07-20-2015 Planning Commission Packet

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ABSTRACT Svoboda Ecological Kesources (SER) visited the ahove referenced property on October 9 and October 1 S, 2014 ta examine the site for the presence of areas meeting wetdand criteria. The study parcel is located in Orono, MN, Hennepin Counry (Figure 1). Three wetland boundaries was flagged and one area was sampded at tlzis site. Sample transects were established along the boundary at vegetation transitdon points in order to characterize the soal, vegetation, and existing hydrology within the wetland-to-upland transition zone. INTRODUCTION The subject parcels, 200 and 350 Stubbs Bay Road, are approximately 30.29 acres in size in total. and are dominated by various cover types including hardwood forest, lowland fo�rest, emergent wetland, vacant grassland, and two separate residential structures with accompanying outbuildings. The topography of the site slopes generally eastward towards a large wetland cornplex. The surrounding land use is mostly undeveloped semi-rural land in the City of Orono with scattered single family homes. US Highway 12 and a major rail corridor lie just ot the north of the site. The identified wetlands were classified according to the Cowardin et a1., the Circular 39 and the Eggers and Reed classification systems and marked with pink "Wetland Delineation" pin flags. The Technical Documents section of this report contains field data sheets, plant indicator status informarion, soil survey information, and wetland defiriition informatian. �Txons The method.s used to delineate the subject parcel are as described in the 1987 US Army Corps of Engirteers Weflands Delineation Manual and the ZO10 Midwest Regional Supplement Manual. In the 1987 Manual, the methods used were described under the"routine" methods for sites greater than 5 acres. This methodology is followed in order ta assess whether the three parameters of a wetland are met far areas on the subject parcel. The three parameters raquired under normal circumstances in order to delineate a wetland are described in the Technical Documents section. The Midwest Regianal Supplement Wetland Delineation Manual is also being utilized to increase the accuracy of our wetland boundaries. This addendum to the original 87 Manual was created to address the many regional differences that affect wetlands and the delineation methods used throughout tbe country. The following explanations are passages from that document. "This Regional Supplema�t is part of a nationwide effort to address regional wetland chatacteristics and improvc thc accuracy and efficiency of wetland- delineation procedures. Regional differ�ces in climate, geology, soils, hydrology piant and animal communitics, and othcr factors are import�t to the identification and functioning of wetlands. 'i'hese differences cazmot be considered adequately in a single nationsl manugl. The development of this su�plcmcnt follows National Academy of Sciences rocommcndations to increase the regional sensitivity of wetland-delineation mdhods (National Research Svoboda Ecological Resowces 300�350 Stubbs Hay Road Project Nmuber:2014-037-Q3 1 prom