CC - Agendas - City Council - REGULAR - 11/28/2017

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SOILS and VEGETATION The Lonti soil series dominates the area and is characterized by slow permeability with clayey and gravelly soils that have moderate-to-high shrink swell potential. Lynx soils define the drainageways with sand specified within Granite Creek. Lynx soils are subject to flooding, have moderately slow permeability, are fair for topsoil, and have a high plasticity index. Rock lands with severe bedrock and shallow soils lie in the south. The vegetation cover is chaparral with stands of pinon and juniper trees located on the isolated uplands. Riparian vegetation extends within Granite Creek north to about the City's recharge ponds, beyond which it is a dry wash. All of these environments support mule deer and havalina. Grassland, which is prime pronghorn antelope habitat, dominates the lower and flatter sections. WILDLIFE HABITAT The Arizona Game and Fish Department was requested for input on wildlife matters within the ASAP boundaries; however, the comments received do not necessarily reflect the policies of the City of Prescott (Appendix G). Noted are the prime antelope range and the lake/riparian habitats that cover ASAP. AZ Game and Fish has identified selected plants and animals that are classified as sensitive (S) including the American redstart (WC, S), the Belted kingfisher (WC, S), Mexican garter snake (WC, S), the Arizona toad (S), the Maricopa tiger beetle (S), and the Arizona phlox (S). In addition, the first three species are also classified as Wildlife of Special Concern (WC). The Department points out that new roads and developments will further fragment the existing pronghorn populations (estimated at about 370 head within ASAP), and will create additional barriers to wildlife moving between Glassford Hill and range lands to the north. Local Game and Fish experts noted that the planned Glassford Hill Rd. extension, in addition to the pending Airport Connector, will strand and isolate populations now able to move among � . the Tri-cities. The use of underpasses where Glassford Hill extension and Deep Well Ranch looking north along SR 89 toward Chino Valley. other new roads cross drainages is Note transition from chaparral to grassland vegetation. Bottleneck also suggested to help antelope and Wash runs left to right mid photo. other wildlife negotiate major roadways more safely. A design comfortable to antelope who are generally more skittish than deer or livestock, is also described in Appendix G. The airport connector will have 2 cattle underpasses located east of Side Road. Each are pre- designed as double vaulted 12'x12' culvert boxes, which will be lighted. One is 280 feet long, the other 460 feet long — both probably too narrow and too long to draw antelope. The fencing will be standard wildlife fence. 12