4.a) Ruddy Wetland DelineationWetland Delineation Report
5ac Lot, SW Quad of Hwy 97 and Meadowbrook
Scandia, Minnesota
Prepared for: Mary K. Ruddy
August 8, 2014
BES Project No. 2014.037
Wetland Delineation Report
5 Acre Lot in the SW Quad of Hwy 97 and Meadowbrook
Scandia, Minnesota
August 8, 2014
Background
Bopray Environmental Services LLC (BES) has completed a wetland delineation on an
approximately 5 acre site located in the S ¼, SW ¼, Section 16, T32N, R20W, City of Scandia,
Washington County, Minnesota (Figure 1). The site consists of an open hay field with a line of
pine trees along the highway right of way. The topography of the site is rolling with the high
point near the west property line according to the U.S.G.S. quadrangle topographic map (Figure
2). On August 6, 2014 BES completed a wetland determination on the site. The approximate
site boundaries and areas investigated for wetlands are shown on an aerial photo in Figure 3.
The purpose of this delineation was to identify potential wetlands on the site for planning and
regulatory purposes.
Methodologies
The site was evaluated for wetlands based on
the methods contained in the Level 2,
“Routine Determinations“ section of the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers “Wetland
Delineation Manual” (Technical Report Y87-1,
1987) and the Regional Supplement to the
Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation
Manual: Northeast and Northcentral Region.
This is the methodology currently used to
determine wetlands by both the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers for implementation of
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and by the
Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act. Soil
colors described herein follow “Munsell Soil
color Charts”. According to the Climatology
Working Groups’ webpage, the area was at
125-150% of normal year to date precipitation
at the time of the site visit.
Wetland Delineation Report
Hwy 97 & Meadowbrook, Scandia, MN
BES Project No. 2014-037
August 8, 2014
2
Results
The site consists of a hayfield and a wooded wind break along Highway 97. The topography of
the site is rolling with 6-12% slopes and generally sloping to the northeast. There were no
depressions, swales or vegetation areas that indicated the potential for a wetland. There is
small wetland in a depression about 150 feet south of the property. A sampling point was
established in a representative spot near the center of the site. The vegetation is dominated by
white clover (Trifolium repens), red clover (Trifollium pratense), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa
pratensis), common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa). The plant
community does not meet the basic dominance test for hydrophytic vegetation and had a
prevalence index of 4.15. The soils consisted of ten inches of 10YR 3/3 silt loam, over eight
inched of 10YR 5/3 loam, over 10YR 4/4 sandy loam. There were no redoximorphic features
observed in the soil profile. There was no free water or saturated soil within a depth of 25
inches in the soil pit. There were no wetland hydrology indicators observed in the area. The
area fails to meet all three of the mandatory wetland criteria and therefore is not a jurisdictional
wetland.
The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) (Figure 4) does not identify any wetlands on the site.
The DNR Protected Waters Inventory map (Figure 5) does not identify any public waters or
wetlands on the site. The Washington County Soils Survey (Figure 6) shows the site is
predominantly mapped as map units of the Santiago silt loam (153B, 153C), with minor areas of
Rosholt sandy loam (302B). These soil map units do not include a significant quantity of hydric
soils.
Wetland Classification
BES’ classification of the wetlands is based on observations of the site and is include in Table 1
below.
Table 1. Summary of Wetland Characteristics
Basin Class Circ. 39
Type
Isolated
Y/N
Comments
Area A
Non-Wetland
N/A N/A The site consists of a rolling hayfield and
there were no indications of wetland
vegetation or a wetland feature in the
landscape of the site.
Jurisdiction
Table 1 indicates whether the wetlands are isolated or not for purposes of U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (COE) jurisdiction under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. This determination is
made by BES in the field at the time of the delineation and is essentially our best professional
Wetland Delineation Report
Hwy 97 & Meadowbrook, Scandia, MN
BES Project No. 2014-037
August 8, 2014
3
opinion based on the portion of the particular wetland we observed. In some cases, only a
small portion of the wetland edge that is present on the property being delineated is evaluated.
If no inlets or outlets are observed in the evaluated area, and none are evident on topographic
maps or aerial photos, we are inclined to determine the wetland is isolated. However, since the
entire wetland is sometimes not assessed, it is possible that inlets and/or outlets do exist and
that the wetland has a surface connection to a federal “navigable” water and, thus, falls within
the jurisdiction of Section 404. Therefore, a determination by BES of whether a particular
wetland is isolated or not should not be considered a final determination with regard to COE
jurisdiction until the COE concurs with the determination. There are no wetland areas on the
site, and therefore the COE should not take jurisdiction any part of this site.
The site is not identified on the protected waters inventory so the Minnesota Department of
Natural Resources (DNR) will not have jurisdiction over the site. No areas on the site would be
regulated under the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) which is administered by the
City of Scandia and Washington Conservation District as the Local Government Unit (LGU).
A copy of this report should be submitted to the Corps of Engineers and the LGU responsible for
administering the WCA. Supplying these agencies with reports will serve the dual purpose of
determining which agencies have jurisdiction and beginning the process of obtaining
concurrence with the wetland determination.
Additional information regarding the areas vegetation, soils and hydrology is included in
Appendix A. Ground level photos of the site are included in Figures 7.
The information contained herein represents the findings of BES during wetland evaluation
activities conducted on August 6, 2014 at the referenced site.
Respectfully,
Bopray Environmental Services LLC
______________________________ _______________________
Kelly J. Bopray Date
Professional Soil Scientist
Certified Wetland Delineator
Enclosures
Figure 1. Location Map
5 ac. Lot, Hwy 97 and Meadowbrook
Scandia, Minnesota
Project No. 2014.037
N
Not to Scale
Approximate Site
Location
Figure 2. U.S.G.S.
Quadrangle Map
5 ac. Lot, Hwy 97 and Meadowbrook
Scandia, Minnesota
Project No. 2014.037
N
Not to Scale
Approximate
Site Location
Figure 3. Aerial Photo With
Approximate Wetland Boundaries
5 ac. Lot, Hwy 97 and Meadowbrook
Scandia, Minnesota
Project No. 2014.037
N
Not to Scale
Approximate Site
Boundaries
Figure 4. National Wetland
Inventory Map
5 ac. Lot, Hwy 97 and Meadowbrook
Scandia, Minnesota
Project No. 2014.037
N
Not to Scale
Approximate Site
Boundaries
Approximate
Site Boundaries
Figure 5. DNR Protected Waters
Inventory Map
5 ac. Lot, hwy 97 and Meadowbrook
Scandia, Minnesota
Project No. 2014.037
N
Not to Scale
Approximate
Site Location
Figure 6. Washington County
Soil Survey Map
5 ac. Lot, Hwy 97 and Meadowbrook
Scandia, Minnesota
Project No. 2014.037
N
Not to Scale
Soil Map Unit Legend
153B Santiago silt loam, 2-6% slopes, 0% Hydric soils
153C Santiago silt loam, 6-12% slopes, 0% Hydric soils
302B Rosholt sandy loam, 1-6% slopes, 3% Hydric soils
Approximate
Site Location
Figure 7. Ground Photos
5 ac. Lot, Hwy 97 and Meadowbrook
Scandia, Minnesota
Project No. 2014.037
Looking northeast
across the site from
the southwest
corner of the lot.
Looking north from
the southwest
corner of the lot.
Appendix A