HomeMy WebLinkAbout1.04 Land suitability analysisn '" YALERUS () 4-502 D Sections
/' Land Suitability Analysis Article IV, 4-502 D.l. Public Access Access to the subject property and parcels are from a 400 foot private road accessed from County Road 333. There are
no historic access points to public lands within the subject parcel boundaries. Article IV, 4-502 D.2. Access to Adjoining Roadways County Road 333 intersects with County Road 352 approximately
2 miles from the proposed facility. Impacts to adjoining roadways are not anticipated. Article IV, 4-502 D.3. Easements All easements within the vicinity of the project area are shown
as required on the site plan. The proposed facility would not impact existing easements found on the subject property. Article IV, 4-502 D.4. Topography and Slope The project site has
little relief with elevations in the general project area ranging from approximately 5,800 to 5,840 feet above sea level. Valerus will implement appropriate mitigation measures to stabilize
slopes and control storm water runoff in order to minimize erosion. This information is detailed in the Storm Water Management Plan (see Section J., Supplemental Materials). Article
IV, 4-502 D.5. Natural Features Natural features including soils, vegetation, and terrain are detailed in various reports included in the supplemental information. Vegetation primarily
consists of introduced and native grasses and forbs, including purple mustard, intermediate wheat grass, cheatgrass, and areas of sage, fringed sage, and rabbitbrush in the northern
portions of the project area. Portions ofthe site appear to have been previous graded and revegetated, some areas with seeded species and some with various nonnative species. 1
(' ,(' (~ Site Overview There are several areas of bare ground on the site as well, and the access road and adjoining land uses have gravel cover. Terrain is mostly flat with very little
relief. As noted previously, there is approximately 40 feet of relief across the entire evaluated area; however, the area proposed for grading ranges in elevation from 5,820 to 5,833
feet. The project area is located between two unnamed ephemeral tributaries that drain northeast into Mamm Creek. These surface drainages are surrounded by sagebrush and convey runoff
in response to local precipitation events. No wetland vegetation nor signs of hydric conditions were detected in these drainages in or adjacent to the project site. The closest surface
waters to the project area are the Dry Creek drainage, approximately I mile to the west, and the Mamm Creek drainage, located approximately 1.5 miles to the east. Article IV, 4-502 D.6.
Drainage The project area is located between two unnamed ephemeral tributaries that drain northeast into Mamm Creek. A dry, upland vegetated swale occurs north of the proposed project,
and supports ephemeral flow. As noted in the Storm Water Management Plan, the two-year storm event does 2 t
not result in surface runoff from the site. The swale supports flows less frequently than every two years, on average. As noted previously, the closest surface waters to the project
area are the Dry Creek drainage, approximately 1 mile to the west, and the Mamm Creek drainage, located approximately 1.5 miles to the east. Article IV, 4-502 D.7. Water The proposed
proj ect will not require a source of water during the operation or construction of the facility. Therefore, no demand will be placed on local water resources. The project will produce
water in the process of gas compression. Dehydrator units will evaporate some water as water vapor. Excess water will be removed by truck as needed, in accordance with federal and state
regulations. Article IV, 4-502 D.S. Floodplain The project site is not within a floodplain. FEMA has no panels in the project area. Article IV, 4-502 D.9. Soils Soil surveys conducted
by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) indicate that the proposed facility (Parcels 1 and 2) would be constructed on the Potts loam soil series (NRCS 2005). The Potts loam
series is common on valley sides, benches, and mesas, and is comprised of alluvium derived from basalt and/or sandstone and shale. Erosion potential is moderately low. Potts loam soils
are found on slopes ranging from 3 to 6 percent. Parcel 3, which contains Potts loam soils along its southern boundary, consists of the PottsIldefonso complex soil series (western portion
of parcel) and the Olney loam series. The PottsIldefonso series consists of a stony clay loam found on alluvial fans, mesas, and valley sides on slopes ranging from 12 to 25 percent.
The erosion potential for these types of soils is moderately low to low. The Olney loam series consists of loam/sandy clay loam/gravelly sandy clay loam found on valley sides and alluvial
fans, Slopes range from 6 to 12 percent and the erosion potential for these types of soils is moderately low to low. Article IV, 4-502, D.lO. Hazards (Geological) Soils in the project
area are moderately expansive. There are no other geological or other hazards in the project area. There are no hazardous slopes, alluvial fans, areas of subsidence, rock outcrops and
rockfall areas, radiological and seismic hazard areas, hazardous soil types or landslide areas in the project area. Article IV, 4-502, D.ll. Natnral Habitat Big game species that may
utilize the project area include American elk (Cervus elaphus), black bear (Ursus american us), mountain lion (Felis concolor), and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) (Colorado Division
of Wildlife [CDOW] 2007). These species are considered to be economically important wildlife managed by the state. Black bear and mountain lion likely are rare within and 3
,~ -, /-around the project site. The proposed project area is located within American elk severe winter and winter concentrationrange as well as mule deer severe winter range; it is
also located just south of a mule deer winter concentration area, which surrounds the site to the east, north, and west. The site has no trees or cliffs; therefore, few raptors are likely
to nest within or around the project site, but may forage or migrate through the project area. Some of these species include northern harrier, red-tailed hawk, Swainson's hawk, ferruginous
hawk, American kestrel, and prairie falcon. A few of the threatened, endangered, candidate, and special concern species listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and CD OW
that are known to occur in Garfield County have the potential to occur in the project area. These species include the northern pocket gopher, Townsend's big eared bat, ferruginous hawk,
and sage-grouse. Although these species have the potential to be found within the project area, they are not likely to occur at the project site due to the lack of suitable nesting habitat
and cover. The project area surveys did not identify any of these species on the project site, and habitat is not suitable. Much of the proposed project area is disturbed by existing
uses and lacks suitable vegetation. Garfield County listed wildlife species and impacts to wildlife species are described in more detail in the attached Wildlife Impact Study (See Section
J: Supplemental Materials). Article IV, 4-502 D.12. Resource Area (Cultural) A file search of the Colorado Inventory of Cultural Resources was conducted. No sites or surveys were located
in the project area, and the file search included an area of about 1 square mile. The letter received from the Colorado Historical Society is included in Section J: Supplemental Materials.
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