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Home My WebLink About1.06 Wetlands ReportWETLANDS REPORT P'i Beach Environmental, LLC T.O. Ranch Subdivision Wetland Delineation Ronald Liston Land Design Partnership 918 Cooper Ave. Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 Project #: 0258 Dear Ron: September 19, 2000 Re: TO Ranch Subdivision At your request, we have undertaken and completed an analysis of wetland areas at the T.O. Ranch Subdivision. We have used the Army Corps of Engineers three parameter technique to determine jurisdictional wetlands, if any, on the T.O. Ranch Subdivision. This involved the examination of soil borings, hydrophytic vegetation, and local hydrology. The findings and conclusions of our work have been included as an attachment to this letter. Those findings indicate there are no jurisdictional wetlands within the proposed area of development. However, an extensive willow carr community exists, largely along the irrigation ditches that flow through lots 2 & 3. There is another small pocket of willow located in lot 1. This willow carr community provides functional value, and it is our recommendation that these areas be avoided during construction. We have provided a wetland map outlining these areas for your convenience. Please call with any questions or concerns you may have. Sincerely, By 715 W. Main Suite 304 Aspen, Co Z316 1 Tel (970) 925 -3475 fax 925 -4754 Jorine K. Lawyer, MES1V.1 Project Location The T.Q. Ranch Subdivision is located just north of Highway 82, at its intersection with County Road 100 in Garfield County, Colorado. The subdivision is approximately 17 acres in total and is proposed for a three lot split of 5.98, 6.95, and 4.10 acres respectively. A large portion of the site presently is used for pasture grazing, other sites are presently fenced off and are not currently in use. The land is predominantly pasture grasses, including Timothy, Brome, and Wheatgrass. Additionally there are small upland areas of Scrub Oak, Rabbit Brush, and sage. Wetland Classification & Conclusions The T.Q. Ranch Subdivision was visually investigated by Beach Environmental, LLC to identify on -site wetland areas. Hydrology, vegetation, and soils were examined using the three parameter requirement of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to identify jurisdictional wetlands. Site investigation revealed only two of the three parameters exist on site, hydrophytic vegetation and hydrology. The soils examined revealed no indication of the characteristic anoxic environment of a wetland; therefore the willow carr community does not qualify as a jurisdictional wetland. Nevertheless, this area provides functional value, and it is recommended that these areas remain undisturbed. However, the soil parameter of the wetland equation is temporal and any future construction in the willow carr areas must receive a delineation to determine if an Army Corps Permit is needed. This report will describe the three lots, their associated irrigation ditches, wetland communities present, and our findings. A final recommendation for each lot will be given, based on the function and value of the vegetation present. Wetland Function & Values Wetlands have been traditionally valued for their wildlife habitat attributes and have been described metaphorically as the "kidneys of the landscape ". Vegetation surrounding wetland areas have the ability to absorb deleterious nutrients such as nitrate, and via denitrification, . convert nitrate into benign nitrogen gas. This biochemical process helps to eliminate nitrates into our waters and helps to increase overall water quality. The willow communities on the T_0_ Ranch provide habitat to a variety of bird species in Colorado and improve water quality from surface runoff of agricultural and grazing lands. The willows also provide an isolated riparian corridor for cover, forage, nesting, and bedding. The preservation of these willow communities is greatly encouraged. Wetland Assessment Lot 1: Lot 1 has two irrigation ditches traversing it, one running east to west in the northern part of Lot 1; the other running north to south just outside the eastern property T.O. Ranch Subdivision Weiland Assessment Beach Environmental, LLC boundary. The ditch running east to west along the lot is approximately a 1 foot irrigation ditch and does not support any wetland vegetation. The second ditch running north to south outside the eastern property line supports a willow can community, typically indicative of wetlands. This willow comrnunity •extends 95 feet in length from the northernmost part of the ditch and extends 15 feet in width. See photo and wetland boundary map for details. Finding: At the time of our investigation, there were no indications of a j- urisdictional wetland community. Recommendation: The willow community along the ditch and approximately 5 feet from the fence line onto the property boundary should not be disturbed. The willow vegetative community represents high habitat value for many species and acts to absorb pollutants from surface runoff . Lot 2: Lot 2 has two irrigation ditches traversing north to south through the property. The first located closest to the western property boundary is a 3 foot irrigation ditch and supports a dense cover of Sandbar Willow along its entire length. A secondary immature willow community extends off the ditch. The second irrigation ditch is approximately 1 -foot, 450 feet away from the western property boundary. See photos and wetland boundary map for details. Finding: At the time of our investigation, there were no indications of a jurisdictional wetland community. Recommendation: The wetland community of dense Sandbar Willow along the 3 foot irrigation ditch has high habitat value and should not be disturbed. The vegetation surrounding this waterway represents the best habitat on this property due to its continuous cover through the entire length of the waterway. Lot 3 There are two significant ditches running roughly north -south within Lot 3, and this segment is the wettest of the three lots. A culvert running under the road from the property located on the north carries water into Lot 3, where it is immediately diverted into 2 separate ditches. The first ditch is the larger (approximately 3 feet), runs north- south, and supports a dense Sandbar Willow population. This ditch continues throughout the entire length of Lot 3, extending into Lot 2. The second ditch is smaller (approximately 1 foot) and supports an immature willow population. The ground is significantly saturated along the first 200 feet of the second ditch due to its small capacity to hold water, making an ineffective diversion from the primary ditch. This T.O. Ranch Subdivision Weiland Assessment Beach Environmental, LLC saturation has helped to create an extensive immature willow population. See photo and wetland boundary map for details. Finding: At the time of our investigation, there were no indications of a jurisdictional wetland community. Reconzmendation: The primary ditch in this lot supports dense mature willows which traverses unfragmented for approximately 660 feet throughout the T.O. Ranch Subdivision. Care should be taken to avoid this area as it contributes high habitat value in this continuous state. The younger willows off of the secondary ditch are not as dense and are likely due to the incongruous "y" transition when the ditch enters the property. T.O. Ranch Subdivision Wetland Assessment Beach Environmental, LLC ,,: _,...itz- :::,:c.7.4,:. _,:per-p,,,,,,.=.- :. ,Z.• ...Lr• 1 7.4,r--.: ''' ' '."- ivvit 'ars.a:;:• ?,,41,24.1;.' ' r "f...;.t iWrb 111 li ial5 '.17-.1:' 4. ".."'"....„ ... 7'. 011'i: ... . :.: -7 ... . Lot 1: Willow Cornmunity Lot 2: Immature Willow Cornmunity in foreground, an extension of the primary ditch. Mature Willow Community in background off 3- foot ditch. BEACH ENVIRONMENTAL, LLC 715 Wes[ Min Street, Suite 304 Aspen, Colorado 816 L 1 Photographic Exhibit T.O. Ranch Wetland Analysis Lot 3: Immature Willow Corrununity (Extends approx. 200 feet). BEACH ENVIRONMENTAL, LLC 715 West Main Street, Suite 304 Aspen, Colorado 81611 Photographic Exhibit T.O. Ranch Wetland Analysis 601.84 \ EC. 5.98 AC. 670.87, 460. 55 N80 -4 9 ,21 „ LAEL E 'CODE. v. HUGHES \ 1 : CMP (2: I 1 I 1 7 I 0 L-1 L-1 iA_ BOBBY R. BUUKETT N 89°55'23" E ?4" CMP ,_ 11`c� /,-// 'f C7 ()`:'EFiE 1 UTi"T1t UNE / `N ti =land !Vary • c, 300 i / , N . :d \. \\ 6.95 AC. 4.10 A, (SEC' 31) 1