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HomeMy WebLinkAboutF-FWL Response Letter - Duncan 062920 MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 3 Headquarters 1400 S 19th Avenue Bozeman, MT 59718 June 29, 2020 Bozeman Development Review Committee PO Box 1230 Bozeman, Montana 59771 RE: Northwest Crossing Phase 1 Preliminary Plat - 20113 Dear Review Committee: Thank you for providing Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) with the opportunity to comment on the proposed Northwest Crossing development. Streams, whether inhabited by fish or not, provide numerous ecological and geomorphological functions. In addition to providing habitat for lotic flora and fauna, riparian corridors are critically important for movement of large and small terrestrial wildlife. FWP has developed recommended standards for development near water bodies. For perennial streams, such as Baxter Creek and the unnamed spring creek, we recommend 150 feet of vegetated buffer plus 50 additional feet of building setback (Fish and Wildlife Recommendations for Subdivision Development in Montana 2012). Stream corridors, their fish, and other amenities streams provide is a primary driver for growth in Gallatin County and they should be protected commensurate to their importance. 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 Baxter Creek, the unnamed stream to the east, or other nearby aquatic habitats. An important project goal should be to ensure that the completed subdivision poses no direct or persistent environmental threat to the local watershed. Drainage within the subdivision is a critical consideration to avoid increasing sediment or other contaminants that might be delivered to local waterways. Several permits that may be required for any work within or adjacent to the streams within the proposed development. In general, any work that disturbs the bed or banks of a waterway requires a Montana Natural Streambed and Land Preservation Act Permit (310 – Local Conservation District). If any proposed action will input sediment into a waterway, a Short-Term Water Quality Standard for Turbidity (318 – Department of Environmental Quality) is required. If fill is placed in a waterway, a Federal Clean Water Act, or 404 Permit (Corps of Engineers) may be required. The Department of Natural Resources has a website that details these and other permits that may be required for instream and floodplain work - http://dnrc.mt.gov/licenses-and-permits/stream-permitting FWP understands the need for domestic water supplies as growth continues; however, given these concerns, FWP recommends any development in this area severely restrict irrigation, promote xeriscaping, and prohibit the construction of new private ponds. Private ponds, in addition to consumptive loss through evaporation are potential sources for Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS), non- native species, and fish diseases. Many of the people moving to the Bozeman area are doing so because of the its fish and wildlife resources, planning efforts will need to balance the water needs of residents while maintain ample habitat for fish and wildlife. Thank you again for the opportunity to comment and do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. Sincerely, Mike Duncan Fisheries Biologist mike.duncan@mt.gov