Orono_Route_Permit_Application - Docket # W002/TL-11-223

Home Browse Search

NWI has not been field verified for a portion of the Proposed Route off of Xcel Energy property, and sometimes contains inaccuracies. However, it is a good tool for initial wetland identification and assessment. Xcel Energy engaged Westwood Professional Services, Inc. ("Westwood") to perform a wetland delineation of the 16 acre Orono Substation site and prepared a Wetland Delineation Report (dated July 2, 2010). The wetland area within the 16 acre site was identified as a type 3 Palustrine Emergent ("PEM") (Shallow Marsh) wetland. Additionally this wetland is classified as seasonally flooded, partially drained/ditched ("PEMCd"). The dominate vegetation within the wetland consisted of cattail and reed canary grass, with lesser amounts of Box Elder. The vegetation within the upland areas of the site transitioned from hydrophytic vegetation in the wetland areas to non-hydrophytic vegetation in the upland areas. Westwood prepared the Wetland Delineation Report (dated July 2, 2010); Xcel Energy submitted the Wetland Delineation Report to the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District ("MCWD") on August 4, 2010; the MCWD issued a Notice of Application for the delineation and requested comments on August 10, 2010; and the MCWD issued a Notice of Decision accepting the wetland delineation on September 14, 2010. The Wetland Delineation Report can be found in Appendix F along with the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act ("WCA"), Notice of Decision (dated September 14, 2010) by the MWCD. In total, two wetlands were identified within the 400 foot wide route width for the proposed transmission line (see Appendix B-6). One additional wetland was identified just outside of the 400 foot wide route width. Overall, the 400 foot transmission line corridor extends approximately 3,136 feet and encompasses approximately 28.8 acres, of which approximately 13.63 acres (47%) are wetlands. Approximately 3.29 acres of the 75 foot right-of-way required for the transmission line are wetlands. Based upon preliminary structure locations and design spans nine transmission structures will be necessary for the proposed Project. It is estimated that five or six of these structures will fall within or on the edge of wetlands (see Appendix B-2 and B-6). The wetland present within the Proposed Route is classified as a Palustrine type wetland. Other wetlands near the Project site are also Palustrine type wetlands. The Palustrine System includes all nontidal wetlands dominated by trees, shrubs, emergents, mosses or lichens (Cowardin et al. 1979). Vegetation within the wetland crossed on the 16 acre Orono Substation site consists of emergent vegetation with a mixture of grasses, cattail, shrubs and herbaceous vegetation (see Wetland Delineation Report in Appendix F). The wetland present on the Orono Substation site is a large portion of PWI unnamed (27-916 W) crossed by the Project. The other PWI unnamed (27-917 W) crossed by the Project appears to have once been connected to unnamed (27-916 W) and likely will be of similar make up. Both of these wetlands are identified as public water wetlands (MnDNR 2010d). However, human impact in the form of residential development has since separated these two wetlands for construction of a road within the HFA. The proposed Project will have minor, mostly short term effects on surface water resources and associated wetlands. Most potential effects on surface waters and wetlands will be related to construction of the proposed transmission line across the existing wetlands. The Project may require wetland and water resource approvals from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ("USACE"), MnDNR, Hennepin County and the MWCD. USACE administers the federal Clean Water Act and Rivers and Harbors Act. A license from the MnDNR is required to cross public water wetlands. Orono Project June 7, 2011 MPUC Docket No. E002/TL-11-223 55