MN wetland conservation act/Notice of Decision/2016

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STEPHEN KENNEDY BACKGROUND$METHODOLOGY Backqround As requested by Stephen Kennedy, Anderson Engineering of MN, LLC completed a wetland investigation at the specified project area located at 627 Ferndale Road, in the municipality of Orono, Minnesota. Geographically, the site is located in Section 36, Township 118 North, Range 23 West. The wetland delineation was completed in accordance with the 1987 United States Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual and the published regional supplement to the Army Corps Wetland Delineation Manual, Midwest Region. The purpose of this study was to investigate the project area, identify areas meeting the technical criteria for wetlands, delineate the jurisdictional extent of the wetland basins, and classify the wetland habitat. Fieldwork for this site investigation was completed by Environmental Associates Tina Justen and Lucy Kozub on April 13, 2016. The weather was sunny with a temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Methodoloqv United States Geologic Service 7.5"Topographic Quadrangle maps, United States Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetland Inventory maps, United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Survey and available aerial photographs were consulted to initially locate potential wetland habitats. Routine On-site Determination Method was used during this investigation. In this method, the following procedures were used: 1) The vegetative community was sampled in all present strata to determine whether it met hydrophytic vegetation criteria based on the indicators identified in the Midwest Regional Supplement. 2) Soil pits were dug using a Dutch auger to depths of at least 24". Soil profile was noted, in addition to any hydric soil characteristics. 3) Signs of wetland hydrology were noted and compared to field criteria such as depth to shallow water table and depth of soil saturation found in the soil pits. Data from sample points were recorded on Army Corps of Engineers Midwest Region Wetland Determination Data Forms (Appendix 8). At least one sample point transect crosses the delineated wetland edge. This transect consist of an upland sample point and a wetland sample point. Other sample points may be located in areas which have one or more of the wetland vegetation, soils, or hydrologic characteristics present; where questionable conditions exist; or to verify the absence of wetland criteria. Photographs are also taken at each sample point, and of the wetland and upland buffer(Appendix C). Sample points were marked in the field with orange flags. The identified wetland boundary was marked with sequentially numbered pink flags. All sample points and the delineated wetland boundary were located utilizing a Trimble Geo XH sub-meter GPS unit. WETLAND ASSESSMENT 627 FERNDALE ROAD ORONo, MN APRIL 2016