2016. http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Mapper.html United States Fish and Wildlife Service Information Planning and Conservation System. Accessed on July 24, 2016. http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac/ Wildlife Management Guidelines, City of Fort Collins. http://www.fcgov.com/naturalareas/pdf/wildlife-management-guidelines.pdf GRIT Athletics Facility Ecological Characterization Study 9 Copyright © 2016 BMEC All Rights Reserved Appendix A: Project Maps GRIT Athletics Facility Ecological Characterization Study 10 Copyright © 2016 BMEC All Rights Reserved GRIT Athletics Facility Ecological Characterization Study 11 Copyright © 2016 BMEC All Rights Reserved SITE PLAN GRIT Athletics Facility Ecological Characterization Study 12 Copyright © 2016 BMEC All Rights Reserved PHOTO POINT MAP 1 2 3 4 5 GRIT Athletics Facility Ecological Characterization Study 13 Copyright © 2016 BMEC All Rights Reserved Appendix B: Site Photographs GRIT Athletics Facility Ecological Characterization Study 14 Copyright © 2016 BMEC All Rights Reserved Map Number: 1 Photo Direction: SE Looking southeast into the Property from the SE Frontage Road. Map Number: 2 Photo Direction: E Looking east into the Property; note disturbed area and parking lot. GRIT Athletics Facility Ecological Characterization Study 15 Copyright © 2016 BMEC All Rights Reserved Map Number: 3 Photo Direction: W Looking west into the Property; note boundary flag. Map Number: 3 Photo Direction: N Looking north along the eastern boundary; note two boundary flags. GRIT Athletics Facility Ecological Characterization Study 16 Copyright © 2016 BMEC All Rights Reserved Map Number: 4 Photo Direction: SW Looking southwest into the Property; note kochia along the roadway. Map Number: 5 Photo Direction: E Looking east towards Boxelder Creek. This is outside of the Property boundary. GRIT Athletics Facility Ecological Characterization Study 17 Copyright © 2016 BMEC All Rights Reserved