Wetland Classification/Identification/Delineation-2011

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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 Documentation 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 aze 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 Counci( 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 Orono and Hennepin � County maps (Figure 3), Minnesota Protected Waters 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 used to characterize wetland types and determine wetland boundaries. A sample transect was established in a representative wetland-to-upland transition zone in order to characterize the vegetation, soils, and hydrology of the site. Transects consisted of a representative upland sample point and a representative wetland sample point. Information obtained from the sample points can be found on the field data sheets located in the Technical Documentation Section. 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 below the staked boundary met the three required wetland criteria while areas above were lacking in one or more of these criteria. Wetland classification followed methods described by , Cowardin et al. (1979) and used in the NWI (e.g. PEMB, PSS1C, etc.), completed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Circular 39 and Eggers and Reed classification systems are also given. The indicator status of plants, as described in The Technical Documentation Section, was determined using the National List of Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands — Region 3 (Sabine 1999). Svoboda Ecological Resources 25 Myrtlewood Rd. Project No.:2011-034 2 Steven&Anne Ryan