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Home My WebLink About014 Appendix M - Wetland Delinination ___________________________________________________________________________ ______ 1 Barry Brown West University District Project 113 E. Oak Street, Ste. 4A Bozeman, MT 59715 March 3, 2022 RE: West University District Project Aquatic Resources Delineation Summary _________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION As requested, an aquatic resources delineation was conducted for the West University District future development site in Bozeman, Montana (SE¼ Section 14, T2S, R5E; Figures 1 and 1a). The property of interest is located along the west side of South 19th Avenue and north side of Stucky Road (45°39’32.20” N, -111°04’04.88” W). The site has been historically and is currently used for agricultural crop production and grazing. METHODS Wetlands were delineated by TerraQuatic, LLC and Sundog Ecological, Inc. using the 2010 Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers (USACE) Wetland Delineation Manual: Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast Region (Version 2.0) (USACE 2010). The 2018 Wetland Ratings was used to determine vegetation indicator status ratings (USACE 2018). Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS 2021) soil data and Montana Natural Heritage Program (MNHP) wetland and riparian mapping data (2021) were reviewed prior to conducting field work. Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) functional assessments (Berglund and McEldowney 2008) were conducted on each aquatic resource system. Six official data points (DP) were established within each aquatic system. Vegetation, hydrology, and soil data were assessed at each of the official data points using USACE wetland determination data forms. Additional unofficial (30) data points were examined along all wetland boundaries to ensure the wetland-upland boundary was being closely followed. Data at unofficial points were not recorded but quickly assessed to enable rapid progression of boundary delineation. This rapid assessment method replaces the requirement for the establishment of time-consuming transects across a wetland expanse. In essence, the unofficial data points, if connected, would form a multitude of transects across the entire project site. This method of assessment has been trusted by the USACE given the TerraQuatic-Sundog Ecological delineation team experience of 25 and 12 years (respectively). The delineation map is included in Appendix A (Exhibit A). USACE data forms are included in Appendix B. Photographs are included in Appendix C and NRCS soil data and Montana Natural Heritage Program wetland and riparian mapping data are included in Appendix D. Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) functional assessments are enclosed in Appendix E. West University District Project Aquatic Resources Delineation Summary March 3, 2022 _________________________________________________________________________________ 2 Figure 1. West University District Project approximate aquatic resource investigation area (red polygon). Field data for the wetland delineation were collected on July 13, 2021 by Stahly engineering and Associates survey staff as directed by TerraQuatic, LLC. Data were collected using RTK GNSS measurement with a Trimble R8-model 4 receiver. Base station data were received via MTSU CORS radio correction. NAVD88 vertical datum were used. Staff checked into and out of project control points at both ends of the data collection. Data were processed in Trimble business center, verified for accuracy, and exported into AutoCAD drawings. N West University District Project Aquatic Resources Delineation Summary March 3, 2022 _________________________________________________________________________________ 3 RESULTS Three wetland (WL) systems (WL-1, 2, and 3) were delineated within the subject property (Appendix A, Exhibit A). All three systems include a nonwetland waterway (NWW) that appear to convey groundwater and Middle Creek Ditch irrigation water (NWW-1, 2, and 3). A man-made pond (0.28 acre) also occurs within the wetland-3 system. Wetland-1 (0.40 acre) is located along NWW-1 (2,360 LF). MNHP data identifies this channel as intermittent with origins close to Middle Creek Ditch. The outdated stream and ditch map (City of Bozeman 1993) indicates NWW-1 was considered a true ditch at that time. Because it appears the feature is a true irrigation ditch though it appears to flow through excavated ponds south of Stucky Road, the channel has been classified as intermittent. The dominant vegetation along the ditch is field meadow-foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis, FAC) with small areas of red-tinged bulrush (Scirpus microcarpus, OBL). The wetland classifies as partially excavated (x) palustrine emergent (PEMx, Cowardin et al 1979). Wetland-2 (3.13 acres) includes NWW-2 (1,620 LF), which appears to be the upper reach of the perennial East Fork of East Catron Creek. This channel also likely conveys irrigation water from Middle Creek Ditch. The wetland community is primarily comprised of field meadow-foxtail and includes spreading bent (Agrostis stolinifera, FAC), Nebraska sedge (Carex nebrascensis, OBL), and Baltic rush (Juncus balticus, FACW). The wetland classifies as palustrine emergent (PEM); the south reach of the ditch is excavated. Wetland-3 (7.82 acres) includes NWW-3 (2,490 LF), the perennial upper reach of the West Fork of East Catron Creek. This channel also likely conveys water from the Middle Creek Ditch system. The southwest end of the wetland includes an excavated pond within a cottonwood (Populus balsamifera, FAC) community. The dominant species within the wetland swale is field meadow-foxtail. The wetland classifies as PEM within the swale and includes a palustrine scrub-shrub (PSS) willow (Salix sp.) and dogwood (Cornus alba, FACW) community in the vicinity of the pond. Functional assessments were conducted for the three aquatic systems. The wetland-1/NWW-1 system qualifies as Category IV system, while the wetland-2/NWW-2 and wetland-3/NWW-3/pond systems qualify as Category III features (Appendix E). All wetland-channel systems would likely be considered jurisdictional by the USACE because of downstream connections to features that connect to the East Gallatin River. It is likely the Gallatin County Conservation District (CD) would require a permit to impact the bed or bank of the wetland- 3/NWW-3 system, however the CD should be contacted regarding official jurisdictional status of each channel. The City of Bozeman would likely require a 50-foot setback from the edge of wetlands-2 and 3. It is unknown if the City would require a setback along wetland-1 but given its hydrology is partially sourced by groundwater ponds south of Stucky Road, a 50-foot setback may also be required. West University District Project Aquatic Resources Delineation Summary March 3, 2022 _________________________________________________________________________________ 4 Any edits to the above report that result from new interpretation of the aquatic features or resulting from an expansion of the project area would require a report addendum. Please contact me with any questions or concerns at (406) 580-6993 or at lbacon@terraquaticllc.com. Sincerely, Lynn M. Bacon, Wetland Scientist TerraQuatic, LLC 1336 Cherry Drive Bozeman, MT 59715 (406) 580-6993 REFERENCES Berglund, J. and R. McEldowney. 2008. MDT Montana Wetland Assessment Method. Prepared for Montana Department of Transportation, Helena, Montana. Post, Buckley, Schuh, & Jernigan, Helena, Montana. 42pp. City of Bozeman. 1993. Streams and Ditches in the City of Bozeman, November 1993. Cowardin, L., V. Carter, F. Golet, and E. LaRoe. 1979. Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States. FWS/OBS-79/31. USDI Fish and Wildlife Service. Washington, D.C. Montana Natural Heritage Program (MNHP). 2021 Natural Heritage Map Viewer: http://mtnhp.org/mapviewer/?t=8, data retrieved July 2021. Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). 2021. Soil Survey, Hydric Rating by Map Unit: http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx, Data retrieved July 2021. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). 2010. Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast Region (Version 2.0), ed. J.S. Wakely, R. W. Lichvar, and C. V. Noble. ERDC/EL TR-10-3. Vicksburg, MS: U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 2018. National Wetland Plant List - 2018, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, version 3.4. Engineer Research and Development Center Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, NH. APPENDIX A _____________________________________________________________________________________ EXHIBIT A: WEST UNIVERSITY DISTRICT AQUATIC RESOURCES DELINEATION MAP _____________________________________________________________________________________ APPENDIX B __________________________________________________________________________________ USACE WETLAND DETERMINATION FORMS __________________________________________________________________________________ APPENDIX C _______________________________________________________________________________________ PHOTOGRAPHS _______________________________________________________________________________________ Photo 1. Wetland-1/NWW-1 system DP-1U (left blue/pink flags) and DP-1W (right); view north. Photo 2. Wetland-2/NWW-2 southeast excavated ditch adjacent to Stuckey Road; view north. Photo 3. Wetland-2/NWW-2 central area data point locations: DP-1U (left arrow) and DP-2W (right arrow); view north. Photo 4. Wetland-3/NWW-3 data point locations: DP-2W (left arrow) and DP-2U (right arrow); view west. Photo 5. Southwest end of wetland-3/NWW-3 system, man-made pond. APPENDIX D ________________________________________________________________________________ NRCS SOIL and MNHP WETLAND RIPARIAN MAPS ________________________________________________________________________________ NRCS data (2021); red polygon is approximate investigation boundary. MNHP wetland mapping data (2021); red polygon is approximate investigation boundary. APPENDIX E ________________________________________________________________________________ MDT FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENTS ________________________________________________________________________________