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Home My WebLink AboutREPORT Wetland Study Fall River Village 2011-12-13:.SCOTT COX &ASSOCIATES,INC.consulting engineers “-‘--i September 22,2003 .11) +hQ Cornerstone Engineering &Surveying 437 S.St.Vram Avenue U Estes Park,Colorado 80517 RE:Wetland Investigation for the Vicinity of Fall River Village,Estes Park,Colorado Scott,Cox &Associates,Inc.Project No.:3688-09-01-01 Gentlemen: On September 16,2003,a representative of this firm performed a wetland investigation in the vicinity of Fall River Village,in the Town of Estes Park,Colorado.The purpose of this investigation was to render an opinion as to if this site and its vicinity fall under Wetland Jurisdictional Status as defined by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.We understand that the study area consists of two (2)locations,a smaller one on the south side of Fall River a larger one on the north side of Fall River. The study area is located on the west side of Estes Park approximately eighteen hundred feet (±1800’)west of the intersection of Moraine Avenue and West Elkhorn Avenue,on the north side of Elkhorn Avenue.A representative of Cornerstone Engineering met our representative on site to outline the extent of the study area.Please refer to the attached photos,taken during the on site reconnaissance,and the Study Area map for further information. The U.S.Army Corps of Engineers define a wetland as an area “which is inundated or saturated with surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support,and under normal circumstances do support,a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions.Swamps,marshes,bogs and similar areas are typically considered wetlands. In order to be classified as a wetland,three (3)environmental criteria must be satisfied. 1.The prevalent vegetation must be able to grow and persist in a saturated soil condition. Examples include cattails,bulrush and some types of sedges. 2.Soils must be classified as hydric or possess characteristics of a reduced oxygen content from saturation with water. 3.The area must be periodically or permanently inundated at some time during the growii season of the prevalent vegetation. In mountainous areas,the predominant wetland type is known as a Fen.Fens are typically characterized by a waterlogged or spongy ground with a soils type known as a histosol or mineral soils with a histic epipedon.Histosols are primarily known for an organic soils horizon which extends sixteen (16”)or more inches below the ground surface.Histic epipedons are eight to twenty 5110 Granite Street,Suite D •Loveland,Colorado 80538 •(970)663-0138 •Fax:(970)663-1660 Ser ing Colorado ab olhces n •Boulder •Longrnoot •Loveland -4 September 22,2003 Project No.:3688-09-01-01 Page 2 four (8”-24”)inch thick organic soils horizons at or near the surface of a mineral soil.These soils are formed by a slow accumulation of plant materials in a waterlogged condition where it carmot decompose due to the relatively low ambient temperatures in mountainous areas. Our representative began the wetland reconnaissance at the small portion of the study area,between Fall River and West Elkhom Avenue and proceeded north,across the bridge,to the larger portion north of Fall River.Our representative then walked the perimeter of the larger portion.Test pits were dug at selected locations on the study area and the vegetation was noted to further define the characteristics of the study area. During the on-site investigation,it was noted that ,with the exception of the Fall River channel and its immediate banks,the study area exhibited upland soil and vegetation characteristics typically found in flood plain areas along Fall River. On the smaller portion of the study area (vicinity of Test Pit 1),our representative noted upland grasses and weeds including,but not limited to,Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense),slender wheatgrass (Agropyron trachycalum),timothy (Phleum Pratense)and redtop bent (Agrostis stolonifera).The soils encountered in Test Pit 1 exhibited approximately two inches (±2”)of organic material at the surface over approximately six inches (±6”)of slightly moist to moist silty sands to a layer of cobbles and gravelly sands.No indications of saturated or gleyed soils were encountered in Test Pit 1. On the larger portion of the study area (vicinity of Test Pits 2 and 3),our representative noted upland grasses,weeds and trees including,but not limited to,Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense),slender wheatgrass (Agropyron trachycalum),timothy (Phleum Pratense),redtop bent (Agrostis stolonifera), thread leaved sedge (Carex filifolia),peachleaf willow (Salix amygdaloides)and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa).The soils encountered in Test Pits 2 and 3 exhibited approximately two inches (±2”)of organic material at the surface over approximately three to four inches (±3-4”)of slightly moist to moist silty sands to a layer of cobbles and gravelly sands.No indications of saturated or gleyed soils (as compared to the Munsell Color Chart)were encountered in either Test Pits 2 or 3. During the on-site investigation,it was noted that no evidence of wetland hydrology exists on the study area presently,with the exception of the Fall River channel and its immediate banks. Specifically,hydrophytic vegetation,hydric soils,or indications ofpermanent or periodic inundation ‘ere not present on the study area at the time of our observations.A review of related soils surveys and plant identification manuals supports these observations. If you have any questions,please feel free to call. Environmental Sp G \Civi \Environmental\wetland\Cornerstori&3688-9-1-1 .v’pd / / •i -:4J * — .MA1 TUDY AREA SOUTH OF FALL RIVER •?•. /‘ 4 r L I £ • t’7t•‘• WEST SIDE OF STUDY AREA LOOKING EAST ,A• (I’•i4JI .•• 1 •‘ ON RIVER TRMIL MIDWAY ALONG STUDY AREA LOQKING EAST i.;._:.;t --- - --- -z —--—---.--- -——-,‘.--.—-s-.-— -—.- J,p - !SMDNIO.Oi.VdVAGfiiSOGN!SV -.••.-.,.‘—a •.:•.IIa\9NI1OO]-VeIV)‘bIIir --: -•---,.,I- -.•_,c.,•‘... -•. REFERENCES --Carter,Jack L.,1988.Trees and Shrubs of Colorado,Johnson Books,Boulder,Colorado, 165 pp. --Guennel,G.K.,1995.Guide to Colorado Wildflowers-Volume 1,Plains and Foothills, Westcliffe Publishers,Englewood,Colorado,336 pp. --U.S.Army Corps of Engineers,1987.Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual, Technical Report Y-87-1,National Technical Information Service,Springfield,Virginia. l69pp --The Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture,1971. Common Weeds of the United States,Dover Publication,New York,New York,463 pp. --Stubbendieck,James;Hatch,StephanL.;and Butterfield,Charles H.,1992.North American Range Plants,University of Nebraska Press,Lincoln,Nebraska,493 pp. --Reed,P.B.,Jr.,1988.National List ofPlant Species That Occur in Wetlands -Intermountain (Region 8)U.S.Fish &Wildlife Service Biology Report 88 (26.8).73 pp