03-31-1997 Council Packet Special

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Project Site Evaluation I Description of the Environment and the Environmental Impact of the Proposed Project. A. Present Land Use The proposed expansion of the Saga Hill natural area is an open space that has, so far, escaped rapidly encroaching residential development. The Sollner-Webb property today is a de facto bird and wildlife sanctuary used by Orono and Minnetrista residents for minimal impact activities like walking, cross country skiing and bird watching. The parcels adjoin 20 acres recently acquired by the City of Orono through a Natural and Scenic Area Grant, private fundraising and tax forfeiture. If the Sollner-Webb property is not acquired by the City of Orono, it will inevitably be developed. B. Proposed I.and Use The City of Orono anticipates that the Sollner-Web property would join the Saga Hill natural area to remain a minimally used natural area and wildlife habitat. C. Fish and Wildlife The Saga Hill natural area is the highest point in Western Hennepin County. Its woods and meadows shelter dozens of species of birds and small mammals, including a number of fox. Deer also frequent Saga Hill. A bird inventory was taken on April 26, 1995 by University of Minnesota ornithologist Bob Janssen. He sighted the following species: Double-crested Cormorant Canada Goose Northern Harrier Broad-winged Hawk Ring-necked Pheasant Mourning Dove Great Homed Owl Red-bellied Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Phoebe Blue Jay American Crow Black-capped Chickadee White-breasted Nuthatch Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thnish American Robin Cedar Waxwing European Starling Northern Cardinal American Tree Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow •i' ‘j