Wetland Classification, ID and Delineation Report

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ABSTRACT Svoboda Ecological Resources (SER) visited the above referenced property on 4123/2012 to examine the site for the presence of areas meeting wetland criteria. The study parcel is located in the city of Orono, MN in Hennepin County (Figure 1). Three wetland boundaries were delineated at this site. Six sample transects were established along the boundaries in order to characterize the soil, vegetation, and existing hydrology within the wetland-to-upland transition zone. INTRODUCTION The subject parcel is approximately 6.1 acres and is dominated by graminoids and early successional woody vegetation. The topography of the site is at its highest elevation in the northeast corner of the property, with low lying areas in the far western and southern reaches. The surrounding land use is primarily residential. The identified wetlands were classified according to the Cowardin et al., the Circular 39 and the Eggers and Reed classification systems and marked with pink "Wetland Delineation" pin flags. The wetland boundaries were surveyed by Gronberg and Associates. The Technical Documents section of this report contains field data sheets, plant indicator status information, soil survey information, and wetland defmition information. METHODS The methods used to delineate the subject parcel are as described in the 1987 US Army Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual and the 2010 Midwest Regional Supplement Manual. In the 1987 Manual, the methods used were described under the "routine" methods for sites less than 5 acres. This methodology is followed in order to assess whether the three parameters of a wetland are met for areas on the subject parcel. The three parameters required under normal circumstances in order to delineate a wetland are described in the Technical Documents section. The Midwest Regional Supplement Wetland Delineation Manual is also being utilized to increase the accuracy of our wetland boundaries. This addendum to the original 87 Manual was created to address the many regional differences that affect wetlands and the delineation methods used throughout the country. The following explanations are passages from that document. "This Regional Supplement is part of a nationwide effort to address regional wetland characteristics and improve the accuracy and efficiency of wetland- delineation procedures. Regional differences in climate, geology, soils, hydrology plant and animal communities, and other factors are important to the identification and functioning of wetlands. These differences cannot be Svoboda Ecological Resources 4115 Watertown Road Project Number: 2012-001 1 Orono MN