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Wetland Delineation Report <br /> Stonegate Farm,Orono&Medina, MN <br /> BES Project No. 2015-021 <br /> September 18,2015 <br /> saturated soil (A3)was observed at a depth of 0 inches in the SG-W wetland soil pit. The other <br /> wetland hydrology indicator observed in the wetland included; inundation visible on aerial <br /> imagery(B7), saturation visible on aerial imagery(C9), geomorphic position (D2)and a positive <br /> FAC-neutral test(D5). There was a heavy rainfall event just prior to the first site visit which <br /> resulted in extensive flooding within the farmed wetland basin. During the second site visit, five <br /> days later, surFace water was significantly reduced and limited to just the centers of the <br /> depressions. The adjacent upland vegetation was sampled on a slight topographic rise and was <br /> also planted to soybeans. The volunteer vegetation in the upland (SG-U) included Canada <br /> thistle, reed canary grass, field penny crest(Thlaspi arvense), and yellow rocket(Barbarea <br /> vulgaris). Including the soybeans the vegetation community does not meet the dominance test <br /> and has a prevalence index of 4.28. Disregarding the soybeans, there is one FACW, one FAC <br /> and two FACU species which would suggest under normal circumstances there would be more <br /> FACU species than FAC and wetter species. The upland soils (SG-U) consisted of eight inches <br /> of eight inches of 10YR 2/2 loam, over 14 inches of 10YR 3/1 clay loam, over 10YR 4/1 clay. <br /> The surFace was not dark enough to meet the Al2 hydric soils criteria. Free water was <br /> observed at a depth of 16 inches and saturated soil was at 13 inches in the upland soil pit early <br /> in the growing season. There were no wetland hydrology indicators observed at the upland <br /> sampling point. The wetland boundary was generally staked based on the composition <br /> volunteer weed species, the extent of crop stress/failure, the surface soil color and the presence <br /> of hydrology indicators at the time of the site visits. <br /> Sample aoint SG-X. SP-1, SP-2. SP-3, and SP-4 <br /> These five sample points were evaluated because these areas were either farmed and <br /> appeared to occasionally have wetland signatures on aerial photos or based on resource maps <br /> there was a potential for wetlands in the area. On-site data for each point is included on the <br /> data sheets in Appendix C. None of the farmed areas, SG-X, SP-3 and SP-4, had wetland <br /> signatures in more than 50% of the normal precipitation years. These three farmed areas also <br /> did not develop visible signs of crop stress in a slightly wetter than average, but normal <br /> precipitation year. All five of the sample points had thick dark mollisol soils but only SG-X <br /> actually meet a field indicator of hydric soils. There were no wetland hydrology indicators <br /> observed in these areas except SG-X. Sample point SG-X had surface water present at the <br /> time of the first site visit after a heavy rain event. Technically that observation is enough to <br /> meet the wetland hydrology criteria, but considering antecedent conditions and the fact that the <br /> basin was nearly dry just five days later indicates the duration for flooding probably is not <br /> sufficient to meet the wetland criteria. All of these areas were determined to be non-wetlands <br /> because the preponderance of evidence indicated they did not meet the three parameter <br /> wetland criteria. <br /> 6 <br />