Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act Notice of Decision - 2013

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ABSTRACT Svoboda Ecological Resources (SER) visited the above referenced property on S/20/13 to examine the site for the presence of�czreas meeting wetland criteria. The stirdy par�cel is located between Crystal Bay and Long Lake MN in Hennepin County (Figt�re 1). Four wetland boundaries were delineated at this site. Eight sample transects were established along the boundaries in order to characterize the soil, vegetation, and existing hydrology within the wetland-to-upland transition zone. INTRODUCTION The subject parcel is approximately 11 acres. The vegetation is complex, varying from successional mesic forest and turf grass in the upland to reed canary grass and cattails in the lower lying portions. The topography of the site is undulating with the highest point located near the central/eastern portion of the site. The surrounding land use is primarily single family homes. The identified wetlands were classified according to the Cowardin et al., 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 information, soil survey information, and wetland definition information. METHODS The methods used to delineate the subject parcel are as described in the 1987 US Army Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual and the 2010 Midwest Regional Supplement Manual. In the 1987 Manual, the methods used were described under the "routine" methods for sites less than 5 acres. This methodology is followed in order to assess whether the three parameters of a wetland are met for areas on the subject parcel. The three parameters required under normal circumstances in order to delineate a wetland are described in the Technical Documents section. The Midwest Regional 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 the country. The following explanations are passages from that document. "This Regional Supplement is part of a nationwide effort to address regional wetland characteristics and improve the accuracy and efficiency of wetland- delineation procedures. Regional differences in elimate, geology, soils, hydrology plant and animal communities, and other factors are important to the identification and functioning of wetlands. These differences cannot be considered ade�uately in a single national manuaL The development of this 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 Svoboda Ecological Resources 3 1860 Fox Street Project Number:2013-005 Orono MN