Bobolink Habitat Loss Through Wetland Development

Protect Bobolink Habitat and
Prevent Flooding Hazards

We oppose housing development in the Logan River floodplain

Bobolink Habitat: Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus Courtesy: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Steve Maslowski, Photographer

Bobolink
Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Courtesy U.S. FWS
Steve Maslowski, Photographer

Bobolink habitat in Cache Valley is being impacted by development along the Logan River.

Bobolinks are imperiled in Utah, population declining:
“Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), one of the most iconic and charismatic grassland birds, has declined in numbers on its North American breeding grounds by nearly 60% since 1970. Many other grassland obligate birds share a similar fate, as do the native grasslands on which they depend, now one of the most endangered ecosystems in the Americas. Bobolink is a Partners in Flight Watch List species, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Focal Species and Bird of Conservation Concern, a Species of Greatest Conservation Concern in most U.S. states and Canadian provinces in which it occurs, and is listed as Threatened under the Species at Risk Act in Canada. In nine of the Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs) in which it breeds, populations are predicted to decline by 30% over the next two decades.”

Contents:

 

Bobolink Habitat

Wayne Wurtsbaugh took the following pictures of Bobolink habitat near the Logan River that will be lost to development.

Bobolink Habitat near the Logan RiverBobolink Habitat near the Logan River
Courtesy & © Wayne Wurtsbaugh, Photographer		 Bobolink Habitat near the Logan River, Courtesy and Copyright Wayne Wurtsbaugh, PhotographerBobolink Habitat near the Logan River
Courtesy & © Wayne Wurtsbaugh, Photographer

From The Stilt, December 2001:
Audubon Advisory: The Farm Bill
On November 15, the Senate Agriculture Committee passed a sweeping farm bill that contains a number of conservation programs directly impacting birds, other wildlife and their habitat. While this bill has sufficient funding for Wetlands Reserve Program, it does not provide adequate funding for all of the other important programs such as Conservation Reserve Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, and Farmland Protection Program to sufficiently address the conservation challenges facing America’s farmers in protecting important habitat for migratory birds, including grassland songbirds like the bobolink, and other wildlife. The alternative is the Reid-Leahy Conservation
Assistance and Regional Equity Act of 2001. NAS urges its members to contact their two U.S. Senators and urge them to support for this bill for this year’s Farm Bill! See the Audubon web-site (http://www.audubon.org) for more information.

From The Stilt, October 1996:
Ron Ryel Bobolink Sighting: “At least two male bobolinks are in the field north of the Mendon road, east of the Logan River.”

Renfrew, R.B., K.A. Peters, J.R. Herkert, K.R. VanBeek, and T. Will. 2019. A full life cycle
conservation plan for Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus). U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service., https://partnersinflight.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/A-Full-Life-Cycle-Conservation-Plan-for-Bobolink.pdf

The Bobolink Project, A research study developed by researchers at the University of Rhode Island, the University of Connecticut, and the University of Vermont. Administered by Mass Audubon, Audubon Vermont, and New Hampshire Audubon, https://www.bobolinkproject.com/
 
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Proposed Development in Bobolink Territory

Willow Lakes Subdivision https://cms9files.revize.com/loganut/departments/comdev/PC%20Projects/PC%2021-009%20Willow%20Lakes%20Subdivision.pdf

The Public Notice with an overview of the Project Description, Environmental Setting, is at:
https://www.spk.usace.army.mil/Media/Regulatory-Public-Notices/Article/2969865/spk-2020-00588-public-notice-of-permit-application-willow-lakes-holdings-llc-10/

Drawings for the project are at:
https://www.spk.usace.army.mil/Portals/12/documents/regulatory/public_notices/FY2022/EXP-APR2022/SPK-2020-00588-PN-Attachments.pdf

Kunzler Annexation Request January 10, 2019
https://cms9files.revize.com/loganut/Ord%2019-03%20Kunzler%20Annexation%20-%20ACTION.pdf

Annexation parcels January 2021, mentions Future Land Use Plan (FLUP) and wetlands, floodplain:
https://cms9files.revize.com/loganut/departments/admin/council/Ord%2021-05%20Carles%20Jessop%20Annexation%20-%20ACTION.pdf

Army Corps Comments Submitted:

  • Todd Sherman Comments
  • W. Bryan Dixon Comments
  • Wayne Wurtsbaugh for Bridgerland Audubon
     

    Make your voice heard:

    Speak up and make a difference by contacting the following agencies and letting them know your thoughts concerning development in the floodplain, the associated loss of habitat and increased flooding hazards. The flooding hazard presented by the development has impacts to all of us: Contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Utah Department of Public Safety Emergency Management. For wetland loss associated with the development contact the Army Corps of Engineers, EPA and Utah Division of Water Quality (DWQ)
    Reach Out:

    The following should be contacted with regard to the flooding hazard presented by the development:
    FEMA, Utah DPS Emergency Management

    These should be contacted about wetland loss associated with the development:
    Corps of Engineers, EPA, Utah DWQ
     
    Background:
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    Cache County Risk MAP Flood Study Documents and Data Repository

    Cache County Executive David Zook posted the following on Facebook after the FEMA open house last night [Aug 9, 2021]:

    If you live in a floodplain in Cache County, you will want to see this. If you know someone who does, please share this with them. Just met with FEMA and the Utah Division of Emergency Management, who have been working with us here in Cache County to revise our flood maps. These maps are used, among other things, to determine if you have to buy flood insurance. The update is proposing that almost 500 structures in the County be shown as no longer in the floodplain, which means you won’t be forced to pay for that insurance anymore, once it’s approved. Don’t cancel your insurance yet. More info here: cache-county-risk-map-document-repository-utah-em.hub.arcgis.com

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    News-Take Action:

    Action Date: June 9, 2022, Public Notice, Willow Lakes Residential Project, Utah Department of Environmental Quality-Water Quality, https://deq.utah.gov/businesses-facilities/willow-lakes-residential-project
    Public Notice to Issue a Section 401 Water Quality Certification, Utah Department of Environmental Quality-Water Quality, May 9, 2022, https://documents.deq.utah.gov/water-quality/facilities/401-wq-cert/DWQ-2022-006046.pdf

     
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    Meeting July 27, 2021:
    Cache Council tonight:
    6. ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST
    a. Flood Plain Mapping Update – Matt Phillips

    PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that the County Council of Cache County, Utah will hold a WORKSHOP at 3:30 p.m. and a COUNCIL MEETING at 5:00 p.m. the Cache County Historic Courthouse Council Chambers, 199 North Main Street, Logan, Utah 84321, TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021. Council meetings are live streamed on the Cache County YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa4xvEI8bnIEz3B9zw2teaA

     
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    Salt Lake County Regulations on Building in Floodways-Regulation Example:
    19.74.050 – Floodways.

    Located within areas of special flood hazard established in Section 19.74.040 are areas designated as “floodways.” Since the floodway is an extremely hazardous area due to the velocity of floodwaters which carry debris, potential projectiles, and erosion potential, the following provisions apply:

    A.Encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, placement of manufactured homes, and other developments, are prohibited unless certification by a registered professional engineer is provided demonstrating that encroachments shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
    B.If subsection A of this section is satisfied, all new construction and substantial improvements and placement of manufactured homes shall comply with all applicable flood-hazard reduction provisions of Sections 19.74.100 through19.74.180.
    (Ord. 994 §§ 3, 4, 1987: § 1 (part) of Ord. passed 11/13/85: prior code § 22-39-5)
    https://library.municode.com/ut/salt_lake_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT19ZO_CH19.74FLHARE

    Ward County North Dakota-Regulation Example:
    For that reason, the local community must review all proposed projects inside the floodway to determine their eligibility for development. Before a local floodplain permit can be issued for proposed development in the floodway, the applicant must provide evidence that “no rise” (see sidebar) will occur or obtain a Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR) from FEMA. You will need a qualified engineer to make sure
    our proposed project will not increase flood levels. This ensures it will not have a negative effect on neighboring properties by increasing flood risk.
    https://www.co.ward.nd.us/DocumentCenter/View/2920/FAQ-Regulating-Within-a-Floodway?bidId=