2018-07-10_PERMIT FILE - M2018037 (4)

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Headquarters n MYin ,. _ „ Lakewood, 80232 , . inmmental,hx•. Biological Resources Technical Memorandum Date: November 16, 2017 To: Andy Rodriguez, Civil Resources, LLC From: Brandee Anderson, Biologist— Pinyon Environmental, Inc. Subject: Informal Wetland Delineation and Biological Resources Report, Weld County Gravel Pit Project Introduction Civil Resources, LLC contracted Pinyon Environmental, Inc. (Pinyon) to conduct an informal wetland delineation (using wetland vegetation as an indicator) and a biological resources survey for the Weld County Gravel Pit Project(project). The project is a proposed gravel mine located one-mile northwest of Fort Lupton off County Road 14 '/2 (CR 14 1/2) in Weld County, Colorado (Figure 1). The study area consists of approximately 145 acres of land currently used for pastureland (livestock grazing), agriculture production (alfalfa), and oil and gas extraction. The purpose of this Biological Resources Technical Memorandum (memo) is to identify existing wetland area conditions and biological resources within the study area. Methods Pinyon biologist Brandee Anderson visited the site on October 12, 2017, to informally delineate wetlands and to assess the study area for biological resources. Ms. Anderson surveyed the study area for protected species and their habitats, including threatened and endangered species; raptors and other migratory birds; Waters of the U.S. (WUS), including wetland areas (using wetland vegetation only as an indicator for the presence of hydric soils and wetland hydrology); and other biological resources. During the site visit, a Trimble Geo XH- 6000 global positioning system (GPS) unit was used to record relevant information. Notes and photographs were taken to record field conditions. A photographic log is included in the Attachments. Results General Habitat The study area is located south of Weld CR 14 '/z and west of the South Platte River, approximately one mile west of Fort Lupton, Colorado. The topography of the study area is relatively flat, with an approximate elevation of 4,880 feet above mean sea level (msl). The majority of the study area is dominated by upland species and contains irrigational features throughout such as the Lupton Bottom Ditch, other smaller unnamed ditches, and numerous pipe culverts.The eastern portion of the study area is dominated by riparian vegetation and characterized as riverine because of an oxbow of the South Platte River that flows northward through this portion of the study area. The dominant land type adjacent to the study area is cropland and pastureland associated with rural agricultural properties. Given the presence of the irrigational features, a residential home and agricultural buildings, and roads leading to oil and gas pads throughout the study area, it is likely that the natural vegetation, soils, and hydrology have been altered by filling, grading, and improvement activities in the past.