Notice of Decision-Mn Wetland Conservation Act-2012

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, ' supplement follows National Academy of Sciences recommendations to increase � the regional sensitivity of wetland-delineation methods (National Research Council 1995). The intent of this supplement is to bring the Corps Manual up to date with current knowledge and practice in the region and not to change � wetland boundaries." "...This Regional Supplement is designed for use with the current version of the Corps Manual (Environmental Laboratory 1987) and all subsequent versions. Where differences in the two documents occur, this Regional Supplement takes precedence over the Corps Manual for applications � in the Midwest Region." National Wetland Inventory (NWI) maps (Figure 2), Web Soil Survey of Hennepin County map � (Figure 3), Minnesota Public Waters Inventory maps (Figure 4), and 2010 aerial photographs were reviewed prior to the site visit to identify areas that may be wetlands. Areas illustrating evidence of wetland conditions were examined in greater detail during the field survey. � Vegetation, soils and hydrology were examined (as outlined in the 1987 Manual and the Midwest Regional Supplement) and used to characterize wetland types and determine wetland boundaries. Sample transects were established in representative wetland-to-upland transition ' zones in order to characterize the vegetation, soils, and hydrology of the site. Transects consist of a representative upland sample point and representative wetland sample point. Information obtained at the sample points can be found on the tield data sheets located in the Technical , Documents section. Hydrophytic status of plants was based on the National Wetland Pfant List issued on May 15, 2012 and effective June 1, 2012 and as characterized by the plant status on the Excel Midwest ' Region data sheet provided by the US Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District. Wetland boundaries were marked at the site by pink "Wetland Delineation" pin flags. The ' wetland boundary is considered to be the topographically highest extent of the wetland basin; areas be(ow the staked boundary met the three required wetland criteria whi(e areas above were lacking in one or more of these criteria. Wetlands were classitied in accordance with methods � described by Cowardin et aL (1979) and used in the NWI (e.g. PEMB, PSS1C, etc.), completed by the U.S. Fish and Wifdlife Service. The Circular 39 and Eggers and Reed classification systems are also given. The indicator status of plants, as described in the Technical Documents ' section, was determined using the National List of Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands — Midwest Region (Lichvar, Robert W. and John T. Kartesz 2009). � ' , ' Svoboda Ecological Resources George Stickney Pruject Number: 2012-031 2 Orono.MN ' 1