05-21-1997 Council Packet Special Meeting

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SCHOELL Gi MADSON, INC. Mr. Mike Gaffron May 21, 1997 Many of these categories have been addressed in our golf course and water management plans. Restoring an estimated 30 acres of native prairie grasses and fescues, restoring wetlands to their predrained state, designing a state-of-the-art computerized irrigation system with environmental monitoring devices (E.T., temp, humidity rain shutoff), and a plan to save all bluebird bo.xes on site for further use. are a few steps we have already taken toward the certification process. We feel this program is a proactive step to take toward environmental harmony. e.Habitat impacts have been mitigated throughout the design process. Buffer areas around wetland areas range from 16.5 ft. to 35 ft. except in fill areas. E.xotic species, such as common buckthorn and honeysuckle, will be manually controlled by the golf course during operation. Native prairie species will be planted in natural areas, and some trees in areas of impact will be transplanted in other natural areas. 3.Tree Preservation and Reforestation a. DNR Region 6 Forester, Larry W'esterburg. recommended that the tree protection guidelines used by the Minnesota Department of Transportation would be appropriate for the Sp,: .ig Hill Golf Course site. These guidelines obtained from the MnDOT Standards and Specifications for Construction; 1995 Edition. Tree Relocation The trees that are to be relocated are cum grow ing on the site. They are of good form, and. to the best of our knowledge, free of d ...ise. The existing tree stock being relocated is hardy for this area as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture's Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Additional trees will be purchased for transplanting. The trees that are machine-transplants of on site collected stock will be moved within the site and measures will be taken to insure minimal damage to the stems, roots, branches, and trunks of the trees, thus preventing opportunity for infection of the tree by various pathogens. Where feasible to do so. the transplanted trees will be pruned within 24 hours. This will serve to balance the area of the crown with the area of the roots thus minimizing branch diebaek and potentially hazardous limbs. While the majority of the trees to be planted are derived from on site stock, these trees w ill be supplemented with additional nursery trees. As with the machine-transplanted trees, those trees of nursery stock w ill be hardy for this area as defined by the USDA's Plant Hardiness Zone Map and w ill be of good form; free from obvious defects and pathogens. Measures will be taken around the planting bed area to provide for temporary' erosion prevention. El forts to reduce the duration the soil is exposed to the erosive forces of rain and i I