HomeMy WebLinkAbout1.03 Application Part42714 331 COUNTY ROAD, GARFIELD, COLORADO10/07/21 1" = 200'
3704.001 PV CIVILSITE DETAILSPEACE BEAR RANCH09/24/21TCRBISSUED FOR 30% REVIEWA10/08/21TCRBISSUED FOR 30% REVIEWB--------------------JOB NO.
SCALEDATEREVISIONSNO.DATEDWN.CHK.ELECTRIC POWER ENGINEERING, INC.12600 W. COLFAX AVE, STE. C500LAKEWOOD, CO 80215(303) 431-7895 www.neieng.comC01-09
40'-0"20'-0"
5778
5772
5774
5776
5778
FG:5778.50
FG:5778.50
FG:5778.10
FG:5778.10
2.00%
0.00
%
FRONT VIEWRIGHT VIEW
ISOMETRIC VIEW
2714 331 COUNTY ROAD, GARFIELD, COLORADO10/07/21 1" = 200'
3704.001 PV CIVILSITE DETAILSPEACE BEAR RANCH09/24/21TCRBISSUED FOR 30% REVIEWA10/08/21TCRBISSUED FOR 30% REVIEWB--------------------JOB NO.
SCALEDATEREVISIONSNO.DATEDWN.CHK.ELECTRIC POWER ENGINEERING, INC.12600 W. COLFAX AVE, STE. C500LAKEWOOD, CO 80215(303) 431-7895 www.neieng.comC01-10
6"
3'-0"
MIN
2% SLOPE (TYP)
4:1 S
L
O
P
E
VARIES BASED ON GRADE SLOPE
WORKING SURFACE ELEVATION
(4" ROAD BASE GRAVEL)
FINISH FLOOR ELEVATION
(MIN 1' ABOVE FLOODPLAIN)
GRASS COVER
PLAN VIEWSECTION VIEW
2
NTS
TYPICAL EQUIPMENT PAD GRADING DETAIL
C01-10
1
1"=20'
O&M SHED GRADING DETAIL
C01-10
DCCOMMLVHVLVAUXXFMRBESSAXBESSBXHVX.XX MVAXFMRLVMTS INVERTERSDCCOMMLVHVAC 2HVAC 1HVAC 2HVAC 138'-0"70'-0"
WORKING SURFACE
4'-6"
6'-6"
3'-0"
6'-0"
20' DITCH SETBACK
MODULES
20' GRAVEL ACCESS ROAD
O&M SHED CONCRETE PAD
40'-0"7'-11.98"
8'-6" MAX
EQUIPMENT HEIGHT
12'-0"
PRESS TREATED WOOD
POST 6" TO 7" DIA.
12.5 GAUGE DOUBLE WRAPPED HIGH
TENSILE DIAGONAL BRACE WIRES WITH
CLASS 3 GALVANIZED COATING (TYP.)
PROP. END BRACE SPECS
NOT TO SCALE
PRESS TREATED WOOD
POST 5" TO 6" DIA.
15'-0"
PRESS TREATED WOOD
POST 5" TO 6" DIA.
PROP. LINE POST SPECS
NOT TO SCALE
PRESS TREATED WOOD
POST 5" TO 6" DIA.
8'-0"
3'-0"
NOTE:
1.DETAILED FENCING AND GATE SPECIFICATIONS TO BE
SUPPLIED BY FENCING CONTRACTOR. FENCING TO BE
SBUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO THE REPRESENTATIVE
DETAIL SHOWN ON THESE PLANS
12'-0"
PRESS TREATED WOOD
POST 6" TO 7" DIA.
PRESS TREATED WOOD
POST 5" TO 6" DIA. (TYP.)
12'-0"
8'-0"
3'-0"
12.5 GAUGE DOUBLE WRAPPED HIGH
TENSILE DIAGONAL BRACE WIRES WITH
CLASS 3 GALVANIZED COATING (TYP.)
PRESS TREATED WOOD
POST 6" TO 7" DIA.
8'-0"8'-0"
8'-0"
4'-0"
KNOX BOX OR SIMILAR
RAPID ENTRY SYSTEM
PRESS TREATED WOOD
POST 6" TO 7" DIA. (TYP.)
12.5 GAUGE DOUBLE WRAPPED HIGH
TENSILE DIAGONAL BRACE WIRES WITH
CLASS 3 GALVANIZED COATING (TYP.)2714 331 COUNTY ROAD, GARFIELD, COLORADO10/19/21 NTS
3704.001 PV CIVILSITE DETAILSC01-11PEACE BEAR RANCH10/19/21TCRBISSUED FOR 30% REVIEWA-------------------------PRELIMINARY
NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION
FOR REVIEW & APPROVAL ONLY
JOB NO.
SCALEDATEREVISIONSNO.DATEDWN.CHK.ELECTRIC POWER ENGINEERING, INC.12600 W. COLFAX AVE, STE. C500LAKEWOOD, CO 80215(303) 431-7895 www.neieng.com
AES Peace Bear Ranch Solar – Land Use Change – Major Impact permit application (11/5/2021)
AES Peace Bear Ranch Solar – Garfield County 26
Solar Energy facilities are low-profile, passive, unobstructive developments with very little impact to the
surrounding lands or uses given that a negligible amount of traffic is generated after construction and the
Project will not emit any air, noise, or light pollution during operation. While visible from certain
property lines to the north and west, there is little in the profile or nature of the solar array once installed
that would result in impacts to the property or its neighbors, save for an adjustment in viewshed. The
solar facility will be sited on vacant land of marginal agricultural productivity and will allow for plenty
of distance to either nearby rights-of-way or residences. At its closest point, the solar array will be
approximately 500ft from the edge of the right of way of CR 331, and at least 200ft or more from the
nearest residence to the north.
In general, visual impact from the installation is deemed to be negligible given that the property sits atop
a small mesa and is thus at a higher elevation than lands sloping down to the east and west, limiting
visibility to the greater public. AES is proposing to install an 8ft tall, wildlife-friendly game fence
around the facility as detailed in the Site Plan in Section B2 on page C01-11. This will serve to soften
the visual impact of the installation and will present a less industrial aesthetic than standard chain link
fencing while meeting electrical code and operational safety requirements. The proposed fencing is of
the specification employed by Colorado Department of Transportation along public right-of-ways in the
area, and as such will not look out of place.
This application is not proposing any additional screening or landscaping measures due to the arid
nature of the land and the distance of the solar array from the of the general public. AES has conducted
proactive outreach to the closest landowners to discuss the Project and the potential for mitigation of any
concerns such residents may or may not have; however, no conversations so far have led to requests for
any specific landscaping or screening measures as part of the development.
The following section addresses proposed revegetation and weed management of the site.
LANDSCAPING PLAN
Section B3
AES Peace Bear Ranch Solar – Land Use Change – Major Impact permit application (11/5/2021)
AES Peace Bear Ranch Solar – Garfield County 27
Please see the following pages for the Weed Management and Re-Vegetation plan prepared by HDR
Consulting.
WEED MANAGEMENT AND RE-VEGETATION PLAN
Section B4
OCTOBER 2021
Vegetation Management Plan
Holy Cross Photovoltaic + BESS Portfolio Peace Bear Solar Project
Garfield County, Colorado
Prepared for:
Prepared by:
AES Peace Bear Project | Garfield County, Colorado
Vegetation Management Plan
October 2019 | i
Abbreviations and Acronyms
AES AES Peace Bear Solar, LLC
BESS Photovoltaic + Battery Storage
C.R.S. Colorado Revised Statutes
CDA Colorado Department of Agriculture
GCVM Garfield County Vegetation Management
GPS Global Positioning System
MW Megawatt
NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service
VMP Vegetation Management Plan
AES Peace Bear Project | Garfield County, Colorado
Vegetation Management Plan
October 2019 | i
Contents
Acronyms and Abbreviations ........................................................................................... Inside Front Cover
1 Introduction and Project Description ...................................................................................................... 1
2 Purpose and Need ................................................................................................................................... 1
2.1 Project Responsibilities ................................................................................................................ 3
2.1.1 AES (Project Proponent) .................................................................................................... 3
2.1.2 Construction Contractor ...................................................................................................... 3
2.1.3 Reclamation Contractor ...................................................................................................... 3
2.1.4 Garfield County (Regulatory) ............................................................................................ 3
3 Reclamation and Revegetation Measures ............................................................................................... 3
3.1 Revegetation Seed Mix ................................................................................................................ 3
3.2 Reseeding Approach .................................................................................................................... 4
3.3 Reclamation Success Criteria ...................................................................................................... 5
4 Weed Management ................................................................................................................................. 5
4.1 Recorded Weed Occurrences ....................................................................................................... 5
4.2 Integrated Weed Management ..................................................................................................... 7
4.3 Chemical Control ......................................................................................................................... 8
4.4 Mechanical Control ..................................................................................................................... 9
4.5 Cultural Control ........................................................................................................................... 9
4.6 Wash Stations ............................................................................................................................ 10
5 Post-construction Monitoring, Reporting, and Remedial Action ......................................................... 10
5.1 Revegetation .............................................................................................................................. 10
5.2 Noxious Weeds Management .................................................................................................... 11
5.3 Reporting and Remedial Actions ............................................................................................... 11
6 References ............................................................................................................................................ 13
Appendices
Appendix A: Control Methods for Project Weed Species
Figures
Figure 1. Project Area Location .................................................................................................................... 2
Figure 2. Project Area Vegetation ................................................................................................................ 6
Tables
Table 3-1. Seed Mixes and Application Rates .............................................................................................. 4
Table 4-1. Noxious Weed Species Observed within and near the Project Area ............................................ 5
Table 4-2. General Schedule for Noxious Weed Treatment and Monitoring ................................................ 9
Table 5-1. Project Contacts ......................................................................................................................... 12
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Vegetation Management Plan
1 Introduction and Project Description
AES Peace Bear Solar, LLC (AES) is proposing a paired Photovoltaic + Battery Storage (BESS) project
(Project) to support Holy Cross Energy’s 2030 goal of using 100 percent renewable energy. The Project
involves the development of a greenfield solar project in Garfield County, Colorado, targeting up to 16
megawatt (MW) direct current / 10 MW alternating current plus 20 megawatt hours of battery storage. The
proposed Project site is approximately 3 miles south of Silt, Colorado within Section 21 and 22, Township
6 South, Range 92 West (see Figure 1). Construction is scheduled to begin after May 1, 2022 and conclude
within 6 to 8 months.
2 Purpose and Need
This document serves as the Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) for the Project. This VMP comprises
three main sections: (1) reclamation and revegetation; (2) weed management; and (3) monitoring, reporting,
and remedial action.
For the purposes of this VMP, noxious weeds are defined as those plants listed under the Colorado Noxious
Weed Act, Colorado Revised Statue (C.R.S) 35-5.5-101.l. The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA)
is responsible for the monitoring and control of noxious weeds in the state. The species of concern are
categorized as A-, B-, or C-rated plants according to their current level of infestation and threat, with
A-rated being of highest concern. Generally, the categories are defined as:
• A-Rated: Species in Colorado are designated for eradication wherever they are found.
• B-Rated: Those species for which management is designed to eradicate, contain, or suppress in
portions of the state designated by the commissioner in order to stop their continued spread.
• C-Rated: Widespread and well-established noxious weed species for which control is
recommended but not required, although local governing bodies may require management.
The purpose of this VMP is also to identify and detail the necessary measures to achieve Project site
reclamation and revegetation. The following procedures and standards would be implemented and upheld
toward the successful reclamation of construction-related disturbances:
• reclamation performance standards as defined by Garfield County and the State of Colorado
• environmental conditions pertinent to reclamation activities and success
• vegetation and soil management techniques
• reclamation procedures, including site preparation, mulching, and seeding
• reclamation measures for disturbance on wetland (avoidance) and upland habitats (revegetation)
• monitoring and reporting requirements
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AES Peace Bear Project | Garfield County, Colorado
Vegetation Management Plan
Figure 1. Project Area Location
October 2021 | 3
AES Peace Bear Project | Garfield County, Colorado
Vegetation Management Plan
2.1 Project Responsibilities
Compliance with this VMP is contingent upon Project planning and execution of the following roles and
responsibilities.
2.1.1 AES (Project Proponent)
AES would be responsible for the following:
• Ensure the appropriate reviews, approvals, and implementation of this VMP
• Appoint and manage a qualified, licensed reclamation contractor
• Coordinate with the reclamation contractor and Garfield County regarding scheduled
vegetation management activities
2.1.2 Construction Contractor
The construction contractor would be responsible for the following:
• Project construction related activities
• Oversee the various subcontracted construction companies working on the Project
• Implement applicable pre-construction and construction phase restoration (e.g., recontouring
and stabilization) and impact minimization measures (e.g., stormwater control measures)
• Identify and maintain weed wash stations
• Ensure that vehicles and materials are clean prior to Project site entry or exit
2.1.3 Reclamation Contractor
The reclamation contractor would be responsible for the following:
• Implement and monitor revegetation of Project disturbances
• Weed management planning, implementation, and monitoring
• Conduct weed treatments and manage herbicide application records
• Implement and monitor the efficacy of weed treatments
• Coordinate with Garfield County to document weed treatments
2.1.4 Garfield County (Regulatory)
Garfield County would be responsible for the following:
• Approve this VMP and other Project management plans
• Attending annual meetings (as necessary) with AES and the reclamation contractor
• Approve seed mixes and herbicides used on the Project site
• Inspect the Project site for compliance and provide regulatory guidance
3 Reclamation and Revegetation Measures
3.1 Revegetation Seed Mix
AES is responsible for controlling soil erosion and gullying in the Project area during construction and
operation. The Project design would avoid the accumulation of excessive heads of water and encroachment
on streams. AES would revegetate or otherwise stabilize all ground where the soil has been exposed as a
result of construction activities, maintenance, and operation. AES will also construct and maintain
necessary preventive measures to supplement the vegetation. A Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS) generated seed mix for the Project area is provided in Table 3-1.
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AES Peace Bear Project | Garfield County, Colorado
Vegetation Management Plan
Seeds used for revegetation would be certified noxious weed free. This would be accomplished by
purchasing seed mixes from county approved vendors or testing seeds lots through an independent
laboratory. The results of the seed testing would be presented to the Garfield County vegetation manager
prior to use in the Project. Approved seed mixes would be free of noxious weeds, common weeds, and crop
weeds. Unless purchased from a trusted vendor, manufacture labels on seed bags are insufficient proof of
certified weed free seed.
Table 3-1. Seed Mixes and Application Rates
Seed Mix Species – Percent of Seed Mix Cultivar Total PLS
(lbs. in Mix)
PLS
(Seeds / ft2)
PLS
(lbs./acre)
UPLAND MIX
Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) – 20% arriba 611 8 3.17
Indian ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides) – 15% paloma 214 6 1.11
Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda) – 10% wild 38 4 0.20
Galleta grass (Pleuraphis jamesii) – 15% viva 107 6 0.56
Bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata spicata) – 15% golder 360 6 1.87
Bottlebrush squirreltail (Elymus elymoides) – 10% tusas 175 4 0.91
Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) – 5% wild 84 2 0.44
Louisiana sage (Artemisia ludoviciana) – 5% wild 6 2 0.03
Western yarrow (Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis) – 5% wild 6 2 0.03
TOTAL 1601 40 8.32
Source: NRCS 2021
PLS = Pure Live Seed
3.2 Reseeding Approach
The reclamation contractor would identify areas requiring seeding and would determine the necessary level
of effort and approach based on surface disturbance, soil compaction, and the condition of underlying root
systems after construction. A drill seed approach will be used, as applicable to the particular area(s), to
reseed after disturbed soils are recontoured and/or roughened for seeding. Sites where soils are not
physically displaced during construction would typically retain the root systems and native seed bank,
which would permit natural regrowth of existing vegetation. Therefore, areas such as access roads and
staging areas would be assessed on a site-specific basis for prescribed soil preparation and reseeding efforts.
Soil preparation would occur prior to reseeding to promote maximum seed germination. All soil ripping,
soil harrowing, and seeding operations would be performed as close to parallel to the topographic contours
as possible. Following seeding, the surface would be dragged, harrowed, and/or hand raked as needed based
on site conditions. After seeding, cleared vegetation would be spread throughout reclaimed areas to imitate
natural colors and textures in the landscape and to create microclimates that promote vegetation
establishment and plant diversity.
Seeding success is influenced by temperature, precipitation, wind, aspect/slope, soil type, and other
environmental factors. The best germination occurs when temperatures are above freezing and during high
precipitation. In Colorado, conditions for cool-season species usually occur in the early spring and late fall.
Seeding would occur between October 25 and April 30. Seeding would not occur during windy conditions
or when the ground is excessively wet, frozen, snow covered, extremely dry, cloddy, hard, or otherwise
untillable. The reclamation contractor would consider other environmental factors when seeding application
October 2021 | 5
AES Peace Bear Project | Garfield County, Colorado
Vegetation Management Plan
is conducted in any given Project location. Furthermore, the reclamation contractor would monitor
revegetation progress until such time that reclamation success is approved by the Garfield County
vegetation manager. Full reclamation is anticipated to be achieved in 4 seasons or when the Project area
has reached 70 percent of pre-construction vegetation.
3.3 Reclamation Success Criteria
The goal of post-construction reclamation is to return the land to a state approximating pre-construction
conditions. This includes reclamation of the landform and natural vegetative communities, hydrologic
systems, visual resources, and wildlife habitats. Successful reclamation would meet the following
reclamation success criteria:
• Erosional features are equal to or less than those in the surrounding area. Water infiltrates the soil
rather than running off the surface.
• Noxious weed species cover is equal to or less than what was present prior to construction.
• All temporary soil-disturbances are recontoured to approximate the original topography and grade.
• Disturbances to soils and vegetation are not obvious to the untrained eye, with the exception of
permanently disturbed areas, such as access roads.
• Revegetated plant densities (not including weed species) are at least 70 percent of representative pre-
construction plant cover. The percentage threshold would be compared to representative vegetation
communities of grasses, forbs, and sub-shrubs. Shrubs and tree are not a component of the seed mix.
• Grasses, forbs, and sub-shrubs must be resilient, as demonstrated by vigor with well-developed root
systems and the ability to produce viable seed.
4 Weed Management
4.1 Recorded Weed Occurrences
Surveys were conducted within and adjacent to the Project area boundary. During the surveys conducted
on November 4, 2020, and May 25, 2021, four weed species were documented in the Project area. List A
noxious weed species were not observed within or near the Project area. The recorded noxious weeds were
heavily concentrated within the southeastern half of the Project area (see Table 4-1 and Figure 2). Weeds
recorded in undisturbed areas were primarily limited to cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum).
Table 4-1. Weed Species Detected in the Project Area
Species Name CDA Weed
Listing
Population Size in
Project Area Occurrence Pattern and Location
Cheatgrass / Downy brome
(Bromus tectorum) C Large – Thousands of
plants
Scattered in uplands and disturbed areas. Also
occurs to a lesser degree in sagebrush vegetation.
Musk thistle
(Carduus nutans) B Small – Scattered
occurrences
Limited occurrences in disturbed areas associated
with drainages or mesic areas.
Russian knapweed
(Acroptilon repens) B Large –Thousands of
plants
Many thousands of plants in uplands and associated
with historic irrigation ditches
Russian thistle
(Salsola tragus) No Status Large – Thousands of
plants Scattered across uplands and other disturbed areas
Source: CDA 2021
October 2021 | 6
AES Peace Bear Project | Garfield County, Colorado
Vegetation Management Plan
Figure 2. Project Area Vegetation
October 2021 | 7
AES Peace Bear Project | Garfield County, Colorado
Vegetation Management Plan
4.2 Integrated Weed Management
Prevention of the introduction and spread of noxious weeds is the VMP’s first priority. AES would conduct
its construction activities consistent with the objective of minimizing the potential for the introduction and
spread of noxious weed species. An integrated weed management strategy would be used to control weed
species during construction and operation of the Project. Integrated Weed Management is the incorporation
of multiple weed control measures into a single weed management program, thereby optimizing control of
a particular weed problem.
AES would adhere to the following weed management guidelines:
• Project weed control measures would include some combination of mechanical, chemical, and
cultural control methods.
• Remove all excess soil and plant debris from construction equipment before entering the Project
area to reasonably ensure that noxious weed seeds or plant parts are not introduced.
• All erosion control devices, straw, mulch, soils, aggregate, and seed would be certified noxious
weed free or otherwise inherently free of weeds prior to use in the Project. Seed mixes would be
purchased from a county approved vendor or would otherwise be approved through lab analysis
prior to use on the Project.
• Minimize ground disturbance during construction. Upon completion of soil-disturbing
construction, disturbed areas would be reseeded, as soon as practical, using an approved seed mix
and mulch. Reseeding should be conducted during the fall, which promotes seed inoculation due
to the fall snowpack moisture, thereby maximizing spring germination.
• Bi-annual (spring and fall) noxious weed surveys and treatment are recommended.
• Monitoring and treatment of noxious weeds would occur in conjunction with revegetation
inspections for 4 years post-construction. Additional seeding and herbicide treatments would occur
as needed during this time to prevent and control the spread of noxious weeds.
In general, weed management would be consistent with the Colorado Noxious Weed Act, Garfield County
standards for reclamation and weed management, and applicable federal regulations. While AES is only
responsible for treating weeds that occur within the Project area, consideration would be given to the threat
posed from integrated weed treatment on other sensitive resources, such as special-status species and
aquatic features. Furthermore, AES would coordinate with landowners to identify any specific restoration
measures, avoidances, risk assessment notifications, or other requests. The Project area would be inspected
and treated (as needed) for weed occurrences during the construction and post-construction phases.
If construction begins in the spring or otherwise during the growing season, weed treatment with herbicides
prior to the start of construction would help limit the spread of weeds throughout the Project area during
construction. AES would focus on the treatment and control of concentrated populations of noxious weeds
located in areas proposed for disturbances. Construction would start in weed-free areas and then move to
infested areas to minimize the potential spread of weed seeds and plant parts. Biological means of weed
management have not been proposed for use on the Project because other integrated weed control measures
would be more effective or there is no reliable biological control for the weed species in the Project area.
The Project would adhere to treatment methods recommended by the Garfield County vegetation manager
and outlined within the county noxious weed management plan (GCVM 2016). Methods to control weeds
October 2021 | 8
AES Peace Bear Project | Garfield County, Colorado
Vegetation Management Plan
in the Project area would include an integrated approach using mechanical, chemical, and cultural measures.
These three measures are detailed in the following sections and Table A.1 (see Appendix A). Because weed
control methods can change intermittently, the reclamation contractor is encouraged to contact the Garfield
County vegetation manager annually to confirm the current recommended control methods. A list of project
contacts is available in Table 5-1.
4.3 Chemical Control
It is important to treat small infestations of weeds chemically (List A and B species to be eradicated) as
soon as possible. Table A.1 lists which weed species respond best to chemical control. Herbicides are most
effective when sprayed at specific stages of a weed’s lifecycle (GCVM 2016). The application of herbicide
to control noxious weeds would occur each year, as needed, at the beginning of the growing period and/or
during the fall. Specific chemical recommendations are available from the Garfield County Vegetation
Management (GCVM) Department. All herbicide applications would comply with applicable labels, laws,
regulations, and permit stipulations. Furthermore, any use of an herbicide inconsistent with the label can
lead to injury of crops, humans, animals, and the environment. Therefore, chemical treatments would be
conducted by a licensed herbicide applicator according to individual chemical and label requirements.
All herbicides are required to have a Human Health Risk Assessment. Notification of registered
pesticide-sensitive persons must be given in accordance with C.R.S 35-10-112, and Part 12 of the Pesticide
Applications Act. Applicators are required to notify registered individuals prior to applying herbicides on
adjacent properties. For information about the registry, call the Colorado Department of Agriculture at
303-239-4146. Furthermore, the reclamation contractor would provide Garfield County a list of proposed
herbicides to be used for treatment efforts each year. The herbicide list is subject to change due to current
site conditions, efficacy of treatments, availability of new herbicides, and other factors. Recommended
herbicides can be found within the Garfield County Noxious Weed Management Plan (GCVM 2016).
Chemical application equipment would vary according to the time of year, plant phenology, size of
infestation, chemical being applied, non-target species present, and weed cover in the infested area. The
equipment chosen would provide the most effective weed control while also reducing unnecessary
environmental impacts, such as application outside of infested areas. ATVs and trailered sprayers would be
used for most herbicide application. Spot applications would be used preferentially to avoid non-target
plants or limit contamination of sensitive resource areas (i.e., wetlands or stream). Digital copies of
herbicides, labels, and safety data sheets would be managed by the reclamation contractor and available
upon request.
AES would initiate noxious weed management efforts for high-priority species and concentrated weed
occurrences. Treatment efforts would be limited to the property for which AES has management
responsibility, which consists of the Project area, access roads, and other areas used for staging materials
or equipment. In addition, AES would prepare and submit reports to Garfield County detailing all weed
treatments (see Section 5.3). The weed treatment and monitoring schedule is presented in Table 4-2.
October 2021 | 9
AES Peace Bear Project | Garfield County, Colorado
Vegetation Management Plan
Table 4-2. General Schedule for Noxious Weed Treatment and Monitoring
Activity Date1 Responsibility Comment
2022 (Construction)
Noxious weed inspection /
herbicide application spring and fall Reclamation
Contractor
• 30 days prior to construction and based upon
weed species’ growing season
• Fall to control seeding of weeds
Evaluate herbicide
application
effectiveness
10 to 14 days
after treatment
Reclamation
Contractor
Application form/report documenting herbicide
treatment and efficacy submitted to Garfield
County
Post-Construction (up to 4 seasons)
Post-construction
reclamation inspection and
noxious weed treatments
spring and fall Reclamation
Contractor
Application form/report documenting herbicide
treatment and efficacy would be submitted to
Garfield County
1 – The precise application date(s) would be determined by the reclamation contractor based upon the target species and other seasonal and
environmental conditions
4.4 Mechanical Control
Mechanical control would include mowing, cutting, and hand pulling. Table A.1 lists which weed species
respond best to mechanical control. The extent of the infestations across the Project area would preclude
the implementation of post-construction mechanical control methods. Furthermore, mechanical control
methods used over large areas could increase soil erosion and encourage additional weed species’
colonization. However, small infestations (less than 0.5 acre) can be controlled effectively using mechanical
control methods.
Although not a primary method of control, mechanical control would be applied to weed populations for
which chemical control is either not effective, not permitted, or if timing for chemical controls prohibit their
efficacy or application (e.g., seasonality, precipitation, wind speed over 10 mph) in small areas. Mechanical
control would be used during the construction process when existing vegetation is removed to permit for
the installation of the underground conductor, aboveground conductor panels, and associated design
infrastructure. Some soil grading and roadbase aggregate use would occur for the Project area interior
access roads, but no soils or vegetation would be removed from the site. Sagebrush vegetation would be
mowed, chipped, and spread onsite to create microhabitat and help retain soils to promote the regrowth of
native and seeded grasses and forbs. Prescribed burns and grazing would not be used as methods of
mechanical control on the Project.
4.5 Cultural Control
Cultural control methods or management practices are those that favor the growth of desirable plants over
noxious weeds, including maintaining optimum fertility and plant moisture status, revegetating at optimum
density and spatial arrangement, and planting species most suited to a particular area. Techniques include
dense seeding, fertilization, mulching, careful irrigation practices, sensible grazing regimes, and improved
land management practices (GCVM 2016).
Where possible, the Project would limit the establishment of new weed infestations by minimizing
disturbance and weed seed dispersal while maintaining the native vegetation community. Disturbances
would be revegetated with an approved native seed mix. Using native plants or seeds to revegetate disturbed
October 2021 | 10
AES Peace Bear Project | Garfield County, Colorado
Vegetation Management Plan
areas helps to control the degradation of native ecosystems, limit the need for herbicides, and conserve
water. Project construction would also avoid disturbances on wetlands and streams, thereby minimizing the
potential spread of weed species associated with mesic soils. Table A.1 lists which weed species respond
best to cultural control.
4.6 Wash Stations
Equipment and vehicle cleaning is an important weed control component of Project activities. Mud and soil
on equipment and vehicles have the potential to carry weed seeds or propagative plant parts to or from the
Project area. Implementing the following proactive measures and approaches to weed management would
significantly reduce the potential for Project activities to spread noxious weed species:
• Vehicles would be inspected and washed to remove all mud and soil that could harbor weed
parts (i.e., roots, seeds, and vegetation) prior to entering or exiting the Project area.
• Wash and inspection stations would be located at Project area entrance points.
• Clean equipment may enter or exit the Project area without washing, assuming the equipment
has been properly inspected.
5 Post-construction Monitoring, Reporting, and Remedial Action
Monitoring revegetation and noxious weed occurrences in the Project area would occur annually for 4 years
post-construction. Surveys would be conducted by qualified personnel at least once a season to ascertain
the nature and distribution of existing and new noxious weed occurrences. Noxious weed occurrences
would be evaluated using the management guidelines described in Section 4, and appropriate management
methods would be implemented to control further spread and encourage the growth of native vegetation.
5.1 Revegetation
The reclamation contractor would conduct annual reclamation monitoring, reporting, and remedial action
after construction is complete. Annual monitoring and reporting of progress for all reclaimed areas would
occur for 4 years or until the revegetated areas reach 70 percent cover as compared to pre-construction
native vegetation. Monitoring would consist of qualitative assessments at sites where revegetation progress
and soil stabilization would be compared to adjacent native plant community conditions. Monitoring sites
used to prove attainment of reclamation standards would be identified by the reclamation contractor.
Reclamation success would be approved by Garfield County when disturbed areas meet the reclamation
success criteria listed in Section 3.3.
Annual qualitative and quantitative performance monitoring would be conducted by the reclamation
contractor to determine reclamation effectiveness and revegetation of reseeded areas. Post-construction
monitoring would begin in the growing season in the first year following construction and would occur
annually until conditions meet the success criteria. Post-construction monitoring would qualitatively assess
the following ecosystem indicators as compared to adjacent native vegetation conditions:
• bare ground percentage, including rocks, woody debris, biotic soils, and leaf litter
• plant cover percentages, vegetation composition, and soil stability
• noxious weed species (new and existing populations)
October 2021 | 11
AES Peace Bear Project | Garfield County, Colorado
Vegetation Management Plan
5.2 Noxious Weeds Management
Management and monitoring activities within reclaimed Project areas are expected to require ongoing and
integrated noxious weed control. Monitoring weed occurrences would primarily involve inspections of
previously treated areas but would also inspect other areas to minimize the spread and establishment of
weed species. Monitoring would occur 10-14 days after the implementation of weed control measures to
determine the efficacy of control methods. As required, additional control measures would be conducted
by the reclamation contractor to manage noxious weed occurrences. Guidelines for monitoring and
integrated weed management would include the following:
• Monitoring would be conducted using a qualitative, visual assessment of the previously
implemented management control(s) efficacy.
• At each detected noxious weed occurrence, surveyors would record species, relative population
size, and location (including GPS coordinates).
• Additional control measures would be implemented to control existing weed occurrences and
minimize their potential to spread into reclaimed Project areas.
5.3 Reporting and Remedial Actions
The reclamation contractor would submit ongoing weed treatment reports (i.e., herbicide application records)
to the Garfield County vegetation manager (see Table 5-1) after each weed treatment event. These reports
would include the control method, amount and type of herbicide used (if any), date of application, treated acreage,
weed species treated, GPS location of treated area(s), and other pertinent information as required by the county.
Application forms would be submitted within a month after each treatment.
Other maintenance activities would consist of the installation, replacement, or removal of erosion control
measures, as necessary, throughout the maintenance, monitoring, and reporting period. All plastic silt fence,
straw wattles, and rock socks would need to be replaced intermittently and removed after reclamation is
complete. Plastic becomes litter and a hazard to wildlife even if the item is marketed as “UV degradable.”
It is therefore recommended that fully biodegradable stormwater control measures are used to avoid the
potential hazard to wildlife. All non-biodegradable materials that are not permanent would need to be
removed completely before reclamation monitoring is complete.
Seasonal precipitation and related runoff could affect overall plant cover within and adjacent to drainage
features. With the installation of erosion control devices (e.g., silt fencing, straw wattles, rock socks) at
reclamation and revegetation sites, seasonal runoff events are not anticipated to reduce the potential to meet
the reclamation success criteria. However, if reclamation progress is being affected by runoff and erosion,
then remedial actions would be implemented as necessary to address the issue(s). These actions would
consist of recontouring, additional erosion control measures, and/or supplementary seeding efforts.
Drought conditions caused by low precipitation and prolonged unseasonal temperatures could negatively
affect reclamation and revegetation progress. Drought could result in reduced plant regrowth and
establishment, higher plant mortality, or an increased potential for noxious weed infestations. Remedial
measures for prolonged drought would include strategic reseeding prior to precipitation events; extension
of the maintenance, monitoring, and reporting period; and potential adjustment of the performance success
criteria for drought conditions. These and additional remedial measures would be implemented by the
reclamation contractor and approved by Garfield County vegetation manager.
October 2021 | 12
AES Peace Bear Project | Garfield County, Colorado
Vegetation Management Plan
Table 5-1. Project Contacts
LOCATION TITLE NAME EMAIL PHONE
AES
Louisville Project Development
Manager Joshua Mayer joshua.mayer@aes.com D: 720-514-2957
Louisville EPC Project
Manager Jason Owens jason.owens@aes.com M: 303-883-5207
HDR
Denver Biologist Andrew Phillips andrew.phillips@hdrinc.com D: 719-272-8816
M: 720-876-7667
Denver Project
Manager Melinda Lee Melinda.lee@hdrinc.com D: 303-524-8376
M: 720-320-8022
Regulatory Agencies
Garfield County Vegetation Manager Steve Anthony santhony@garfield-
county.com
D: 970-945-1377
Ext. 4305
Grand Junction
NRCS Botanist Christine Prins christine.prins@usda.gov D: 970-361-3776
October 2021 | 13
AES Peace Bear Project | Garfield County, Colorado
Vegetation Management Plan
6 References
CDA 2021 Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA). 2021. Noxious Weed Species ID. Available online: <https://ag.colorado.gov/conservation/noxious-weeds/species-id#d>.
Bokan et al.
2021 S. Bokan, K. Crumbaker, and G. Beck. (2021). Identification and Management of
Kochia and Russian Thistle. Colorado State University Extension. Available online:
<https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/natres/06314.pdf>.
GCVM 2016 Garfield County Vegetation Management (GCVM). 2016. Garfield County Noxious
Weed Management Plan. Prepared by GCWM and the Garfield County Weed Advisory
Board. Available online: <https://www.garfield-county.com/vegetation-
management/filesgcco/sites/29/2019/11/Garfield-County-Noxious-Weed-Management-
Plan-Adopted-Feb-2016.pdf>.
NRCS 2021 Personal Communication between Christine Prins (NRCS, Grand Junction – Rangeland
Specialist) and Andrew Phillips (HDR, Biologist)
AES Peace Bear Project | Garfield County, Colorado
Vegetation Management Plan
A
Control Methods for Project
Weed Species
AES Peace Bear Project | Garfield County, Colorado
Vegetation Management Plan
October 2021 | A-1
Table A.1. Control Methods for Project Weed Species
Species CDA
Rank
Recommended Control Methods 1
Control Methods ^ Mechanical Chemical Cultural
Cheatgrass
(Bromus tectorum) C No Yes Yes
Mechanical: Mechanical methods are best for small infestations. Mowing is not
recommended as it leaves roots intact, stimulates flower production, disperses seeds,
and can expand the size of the infested area.
Chemical: Herbicides are effective but are often impractical for larger populations
and can affect grasses that would otherwise compete with cheatgrass.
Cultural: Revegetating with a perennial grass promotes natural competition and is
often the most effective means of control.
Recommended Approach: Integrated management using cultural and chemical
control methods.
Musk thistle
(Carduus nutans) B Yes Yes Yes
Mechanical: Tilling, hoeing, and digging are effective for occurrences smaller than
about 0.5 acre. Mowing, chopping, and deadheading requires consecutive years of
treatment and often stimulates more flower production. All flower buds and heads
must be collected, bagged, and destroyed as seeds can mature and germinate if left on
the ground.
Chemical: Herbicide applied on spring rosettes, early bolting growth stages, or on
fall rosettes.
Cultural: Minimizing soil disturbances, revegetating with competitive grasses, and
strategic avoidance of disturbances on mesic areas.
Recommended Approach: Integrated management using mechanical, cultural, and
spot chemical control methods.
Russian thistle
(Salsola tragus)
No
Rank Yes Yes Yes
Mechanical: Pulling or light tillage at an early growth stage can be effective for
small infestations. Mowing must occur just before blooming to prevent regrowth.
Chemical: Most effective is applied in the spring when plants are rapidly growing.
Cultural: Promoting competition using native vegetation.
Recommended Approach: Integrated management using mechanical, cultural, and
chemical control methods.
AES Peace Bear Project | Garfield County, Colorado
Vegetation Management Plan
October 2021 | A-2
Species CDA
Rank
Recommended Control Methods 1
Control Methods ^ Mechanical Chemical Cultural
Russian knapweed
(Acroptilon repens) B Yes Yes Yes
Mechanical: Repeated mowing can be effective if combined with other control
methods.
Chemical: Apply herbicides in spring through the bud stage or treat dormant plants
in fall after the first freeze.
Cultural: Sowing desirable plant species to increase competition.
Recommended Approach: Integrated management using mechanical, cultural, and
chemical control methods. Repeated mowing combined with herbicide applications
will gradually stress the plant. A single control strategy such as mowing or herbicides
is often insufficient to control this species.
^ Annual treatments for 4 years post-construction
Note 1 – Biological controls are not proposed or recommended for the weeds in the Project area
Source: CDA 2021, Bokan et al. 2021, GCVM 2016
AES Peace Bear Ranch Solar – Land Use Change – Major Impact permit application (11/5/2021)
AES Peace Bear Ranch Solar – Garfield County 28
Please see the following pages for the Traffic Study prepared by HDR Consulting, updated in October
2021, addressing the existing road system’s and driveway’s compliance to the Road Standards and
Section 7-107. All on-site driveway and interior road improvements are documented in the civil plan
sets in Section B2.
TRAFFIC STUDY
Section B5
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1
Traffic Impact Letter
Date: Tuesday, October 5, 2021
Project: Garfield County Solar Projects
To: Garfield County
From: John Seyer, HDR
Subject: Peace Bear Ranch Site Traffic Impact Review
____________________________________________________________________________
1 Introduction
In partial fulfillment of the Garfield County Land Use Change permitting requirements, HDR has
completed this Traffic Impact Report for the proposed Peace Bear Ranch solar development site
located near Silt, Colorado in Garfield County. This report was developed to provide traffic-related
information and to identify potential impacts to the roadway network adjacent to the project. The
following information is included in this report:
• Project Location, Components, and Construction Schedule
• Designated Travel Route
• Daily Vehicle Trip Generation
• Conclusions
2 Project Location, Components, and Construction Schedule
Location
The Peace Bear Ranch site is located approximately 2.5 miles south of the Town of Silt, Colorado
at 2714 County Road 331 (Parcel ID 2179-214-00-130). This parcel is approximately 200 acres
with a project size of about 100 acres. The location of the site is shown in Figure 1.
Components
The Peace Bear Ranch site will host a 10-megawatt solar facility coupled with lithium ion battery
storage on two separate sections of the parcel. There will be four battery storage units, each of
which is anticipated to be approximately the size of an industrial shipping container. HVAC units
will be included and used for cooling.
Schedule
It is anticipated that the Land Use Change Permit will be issued by Garfield County in or before
February 2022. Accordingly, the construction mobilization date is tentatively May 1st, 2022. Based
on this mobilization date, the preliminary construction schedule is:
Land Use Change Permit Schedule – High Mesa Start Date End Date
Component Delivery 5/1/2022 9/1/2022
Perimeter Fence Installation 7/1/2022 9/1/2022
Solar Panel Foundation Installation 7/1/2022 9/1/2022
Solar Panel Installation 7/15/2022 10/1/2022
Transformer and Inverter Installation 7/15/2022 10/1/2022
2
Figure 1: Project Location and Designated Access Route
Access Route
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3
3 Designated Access Route
The designated access route for the Peace Bear Ranch site is: I-70 to Exit 94 (Rifle Garfield
County Airport); south on Mamm Creek Road/County Road 315 (3.0 miles); then left on the site
access road (~1.8 miles). This route is illustrated in Figure 1. A brief description of the road
segments along the access route is provided below.
• Mamm Creek Road/County Road 315: This segment of Mamm Creek Road runs
concurrently with County Road 315. It is a two-lane roadway with a posted speed of 35
miles per hour. Asphalt width varies, providing 10’-10.5’ travel lanes and shoulders that
are minimally paved (most shoulders are dirt). According to County Road and Bridge, this
road was repaved in 2020, so the pavement is in good condition.
• Site Access Road: The first two miles of the site access road is a gravel road that is at
least 20’ wide. It is used daily for access to the Eagle Springs Organic Farm and is also
used and maintained by Terra Energy Partners for their oil and gas wells. The final ~1000’
of the site access road is a jeep track that will be improved to a 20’ wide gravel road with
adequate drainage, per County standards.
The designated access route for the Peace Bear Ranch site after construction will be the same
access route described above that will be used during construction. It is understood that access
permits for the temporary construction access and permanent access will be obtained from the
County as required and that an Access Permit from CDOT is not required for use of the I-70
ramps.
According to the County’s latest traffic volumes, Mamm Creek Road (CR 315) carries 491 vehicles
per day on the north end of the road, near the access to the Garfield County Airport. Per Table 7-
107 of the Garfield County Land Use and Development Code (LUDC), Mamm Creek Road would
be classified as a Minor Collector. The existing lane widths do not meet the County’s standards
for a Minor Collector. However, according to the County Road and Bridge, this road was recently
reconstructed and designed to accommodate vehicles used for gas and oil vehicles extraction,
so this project will not need to make any improvements to the road to bring the lane widths up to
County standards.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4
4 Daily Vehicle Trip Generation
The project can be divided into three phases: Delivery, Installation, and Maintenance/Operations.
The estimated maximum and average vehicle trips per day by vehicle type and project phase are
summarized in Table 1.
Table 1: Daily Vehicle Trip Generation
Project Phase
(Time Period) Vehicle Type Estimated Gross
Vehicle Weight
Vehicles per
Day
Vehicle Trips
per Day
Delivery
[3 weeks]
Conex Containers
and Delivery Trucks 30,000-50,000 lbs. 2-4 4-8
Equipment Hauling
Trucks 20,000-40,000 lbs. 1-2 2-4
Maximum: 12
Average: 6
Installation
[Approx. 10 months]
Passenger Vehicles 2,000-10,000 lbs. 20-30 40-60
Fuel Truck 20,000-30,000 lbs. 1 2
Material Delivery
Truck 20,000-30,000 lbs. 1 2
Maximum: 64
Average: 44
Maintenance
and Operations
[Ongoing]
Utility Vehicle 2,000-10,000 lbs. 1 per month
or less 0-1
Maximum: 1
Average: 0
As shown in Table 1, most heavy vehicle traffic is expected over the three-week delivery period.
This traffic will include delivery of 53 Conex containers. Other equipment and components will
account for approximately 50 deliveries spread over the 6-8-month installation period. Most of this
traffic will travel to and from the project site between 9:30AM-12:00PM and 1:30PM-4:00PM so
as to not affect peak hour traffic. Impacts to operations during peak demand periods (7:00AM-
9:00AM and 4:00PM-6:00PM) are not expected to be significant.
Most passenger vehicle traffic will be generated during the 6-8-month installation period. This will
primarily be site worker and project management traffic. It is expected that during peak installation
there will be a maximum of 30 employees at the site per day, equating to a maximum of 60 light-
duty vehicle trips per day. Ongoing maintenance/operations are expected to generate one trip per
month or less.
Per Table 7-107 of the Garfield County LUDC, the Peace Bear Ranch access driveway will be
designated as a “Semi Primitive” road, as its Operational Average Daily Traffic is anticipated to
be up to 77 vehicles per day. Adding the anticipated daily traffic demand to the existing traffic
volumes along Mamm Creek Road noted in the previous section will not exceed the volume
threshold, so Mamm Creek Road will remain a Minor Collector. All standards within Table 7-107
are reflected in the design documents submitted to Garfield County.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5
5 Conclusions
1. Mobilization is expected on May 1, 2022. Conex containers will be delivered over a three-
week period, then the installation period is expected to last for approximately 6-8 months
and will generally entail infrequent deliveries of other equipment and components.
2. Over the three-week delivery period, it is expected that approximately 55 Conex container
deliveries will be made, along with some initial equipment. This is estimated to result in a
maximum of six deliveries, or 12 trips, per day. Most of these trips will be made outside of
the peak periods so as to avoid impacts to daily traffic operations.
3. Over the 6-8-month installation period, it is expected that a maximum of 30 employees will
be on-site each day. This is estimated to result in between 40 and 60 passenger vehicle
trips per day, all of which are expected to be in light-duty vehicles.
4. Material delivery will be spread throughout the 6-8-month installation period, with a total
of approximately 50 deliveries. This equates to one or fewer deliveries, or up to two vehicle
trips, per day.
5. Ongoing maintenance/operations during the solar development’s lifespan are expected to
result in one utility vehicle trip per month or less.
6. Per Table 7-107 of the Garfield County Land Use and Development Code, the site access
driveway is designated as a “Semi Primitive” road with estimated daily traffic during
maintenance and operations up to 77 vehicles per day. Mamm Creek Road will remain a
Minor Collector and the rehabilitation of the road in 2020 has the road in good shape. All
standards within Table 7-107 are reflected in all documents submitted to the County.
7. As proposed, the Peace Bear Ranch solar development delivery and installation phases
are not anticipated to create adverse impacts to traffic operations along public roadways
in Garfield County. Based on the anticipated vehicle types and weights, adverse impacts
to pavement along Garfield County roadways are not expected.
We trust that this traffic impact letter for the Peace Bear Ranch solar project is acceptable and
complete. Please contact me at john.seyer@hdrinc.com or at 970.416.4407 if you have questions
or need clarification on anything in this letter.
Sincerely,
John M. Seyer, PE, PTOE
Traffic Engineer
AES Peace Bear Ranch Solar – Land Use Change – Major Impact permit application (11/5/2021)
AES Peace Bear Ranch Solar – Garfield County 29
Access and Roadways (7-107)
The designated access route as shown in the attached Traffic Memo for the Peace Bear Ranch site after
construction will be the same access route that will be used during construction. It is understood that
access permits for the temporary construction access and permanent access will be obtained from the
County as required and that an Access Permit from CDOT is not required for use of the I-70 ramps or
River Frontage Road. Also, as proposed, the Peace Bear Ranch solar development delivery, installation
and operation phases are not anticipated to create adverse impacts to traffic operations or to the
pavement and roadway surfaces along public roadways in Garfield County.
AES Peace Bear Ranch Solar has obtained access easements from both Rocky Mountain TEP, LLC, and
Eagle Springs Organic, LLC to access the Project from Mamm Creek Rd. along existing private drives.
Please see the following pages for copies of those agreements.
Please refer to Section B5 - Traffic Study for further details on route, road classifications and impact
analysis.
The Point of Interconnection sits within the Property, and thus no additional easements are required for
access to the electrical distribution system.
ACCESS PERMITS, EASEMENTS, AND ACCESS ROADWAY DETAILS
Section B6