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Southwestern Ecological Services 37 East Colorado Avenue August 26, 2003 Ms. Margaret Langworthy U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 9307 South Wadsworth Littleton, CO 80128 Vegetation Analysis Wetland Ecology Land Rehabilitation Planning Photodocumentation Denver, Colorado 80210-3105 (303) 722-9067 Fax (303) 778-5937 RE: Final report on Coal Creek Wetland Mitigation Program DA Permit 198811488 Dear Ms. Langworthy: Following is the final report on this wetland mitigation program conducted in Arapahoe County on Coal Creek between East Quincy Avenue and the Arapahoe/Elbert County line. This study was begun a little over a yeaz ago and included slightly more than 6 miles of the Coal Creek Drainage on the Lowry Range Property owned by the State of Colorado. Although much of the mitigation program occurred within two enclosures totaling about 10 acres, the development of wetlands all along the channel as a result of muting is also of considerable interest and relevance to the project. At the suggestion of Terry McKee of your office, the entire drainage was studied. I originally intended to submit this report in September 2002, but after seeing the effects of the major drought in 2002 I decided it would be better to wait until this year to complete the study. It was reasoned that if the wetland mitigation efforts and other wetland development was not able to survive the drought it was questionable whether the intent of mitigation had been achieved. As it turned out, the wetland conditions declined somewhat late last summer and were also impacted by the generally very dry winter, but with the wet spring and early summer they recovered nicely and are now in much better condition than they were a year ago. The report contains a narrative of what was found in the azea studied, descriptions of the wetlands, and descriptions of the many factors involved in the developmen[ and maintenance of these wetlands. Several management recommendations axe also made. Through these discussions I believe it has been shown that the wetland mitigation cotmnitments have been fulfilled. Also included in the report are a number of photographs of the mitigation project enclosures as well as the entire 6 miles of stream channel. The last two pages contain my curriculum vitae that describe my qualifications for conducting this study. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call. cc: Scott Davis, Schmidt Constmction Don Opheim, Schmidt Constmction Mark Davis, Colorado Board of Land Commissioners Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology