02-23-2004 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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-3-Febniaiy2,2004 invasive seed mix and seedlings/plugs similar to the mix in Attachment A (“Wetland Buffet and Seeding PUn”) will be esublished along the edges of the new wetland areas. As mentioned eariler, these changes will improve the quality of the wetland by increasing its habitat value for wildlife, its biological diversity, and its ability to absorb nutrients before discharging to downstream waters. As an added requirement of the MCWD, we propose to esublish 1178^ square feet of native, non*invasive vegetation in permanent upland buffet (See Attachment A (“Wetland Buffet and Seeding Plan")) survounding the new and existing wetland. The piuposed upland buffer areas will be a minimum of 16.5 feet wide along the southern and eastern sides of the wetland, and a minimum of 25 feet wide along the northern edge of the wetland. However, the northern edge of the wetland will be mainuined in the existing woody vegeution, with the exception of invasive species such as common buckthorn, which will be removed. One final item discussed in our last meeting was the issue of the well and pump associated with the current wetland. As you know; it is currently run in an effort to maintam a consistent water level, which became necessary due to disruption of the wetland ’s ground water source during the excavation of the northerly neighbor’s sub-basement a few yrars ago. Recently, the neighbor to the north attempted to reroute the ground water back to the wetland through a series of drain tile and piping We are hopeful that this new system will restore the ground water flow to the wetlarid: however, only time will tell if this measure will be effective. During our meeting there was tome discussion over the desire to see this well and pump permanently discontinued. Although, no one wants to see the wetland dry up. Therefore, at the meeting it was agreed that we would aUow monitoring of the wetland by the MCWD and the Qty of Orono for a period of three years to evaluate the effectiveness of the northerly neighbor’s drain dle/ptpmg system. The Cullum’s pump system has a measuring device that provides details on die amount of water pumped from the weU. Therefore, is will be easy to evaluate exacdy how effective the neighbor’s system is relative to the water level of the wetland. In summary, the proposed project will be a No-Loss wetland in^rovement project by partially restoring an excavated wetland basin by constructing an earthen berm, which will be used to establish emergent herbaceous and wo^y vegeution. In addition, 2,135 square feet of new wetland and 11/87 square feet of uphmd buffer will be created adjacent to the wetland. Finally, a three-year monitoring period will be established to evaluate the need for the continued use of the well and pump system used for mainuining water levels in the wetland. I hope you find the above review of the findings from our last meeting and the detail of our proposed plan helpful CXu* goal is to satisfy any outstanding issues you have with our plan and then present an official application for approval at the next available MCWD Board Meeting, hopefully in December. Upon approvd from MCWD, we would then present our plan, with the support of the staff of the Qty of Orono, to the Orono Planning Commission and Qty Council W: would like to begin comtruction in mid-winter to maximize the helpfulness of the frozen ground and water.