HomeMy WebLinkAboutVegetation plan 2009-07-01BELL CONSULTING, LLC.
230 CR 261
Silt, CO 81652
970‐948‐3153
High Mesa RV Park Page 1
September 21, 2007
Steve Anthony
Garfield County Vegetation Management
RE: High Mesa RV Park, Garfield County, Colorado
Mr. Anthony,
The following report addresses vegetation and noxious weed management for the proposed High Mesa
RV Park located south and east of Battlement Mesa, Colorado.
Currently the property consists of a mixture of areas covered with pinion and juniper trees along with
other areas covered in sage and scrub brushes. The site is essentially free of noxious weeds as listed by
Garfield County. The most numerous weed identified on the property is Cheatgrass (bromus tectorum L.)
and while not listed as a noxious weed, the County is still attempting to control the spread of this weed.
The current program for management of weeds on the site has focused on grazing by cattle throughout the
winter and early spring months. Spot spraying is being utilized to control any weeds that occur along the
access road.
The weed management plan for the Park will include the continuation of chemical spraying with grazing
where conducive. The RV Park operation agreement will require annual maintenance of noxious weeds,
as necessary, by the property owner in conjunction with programs set up by the County.
The development of the RV Park will disturb portions of both the pinion/juniper and sage/scrub areas
while maintaining undisturbed areas between the roads and RV pad sites. The disturbed areas will then be
covered with either gravel surfacing (as will be the case for the roads, RV pads and parking areas) or
vegetation as depicted on the Vegetation Plan provided as a part of the development plans prepared by
Bell Consulting. The new vegetation will consist of a dryland mix as indicated on the plans (see Table
below) with an assortment of shrubs and trees. The slopes that will be revegetated are proposed at a
maximum of 2 to 1 (horizontal to vertical) with areas being less steep where feasible.
DRYLAND SEED MIX
Areas to be revegetated shall be reseeded with Pawnee Butte Seed Company Dry Native Mountain Mix,
O.A.E. (http://www.pawneebuttesseed.com/seedlist_mixes.htm)
(20%) Mountain Brome
(20%) Slender Wheatgrass
(10%) Streambank Wheatgrass
(2.5%) Canby Bluegrass
(7.5%) Arizona Fescue
(10%) Indian Ricegrass
(5%) Thickspike Wheatgrass
(5%) Bluebunch Wheatgrass
(2.5%) Bottlebrush Squirreltail
(2.5%) Sandberg Bluegrass
(15%) Sheep Fescue
High Mesa RV Park Page 2
If construction occurs during winter or early spring months, revegetation will occur in the spring. If
construction occurs during summer months, the revegetation will occur in the fall. This schedule will
provide for the greatest success of revegetation efforts. In any case, temporary irrigation will be provided
as necessary to assist in establishing the vegetation with more permanent irrigation provided where
necessary.
The RV Park has a unique component due to the fact that access to the site will be gained via a road
constructed previously by Encana for gas exploration and development in the vicinity. The access road
prior to the RV Park boundary is approximately 3,500 feet in length and was to be constructed to County
Road standards. Unfortunately, the construction did not comply with the required standards and portions
will have to be reconstructed. We have taken into consideration areas of the road side slopes that will
once again be disturbed and require revegetation in the area calculations. We have not however
considered most of these areas as new disturbance for the access road because they have already been
disturbed and the revegetation effort is in progress.
The Emergency Access for the site is partially along an existing road that has served as a ranch access for
the surrounding property. Due to the difficulty of separating the various components, we have considered
all portions of the Emergency Access to be new disturbance. Once again all areas that will require
revegetation have been taken into consideration in our calculations.
The areas being disturbed in each portion of the project (RV Park, Access Road and Emergency Road)
along with areas to be covered with various items have been listed in the table below. A cost estimate for
the revegetation of the disturbed areas has been provided as a part of the Major Impact Review submittal
to Garfield County.
Disturbed Area
sq. ft.
Revegetated Area
sq. ft.
Hard Surfaced Area
sq. ft.
RV Park 461,389 171,807 231,597
Entrance Road 119,560 80,222 105,063
Emergency Road 155,678 68,173 87,520
The soil disturbed, due to the development, will be utilized throughout the project to minimize import or
export of material. In all instances the topsoil will be removed, stored in central locations and replaced on
the slopes and disturbed areas upon construction completion. Silt fencing will be utilized around any
stock piles that are to remain for any significant duration to reduce transport of sediment. The remainder
of the site will be protected from erosion due to storm water runoff through the implementation of a storm
water management plan as required by the State of Colorado. The SWMP plan will be prepared by the
owner and/or contractor prior to construction on the site.
Attached is a vegetation map indicating predominant species and weed locations.
Please contact me with any questions at 970-948-3153.
Bell Consulting, LLC.
______________________
Nathan J. Bell, P.E. 23401
High Mesa RV Park Page 3