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NOV-2.T-00 MOW 01:46 PM Ue I »h <br />k-; ' <br />' <br />^ . <br />K <br />U <br />952 4725663 <br />Robert L. Brown <br />4755 Tonkaview Lane <br />Orono, MN 55364 <br />October 19.1997 <br />RE:Wetland Delineation Report fc’ Garden Lane Site <br />To Whoa) It May Concern: <br />I am a plant ecologist with wetland delir.eotion iruining . I currently work for an environmertal consulting <br />firm in Minneapolis that specializes in environmental permitting. I have reviewed the wetlanu delineation <br />report that wsw prepared by Schoell & Madson, Inc. for Lhe Garden Lane site and have the following <br />concerns My primary concern is that the report did nc: discuss the wet woods located on the site west of <br />Garden Lane <br />On October 5,1997,1 conducted a fieid review of tic vegetation within the proposed developmcr. luca west <br />of Garden Lane (see attached as.ses$n:ent) and found several indicators suggesting that at least a portion of <br />this area may be wetland, lhe wooes ui the area west of Gaiden Lane are dominated by quaking asoen, <br />green ash, xnd silver map^e. According to the National List of Plants that Occur in Wetlands these species <br />are either fHcultnttve or facultative wci species, which means they arc predoinina.ntly hydrophytic and could <br />be uidicntivc of wetlands 1 also notec cvidcr>cc o: surface hydrology including cracked soils, sediment <br />depasits on leaves, and watennarks on tree tn'nks. In other words, two of the three criteria that must be met <br />to classify an area as wetland were readily apparent I have not tested the soils in the area to determine if <br />hydric soils are present, but based on the vegetation and hydrology I think it likely that at least 8 portion of <br />the area west of Garden Lane is wetlcnd. <br />What I do not understand is why this area whs not investigated in the delineation repoit. Normally, if an <br />area is questionable, it is idcnliiied r.nd discussed in the wetland delinertion report to verify its wetland or <br />non-wetland status 1 his is a major dctlcicr.cy of the report and 1 recommend dial the area b^reevaluatcd m <br />detail to determine if wetlands are present <br />My second concern relates to site dicLnugc and the storm water detention basin on ike west side of Garden <br />Lone I have reviewed the soils or. the site an feel erosion and runoff ere serious issues that need to be <br />addressed. Prcsuinahly. the devcio .•* djrces and consequently has mcorporated the storm water detention <br />basin into nis plans. What I do n''i .mpictely ur.dc*sumd is how this detention basin w-ill •ffert|vc5y <br />reduce runoff from the site. It api«:ar$ from t.ie englnccruig drawing lliat only a small portion of the site will <br />drain toward Uic detendon basin and only then after considerable site grading I recommend that Uic plan be <br />reviewed hy an independent , ~cer ng firm before it is approved. <br />Sir.terely. <br />Robert L Brown <br />P.05 <br />a t(