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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