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).