4.a b b WCD Staff Report S Y1iSirl"F� L�'i l 1l } .? hlS .{';l k 451'*�S\ i�Si \
} $. iY1t0 W � N PAGE RD.
a c '~,vi� fit it 2 t lake etN t` U+�t Y'2 >t lla�,� C k x
2t th i t a Ss{� `�'t@ c Y a a}y t -r S a S4,4W
"i i a s ,i�� n£ �,�t i21�1� �. la <.J �y�i�� Y Y
14T`;'.�...� ,. i ' u i
t �I l l` AIN , u `11LLWA I tv N 5 5 fl 8 2
1�, 2 S t4?$t * l? lit, tip.{t tij t?,u t t
fl rz ? ��� 'u r1 sr
Y nt? '.t Y `t 4, ;tt i 2 Atis �t tta �iia:ttrI ik ;i
YOttifttY
h) RVA ' � \ i?t {ik�Y `�\'t\ 4, i* ` s t$„:. At4� kPt,t t i i h t s yt'U�',�t"��'3;:�'1t'ii� Si ti\ �$ ) tiCt t tit 2 S St Stit �: t k`�i42.3 i d., 1.',taU ,�A`r��' ti}`¢S ,.� y.1"l.
MEMORANDUM
TO: Anne Hurlburt,Administrator; City of Scandia
FROM: Jyneen Thatcher, Wetland Specialist
DATE: March 28,2008
RE: Scandia mining CUPs
At the request of Comfort Lake—Forest Lake Watershed District, I have reviewed portions of the Tiller
Corporation CUP application. My review is focused on the wetland issues,and may also apply to other
mining CUPs as they are encountered. Based on the application excerpts submitted for my review, I offer
the following comments:
1. Plan drawings appear to have the excavation stopping more than 150 feet from the wetland edge.
That is fairly consistent with the usual conditions placed on recent permits, and is probably adequate
for the isolated basins on site. The City should consider whether the excavation limits around
German Lake are consistent with the Shoreland Zoning regulations.
2. The application states that three of the four isolated wetlands will be delineated. I suggest that all
four be delineated,because of the time that has passed since that basin was reviewed. Typically
delineations are considered valid only for 3 years.
3. This application proposes to establish a 20-foot buffer around the wetlands. If the surrounding land
is currently in row-crop condition,up to the wetland edge,this proposal would be an improvement.
If that buffer zone is currently stabilized with long-rooted vegetation,I see no need for re-
disturbance. I would suggest that when the delineation is done,that information on the existing
vegetation around those wetlands also be collected and submitted.
4. The documents state that the applicant will work with this office on developing an agricultural BMP
plan.That planning process has not yet started.
5. The application indicates that the contributing watershed to Wetland 11 will be decreased in size. If
that change results in loss of wetland quantity or quality to this basin,replacement will be needed to
remain in compliance with the Wetland Conservation Act(WCA) and local wetland rules.
6. The WCA provides a specialized mitigation process for mining operations, usually allowing
mitigation to be done as part of the land reclamation plan and replacing all the impacts that occurred
since 1991. I would suggest that an updated wetland replacement plan be submitted, summarizing
the impacts to date and the end-result being offered for mitigation. In particular,the"lake" shown is
proposed to be up to 45 feet deep. Under today's guidelines, waterbodies more than six feet deep are
considered "deep water habitat,"not wetlands,but shallower fringe areas around the deeper water
might qualify. Therefore, some revisions to the design of this pool may be needed to ensure that the
result will fulfill the mitigation requirements of the WCA.
Feel free to call if you have questions about these comments. I plan to attend the site visit next month.
Cc: Randy Anhorn; CLFLWD
Jim Shaver; CMSCWD
Lynda Peterson; BWSR
Kirstin Pauley; Sunde Engineering
Supervisors: Louise Smallidge t Gary Baumann t I om Meyer t Rosemary Wallace t Tom Armstrong. Jr