HomeMy WebLinkAboutResponse_FW&P �WOgtaga Vise,
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1400 South 19th Ave
Bozeman, MT 59718
February 13, 2014
Matt Hausauer, E.I.
C&H Engineering and Surveying Inc.
1091 Stoneridge Drive
Bozeman, MT 59718
Dear Mr. Hausauer,
We have reviewed a preliminary plat and other materials concerning the proposed
Flanders Mill Subdivision located in northwest Bozeman. We would like to provide a few
comments to you as requested in your letter of January 28.
The empty lots may border open fields with large stands of old cottonwood trees which
serve as raptor nesting and perching areas. Although no bald eagle nests are currently
known in the area, bald eagles do frequent the general area. Developers should do
their utmost to maintain these old cottonwood stands in their designs. Especially after
recent removal of other nearby large cottonwoods, these may become even more
important to foraging and nesting raptors in the future.
Furthermore, developers should consider raptor standard mitigations to any power lines
to protect raptors from electrocutions. Ideally, power lines should be placed under
ground. If this is not possible, raptor power line standards should conform to APLIC
2006 (Avian Power Line Interaction Committee. 2006. Suggested practices for avian
protection on power lines: the state of the art in 2006. Edison Electric Institute, APLIC,
and the California Energy Commission. Washington, DC, and Sacramento, CA. 207pp).
Also available at:
http://www.dodpif.org/downloads/APLIC 2006 Suggested Practices.pdf
Construction crews should be made aware of federal laws regarding the disturbance of
nesting raptors. For more information, please consult with U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service enforcement officer Terry Thibeault (406-247-7335).
Besides concerns regarding raptors, as listed above, this development should have
negligible effects to other species of wildlife based on its location relative to other
developments. White-tailed deer, pheasants, foxes, and ground squirrels may also be
present and displaced, but these are not population-level concerns.
An unnamed tributary of Baxter Creek currently runs through this property. Much of the
length of this stream has been channelized in the past and does not support a full range
of aquatic and riparian functions. The plans we have seen to move or modify this stream
channel should result in a net benefit to the stream resource here.
Our other concerns for impacts to the aquatic resource are generic to this type of
development. You will want to avoid situations that might deliver pollutants to surface
waters as can happen for example when paved surfaces concentrate oil or other
petroleum products that can be washed into channels by rain or snowmelt. Drainage
within the subdivision is a critical consideration to avoid increasing sediment or other
contaminants that might be delivered to the stream.
A number of roads will be crossing the stream through the subdivision. Bridges, which
fully span the creek bottom at road crossings, allow natural stream functions to occur
and also allow a host of animal species to utilize the stream corridor in a natural
manner. Culverts can cause a number of problems that bridges avoid.
We anticipate that your construction plans will include actions to reduce or mitigate
sediment delivery, and to prevent discharges of petroleum products or other harmful
substances into the stream, ditches, or lands capable of delivering these substances to
nearby waterways. An important project goal should be to ensure that the completed
subdivision poses no direct or persistent environmental threat to the local watershed.
We look forward to hearing how your project plans develop. Please contact us with any
questions.
Sincerely,
Julie Cunningham
FWP Wildlife Biologist
406-994-6341
juliecunningham@mt.gov
Michael W. Vaughn
FWP Fisheries Biologist
406-994-6938
mvaughn@mt.gov
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