Wetland Classification, Identification,Delineation/Notice of Decision-2014

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ABSTRACT Svoboda Ecological Resources (SER) visited the above referenced property on S/24/14 to examine the site for the presence of areas meeting wetland criteria. The study parcel is located in the city of Orono, MN in Hennepin County (Figure 1). One wetland boundary was delineated at this site. One sample transect was established along the northern wetland edge toward the eastern edge of the parcel in order to characterize the soil, vegetation, and existing hydrology within the wetland-to-upland transition zone. INTRODUCTION The subject parcel at 2560 Kelly Ave is approximately 2.31 acres. The parcel is a mesic woodlands that slopes steeply down to the wetland that comes into the property on the southeast side of the property. The surrounding land use is a mix of single family homes, commercial use, roads and wetlands. The land is set in the middle of the Lake Minnetonka complex. The identified wetland was 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 climate, geology, soils, hydrology plant and animal communities, and other factors are important to the identification and functioning of wetlands. These differences cannot be considered adequately 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). T'he intent of this supplement is to bring the Corps Manual up to date with current lmowledge and practice in the region and not to change wetland boundaries." "...This Regional Supplement is desi�ed for use with the current version of the Corps Manual (Environmental Laboratory 1987) and all Svoboda Ecological Resources 1 2560 Kelly Ave Project Number: 2014-006 Orono MN