Laserfiche WebLink
MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT <br /> QUALITY OF WATER QUALITY OF LIFE <br /> Memo <br /> To: Ben Meyer, BWSR <br /> Stacey Lijewski, Hennepin County <br /> From: Courtney Hall, MCWD <br /> CC: <br /> Date: September 23,2014 <br /> Re: Wetland Conservation Act No-Loss Application W14-37 Nelson Restoration <br /> I. Introduction <br /> Dr.Glen Nelson has applied for a No-Loss determination for the proposed restoration of a 2.98 acre wetland in <br /> the City of Orono(PIDs 0511723320005 and 0511723330018).The wetland is a Shallow Marsh that is <br /> dominated by hybrid cattail,purple loosestrife,and reed canary grass.The wetland has low vegetative <br /> diversity and low wildlife habitat value. <br /> Dr. Nelson has hired Applied Ecological Services, Inc to design and implement a wetland restoration at the <br /> above-mentioned site. Dr. Nelson is not required to restore the wetland for replacement credits nor is he <br /> looking to sell wetland banking credits. He is interested in improving the biological diversity of the wetland <br /> and surrounding upland.This is a privately funded,good-will effort to improve the quality of the wetland. <br /> The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District is the local government unit that administers the Wetland <br /> Conservation Act in the City of Orono at this site and is responsible for making decisions on applications.The <br /> MCWD has called upon the TEP to analyze the technical merits of the restoration,assess public value of the <br /> wetland,and interpret the intent of the Wetland Conservation Act. <br /> II. Background <br /> Based upon historical aerial review(attached),the wetland appears to have been drier with the northern <br /> portion of the wetland likely supporting hay production.The southern portion of the wetland was wooded, <br /> and was likely made up of lowland forest or wet forest communities.Currently,there are still small pockets of <br /> wet meadow species,which also suggests that this wetland was historically a wet meadow community.These <br /> wetland communities that existed historically were sensitive to stormwater input and urban development. <br /> The historic hydrology of the wetland has been altered by construction of Tonkawa Road, nearby urban <br /> development,and installation of culverts.The road acts as a berm and prevents water from dissipating from <br /> the wetland,which has resulted in a wetland that is inundated for longer periods of time. Prolonged periods of <br />