01-10-2005 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Aerial Phu(o|[;raph Review Pinnacle reviewed aerial photographs and a wetland inventoo' of the Site at the City of Orono on July 10,2003 for the years 1955, 1970, and 1994. The 1955 photo did not have a wetland inventory overlay; however, it appeared that the area of concern was wetland at that time. I he majority of the norlhem portion of the basin appeared to be dominaled with emergent vegetation, such as cattail, with minimal open water. Ihc open water/emergent vegetation barely e.\tended south onto the Pidgeon projierty with the remaining southern portions appearing to be a grassed swale that served as the wetland ’s natural outlet. Being completely vegetated with emergent vegetation indicates shallower water conditions then what arc currently at the Site. The 1970 photo was similar to the 1955 photo and depicted the nortliem portion of the basin as being dominated by emergent vegetation with a grassed swale to the south. The 1994 photo also depicted a bulb-shaped wetland but revealed higher water conditions than the two earlier photos, as evidenced by the absence of emergent vegetation. A dark colored object was observed in the wetland at the south property line that could po.ssibly be fill material that is blocking the natural outlet, in turn, flooding the Pidgeon property The city’s wetland inventory classified this wetland as a 1 9-acrc. Circular 39 Type 4 wctlarrd with peaty muck soils. Background Inforriisitioii In discu-ssions with Ms. Pidgeon, she stated that she purchased the property in 1985. At that time, the northern portion of the wetland barely extended onto her projicity and there was a small open water area approximately 15 feet across with the remaining area to the south being dry and functional l;md that she could easily traverse to get to acce.ss the western portion of the property. During the fall of 1994. her neighbors, immediately adjacent to the south, reportedly had a large tent and backhoe down in the wetland area near the south property boundary and possibly placed fill matcrial/construction debris there. This appears to be blocking the outlet, Hooding the Pidgeon property. In addition, a second neighbor located .southwest of the Site built a driveway in 1987 that bi sects the soutfrern portion of the wctland/swalc that may also impede the natural southern surface water flow of the wetland. In the correspondence supplied by Ms Pidgeon, it was reported that the culverts under this driveway are set at an elevation of 980.0 feet mean sea level (M.SI.), which is approximately two feel lower than the wetland elevation of 982.1; however, the water seems to be blocked at the south projierty boundary and does not appear to be reaching these culverts. Conclusions In conclusion, it is Piiuiacle’s opinion that the majority of (he current wetland area at the Site was historically a Circular 39. Type 1 oi 2 wetland swale (seasonaily Hooded it wet meadow wetlands, respectively) that h.ns had its natural outlet blocked at the Site's sooth piopeity line, and possibly luitlici south at the driveway that bi sects the wetland, wlucli lias, in turn. Hooded the Pidgeon piopeity and changed tl'.c wetland type to a Ciitiil.u 39 I ype 4. deep maish wetland It is also po.ssibic that there was :n>ioiieally a dram tile line llial lielped diaiti this well.iiid ih.il h.ix sime Kvn lenJereJ inoper.ible C\aresinMKleiKe