Wetland Classification/ident/delineation - 2004

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SVOBODA ECOLOGICAL RESOURCES ' Providing the Sharper Edge in Natural Resources & Environmental Consulting y 4. 2004 Mr. Gail Knappenberger 1420 Tamarack Drive Long Lake, MN 55356 RE: SER Project Name: Watertown& Old Crystal Bay Road SER Project No: 2004-014-03 Project Location: NE '/4 of the NW '/4, Section 4 , Tl 17N. R 23W, Orono, Hennepin County, Minnesota Project Description: Wetland Classification, Identification, Delineation, & Staking Services Dear Mr. Knappenberger: As requested, Svoboda Ecological Resources(SER)visited the above referencedro ert ri1 P P Y on A P 26,.2004 to examine the site for the presence of areas meeting wetland criteria. Criteria for determining jurisdictional wetlands are as described in the 1987 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation 11anual(1987 Manual)as required by the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act. The project site consists of an open grass and meadow plot with hardwoods located throughout the property. An emergent,vegetation wetland basin lies in the northwest portion of the parcel;'a 'drainage ditch runs from the basin to the southeast dividing the upland areas in two. Remnants from a previously existing home are currently onsite centrally located. Watertown Road borders the property to the north and Old Crystal Bay Road to the east(See Figure 1). METHODS National Wetland Inventory (NWI) maps, Soil Survey of Hennepin County maps, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources(DNR)Protected Waters maps,and aerial photographs from 2003 were reviewed prior to the site visit to identify areas of concern.. Areas illustrating evidence of wetland conditions were examined in greater detail during the field survey. Vegetation, soils and hydrology were examined(as outlined in'the 1987 Manual) and used to characterize wetland types and determine wetland boundaries. Sample transects were established in representative wetland-to- upland transition zones in order to characterize the vegetation,soils,and hydrology of the site.. The transects consist of one representative upland sample point and one representative wetland sample point. Information obtained from the sample points can be found on the field data sheets located in Appendix A. , Wetland boundaries were marked at the site by blaze-orange"wetland boundary"flagging attached to 4-fdot wooden lath. The "wetland boundary" is considered to be the topographically highest extent of the wetland basin; areas below the staked boundary met the'three required wetland criteria while areas above were lacking in one or more of these criteria. 2477 Shadywood Road - Excelsior,MN 55331 (952)471-1100 (Office) - (952)471-0007 (-Fax) ,