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HomeMy WebLinkAbout22 WildlifeThe Lakes at Valley West Subdivision – Phases 1 and 2 Preliminary Plat Application Wildlife The Lakes at Valley West provide a range of wildlife and bird habitats within the 65-acre parcel. The parcel encompasses a segment of the Baxter Creek riparian corridor, 8 acres of open water in the West Lake and East Lake, and 6 acres of lacustrine fringe and palustrine wetland. The land is situated between the Aajker Creek and Baxter Creek riparian corridors, west of a 10-acre wetland complex, and east of undeveloped agricultural pasture. Wildlife usage is limited by residential development and roads north and south of the parcel. Exhibit A shows the surface water resources on the parcel that also correspond to key wildlife areas associated with the Baxter Creek corridor, The Lakes, and the palustrine wetland. The availability of large, contiguous areas of open water and shallow water wetlands facilitate the use of the site by birds, particularly waterfowl. The Baxter Creek corridor provides a relatively protected thoroughfare through surrounding residential developments for larger mammals. The east side of Baxter Creek extends to the Baxter Creek Natural Area, 10 acres of protected palustrine, emergent wetland. Travis Horton with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks was contacted to coordinate fish stocking in the Lakes at a future date. The MFWP has been managing the fish stocking in Meyer’s Lake, located in Valley West Subdivision east of Cottonwood Road. Meyer’s Lake was initially stocked with Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Salmo clarki lewisi). The species did not thrive. The MFWP is currently stocking Meyer’s Lake with a hybrid Rainbow Trout (Salmo gairdneri) based on the hardiness of the species in the lake environment. The same species will be used to stock the East and West Lakes at a future date. The Baxter Creek corridor, the East Lake, and the palustrine wetland will be dedicated to the City of Bozeman as public parks with public access. Pedestrian trails along the creek corridor will be located at the outside edge of the 50-foot watercourse setbacks, which will limit pedestrian access to the channel. There will likely be dog access to the creek unless the city chooses to enforce a leash law in the city parks. The trail on the west side of Baxter Creek is located at the outside edge of the palustrine wetland, which will limit pedestrian and dog access within the contiguous, 4-acre wetland. The lack of trails within the large wetland will facilitate bird nesting. Poop stations will be positioned in several locations on the trails, which will limit the introduction of Escherichia coli into the surface water features. The north side of the lakes will be developed as playground and open space, which will focus the primary users in these locations. The Lakes at Valley West Subdivision – Phases 1 and 2 Preliminary Plat Application Protective measures for bird and wildlife include the placement of the pedestrian trails, the maintenance of 35- to 50-foot upland buffers around the lake and wetland, the maintenance of 50-foot watercourse setbacks from Baxter Creek and Aajker Creek, the protection of the lakes and wetland within parks and/or open space, the use of Dog Poop stations, and the existence of rock fishing access points that extend into the lake to limit pedestrian traffic to the lake shore line. The Montana Natural Heritage Program list of animal species of concern for Gallatin County was reviewed for this assessment. None of the large mammals identified as species of concern, such as lynx or wolverine, are expected to frequent the site. The riparian corridor associated with Baxter Creek does not contain any large cottonwood trees, which limits its use by large raptors. There may be fly overs or infrequent use of the open water by Great Blue Heron, a listed species of concern. No direct sampling methods were used to determine wildlife usage. Wildlife species identification was based on observations noted during annual vegetation monitoring events associated with the US Army Corps 404 permit. The Baxter Creek riparian corridor, the lakes, and the wetland complex provide a variety of habitats for birds and wildlife including open water, aquatic bed, shrub/scrub, wet meadow, marsh, and upland buffer. Waterfowl and birds of prey observed during mitigation monitoring in 2012 included mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos), American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), great blue heron (Ardea herodias), and red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). Hungarian partridge (Perdix perdix), sandhill crane (Grus canadensis), Canada geese (Branta canadensis), killdeer (Charadrius vociferous), avocet (Recurvirostra americana), mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos), red-wing blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), Cinnamon teal (Anas cyanoptera), least tern (Sterna antillarum), rough-legged hawk (Buteo lagopus), and osprey (Pandion haliaetus) were observed at the Lakes from 2009 to 2012. Behaviors observed included breeding, foraging, flyovers, loafing, and nesting. The lack of forested habitat and proximity of dense residential neighborhoods limit the use of the Lakes parcel by larger furbearing animals such as bear and bobcat. Smaller furbearing animals observed at the Lakes or seen in nearby habitats include red fox (Vulpes vulpes), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), raccoon (Procyon lotor), long- tailed weasel (Mustela frenata), meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus), snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), and striped skunk (Mustela mephitis).