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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFish Wildlife Park FWP - Statement Email 09-29-20201 Walt Banziger From:thomas murphy <bridgercenterllc@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, September 29, 2020 5:41 PM To:Walt Banziger Subject:Fwd: [EXTERNAL] Bridger Meadows Proposed Neighborhood Attachments:EX-C (Wetlands Site Exhibit).pdf Hi Walt, Not sure if this is final. What do you. Think? Tom Get Outlook for Android From: Cunningham, Julie <juliecunningham@mt.gov> Sent: Monday, September 28, 2020 1:54:50 PM To: bridgercenterllc@gmail.com <bridgercenterllc@gmail.com> Cc: Gower, Claire <CGower@mt.gov>; Duncan, Mike <Mike.Duncan@mt.gov> Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] Bridger Meadows Proposed Neighborhood Dear Tom; Thank you for sending this on. I can make a couple comments as regards moose and other species, but will ask that you also look for responses from Claire Gower and Mike Duncan, who I am cc’ing. Claire is our native species biologist, and she will be better-able than I to let you know if there are any threatened or endangered species or species of concern in the area. Mike Duncan is our fisheries biologist, and he will have a look at this plan relative to the streamside setbacks and other riparian concerns. Claire and Mike – for reference, this property to be developed lies along the east Gallatin River east of Glen Lake Rotary Park near Boylan Road behind Extreme Performance Archery Store. MFWP’s wildlife division supports maintaining stream setbacks as these provide valuable wildlife movement areas and habitat . Wetlands and riparian areas are among MFWP’s top tier of habitats to be protected, and MFWP encourages preservation of intact wetland and riparian areas whenever possible. Reference documents include “Fish and Wildlife Recommendations for Subdivision Development in Montana” (2012) and Montana’s Comprehensive Fish & Wildlife Conservation Strategy (2005). Wildlife conflicts have happened in the area of this proposed subdivision, including conflicts with black bears, moose, and mountain lions. Please note building homes near an area where wildlife frequent can result in conflicts. Some conflicts can be mitigated during the construction and landscaping process, others through covenants or post- construction communication with landowners. Planting fruit trees (including crab apples) is discouraged as these could attract bears. Landscaping with palatable trees/shrubs should be discouraged because deer and moose could be drawn to these species for food, damaging the trees/shrubs. Fencing around houses should preferably be designed to exclude wildlife in a way that will not entrap or entangle them. Moose do frequent this area and should be respectfully avoided. Bird feeders could attract bears and deer, and feeding these species is illegal under Montana State Law. This development alone is not likely to negatively impact big game at a population level for several reasons. It represents a small parcel (about 12 acres), most of which will be preserved in open space. This open space is currently planned to be adjacent to other open space lands owned by the City of Bozeman and along the banks of the East Gallatin River. Placing open space lands together amplifies benefits of the open space to wildlife. The proposed area is 2 not in crucial big game winter range nor a known migration corridor for big game species. Finally, the area is proximate to other major developments at the outskirts of Bozeman. Let me know if you would like further information or clarification on any of these comments. Julie Julie Cunningham Bozeman Area Wildlife Biologist Wildlife Division Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Region 3 1400 S. 19th Ave Bozeman, MT 59718 O: (406) 577-7865 From: Thomas Murphy <bridgercenterllc@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2020 4:48 PM To: Cunningham, Julie <juliecunningham@mt.gov> Subject: [EXTERNAL] Bridger Meadows Proposed Neighborhood Hi Julie, Thanks for meeting with me the other day regarding endangered species! I have attached a plat for your review. As you can see we are proposing a 7.54 acre Wildlife Refuge. Our idea is to permanently protect the wildlife within by not allowing trails, and dogs into the habitat. As the Glen Lake Rotary Club Park on the East Gallatin is riddled with trails, we hope our refuge will provide a sanctuary for the cow moose and other wildlife that frequent the area. As you had previously mentioned to me, the City of Bozeman has requested that FWP review the proposed plat. Please list any recommendations and outline any mitigation planned to overcome any adverse impacts. Sincerely, Tom Murphy Bridger Center LLC 1-406-595-1495 To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. [avg.com] Virus-free. www.avg.com [avg.com]