Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-11-01 Wetland Delineation ReportWestwood TRANSMITTAL Date: November 1, 2007 Re: Brackey 4th Addition Wetland Delineation Report and Request for Boundary Approval File 20072585 To Eric Johnson City of Oak Park Heights 14168 Oak Park Boulevard North P.O. Box 2007 Oak Park Heights, MN 55082-2007- From: Shawn Williams Items: No Description Purpose: For your approval Delivery: Mail cc: 7 Copies of Wetland Delineation Report -SJW TWIN CITIES/METRO File Dan Seemon, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Robert Brackey, Brackey, Inc. Ben Meyer, Bonestroo (2 copies) 7699 Anagram Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 Remarks: Please contact me at 952-906-7428 if you h ve • estions or require additional information. Thank you. ST. CLOUD BRAINERD Westwood Professional Services MAIN 952-937-5150 FAX 952-937-5822 TOLL FREE 1-888-937-5150 EMAIL wps©westwoodps.com www.westwoodps.com Local Governmental Unit Prepared for Prepared by 11 Westwood WETLAND DELINEATION REPORT Brackey 4th Addition NW1/4 of the NW1/4, Section 5, T29N, R2OW Oak Park Heights, Minnesota NOVEMBER 2007 City of Oak Park Heights Mr. Eric Johnson 14168 Oak Park Boulevard Oak Park Heights, MN 55082 Phone: (651) 439-4439 Fax: (651) 439-0574 Brackey, Inc. Mr. Robert Brackey 80 East Arlington Avenue St. Paul, MN 55117 Phone: (651) 488-6113 Fax: (651) 489-1405 Westwood Professional Services, Inc. 7699 Anagram Drive Eden Prairie, MN Phone: (952) 937-5150 Fax: (952) 937-5822 Project No.: 20072585.00 EXHIBITS REPORT PURPOSE WETLAND DELINEATION REPORT Brackey 4 Addition City of Oak Park Heights, Minnesota November 1, 2007 CONTENTS WETLAND DELINEATION NARRATIVE • Wetland Delineation Results • Wetland Classification Systems Table 1. Site Location and USGS Topography 2. National Wetlands Inventory 3. Soils 4. MnDNR Public Waters and Wetlands 5. Wetland Boundary Map REFERENCE PHOTOS WASHINGTON COUNTY SURVEYOR'S OFFICE HISTORICAL AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY DATA FORMS This delineation report and the attached exhibits and data forms constitute the wetland delineation report for the site referenced above. This report provides the required documentation for wetland boundary determinations in conformance with the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act of 1991. Westwood requests that the City of Oak Park Heights, as the Local Governmental Unit (LGU), provide written confirmation that the delineated wetland boundary shown on the attached Wetland Boundary map is acceptable for local administration of the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act. Please consider this request a formal Wetland Boundary and Type Determination request pursuant to Minn. Rules 8420.0225. If the LGU has adopted a specific application form for Wetland Boundary and Type Determination requests (other than the standard BWSR form), please forward a copy of that form to Westwood immediately. This delineation report also provides the required documentation for wetland boundary determinations in conformance with the U.S. Federal Clean Water Act (CWA). Westwood requests that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provide written confirmation of wetland boundary acceptability under the CWA, and a foi7nal jurisdictional determination for each Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (952) 937 -5150 Wetland Delineation Report - Brackey 4th Addition November 1, 2007 Page 2 delineated wetland on the property as required by the recent Supreme Court decisions in Rapanos v. United States and Carabell v. United States. SITE LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION This wetland delineation was conducted on the proposed Brackey 4 t 1 Addition site. The subject property is located in part of the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 5, T29N, R2OW, City of Oak Park Heights, Washington County, Minnesota (Exhibit 1). The site is bounded by a commercial development, auto sales lot, and hotel to the west, 60 Street North to the north, Menards and 58 Street North to the south, and Menards and Krueger Lane to the east. The subject site currently contains a vacant shed on the east portion of the site, several planted coniferous trees (previously used as a tree sales lot), grassland, an existing wetland, and a created stormwater pond. This wetland and surrounding stormwater pond are located in the central portion of the site and receive runoff from adjacent offsite impervious parking areas and other structures nearby. WETLAND DELINEATION METHODOLOGY Westwood delineated and flagged one basin on October 3, 2007. This basin contains an existing wetland (Wetland A) and a surrounding created stormwater pond (Pond A) . The wetland was delineated using the level two routine determination method set forth in the Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual (Environmental Laboratory, Waterways Experiment Station, 1987), in which sampling transects were established in representative transition zones of the identified wetland. Transects consisted of one sampling point in upland and one point in wetland. Soils, vegetation, and hydrology information were recorded for each point on data forms, which are included at the back of this report. Species dominance for vegetation measurements was based on the percent aerial or basal coverage visually estimated within a 30- foot radius for the tree and shrub layers and a eve -foot radius for the herbaceous layer within the community type sampled. The wetland was classified according to Wetlands of the United States (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Circular 39; Shaw and Fredine; 1971) and Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States (FWS /OBS Publication 79/31; Cowardin et. al. 1979) (see the Classification Systems Table at the end of this narrative). Common names for vegetation identified in this report and on the attached data forms generally correspond with the nomenclature used in the National List of Plant Species that Occur in Wetlands: North Central (Region 3) (USFWS, Reed, 1988) and /or Vascular Plants of Minnesota (University of Minnesota, Ownbey and Morley, 1991). Prior to delineating the wetland boundary in the field, Westwood reviewed the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) (1989) (Exhibit 2), the Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) database for Washington County (2006) (Exhibit 3), and the MnDNR Public Waters Inventory (PW1) for Washington County (1983) (Exhibit 4). Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (952) 937 -5150 Wetland Delineation Report -- Brackey 4 Addition November 1, 2007 Page 3 The wetland boundary was marked using pink "wetland delineation" pin flags and located using a sub -meter accuracy Geo -XT Global Positioning System (GPS). The location of the wetland and pond are shown on the attached Wetland Boundary Map (Exhibit 5). RESULTS Mapping NWI mapping indicates one Type 3 wetland within the property, and NWI mapping was generally consistent with site conditions. No MnDNR Public Waters or Wetlands were mapped within the property. SSURGO for Washington County indicates that upland soils mapped within the site boundary include Antigo silt loam, 0 -2% slopes, Antigo silt loam, 2 -6% slopes, Antigo silt loam, 6 -12% slopes, Brill silt loam, Chetek sandy loam, 0--6% slopes, Chetek sandy loam, 6- 12% slopes, Mahtomedi loamy sand, 12 -25% slopes, and Poskin silt loam. There are no hydric soils mapped onsite ( Hydric Soils of Minnesota, revised December, 1995). Although mapping indicates no hydric soil onsite, field verification did indicate that a hydric soils inclusion exists within the delineated area. NWI mapping was generally consistent with site conditions. Westwood reviewed rectified historical aerial photography of the north half of Section 5, Washington County for the years 1969, 1976, 1985, 1991, and 1996 to determine if jurisdictional wetland exists within the extent of the basin delineated by Westwood on October 3, 2007. The historical photography was provided by the Washington County Surveyors Office. Based on wetland signatures observed in the historical photography, Westwood determined that a Type 2/3 wetland existed onsite prior to excavation of the stormwater pond in 1997. Wetland signatures were observed in all years of photography reviewed. Signatures observed included a drainage pattern (a ditch feature), which extended north to Highway 36, and surrounding reed canary grass. The historical aerial photography reviewed is included in this report. The current hydrology regime of the stormwater pond has caused the wetland to become more characteristic of a Type 3 wetland. Wetland Descriptions Westwood completed the wetland delineation and located one wetland (Wetland A) and one created stormwater pond (Pond A). These delineated areas are depicted on the attached Wetland Boundary Map (Exhibit 5). Wetland A is a Type 3 shallow marsh which, as mentioned above, existed prior to stormwater pond excavation. Dominant vegetation in this wetland appeared to be reed canary grass and duckweed. Due to the surrounding deep water, Westwood was unable to closely assess the vegetation composition. Wetland A is 41,432 square feet in size. Pond A is a created stormwater pond which extends north and south and encompasses much of the central portion of the site. Reed canary grass, along the fringe, and lesser duckweed were the dominant vegetative species within the pond. Most of the pond was open water. Sandbar willow, bebb willow, narrow -leaf cattail, smartweed, and reed canary grass were also present along the fringe throughout the basin. The pond boundary was generally well defined. The soil located within the pond boundary was gleyed, indicating prolonged presence of anaerobic Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (952) 937 -5150 Wetland Delineation Report — Brackey 4 Addition November 1, 2007 Page 4 conditions and chemical reduction of iron. The water level of Pond A is controlled by a concrete outlet structure which channels runoff from the pond into a city storm sewer at the north end of the pond. The elevation of the pond is set substantially lower than the surrounding upland areas. Pond A is 155,260 square feet in size. Westwood walked the entire site and determined that Wetland A is the only area that meets jurisdictional wetland criteria within the property boundary. Pond A is created and is currently under a City drainage easement, but is exempt from regulation under the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act. CONCLUSIONS Westwood delineated and flagged one existing wetland (Wetland A) and one created stormwater pond (Pond A) within the project area totaling 196,692 square feet (4.52 acres). Westwood requests that the City of Oak Park Heights, as the LGU, provide written confirmation that the delineated wetland boundary shown on the attached Wetland Boundary map is acceptable for local administration of the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act. Please consider this a formal Wetland Boundary and Type Determination request pursuant to Minn. Rules 8420.0225. Westwood also requests that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concur with the wetland boundary for purposes of determining the Corps' jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act, and provide a formal Jurisdictional Determination for the wetland. This property is privately owned. This request for wetland boundary confirmation and jurisdictional determination does not constitute permission to access the property without contacting Westwood Professional Services or Westwood's Client. Please call me at 952 906-7428 if ou have uestions or re uire additional information. Sincerely, WESTWOOD PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, INC. Shawn Williams Environmental Scientist Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (952) 937-5150 (3 E 7 (4 (I) 2 a) uj 0 - }.- ( i ) CD >- (f) Cr 7 2 c 0 . 0 F.: CI) < cr) 0 ':- Er_ 2 — a. u) u) - r3 < o _ o o ci 0 z 0 < -.1 1.-- 1. u j 01 OS' ITS © 2007 Westwood Professional Services, Inc. Data Source(s): USGS, MnDNR DRG 3536 Westwood Westwood Professionai Services, Inc. 7699 Anagram Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 PHONE 952-937-5150 FAX 952-937-5822 TOLL FREE 1-888-937-5150 www.westwoodps.com Feet 0 2,000 Brackey 4th Addition Oak Park Heights, Minnesota Site Location & USGS Topography EXHIBIT 1 0 2007 Westwood Professional Services, Inc. • Legend NWI Wetland (Type 3 PEMC) Approximate Property Boundary Data Source(s): Aerial Express 120061. USF\VS NW111989y Highway-36 . _ A 58th Street North 60th StreetNorth • • Westwood Westwood Professional Services, Inc. 7699 Anagram Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 PHONE 952-937-5150 FAX 952-937-5822 TOLL FREE 1-888-937-5150 www.westwoodps.com N Feet A 0 200 Brackey 4th Addition Oak Park Heights, Minnesota National Wetlands Inventory EXHIBIT 2 CD 2007 Westwood Professional Services, Inc. t Westwood www.westwoodp'.com PHONE 952-937-5150 FAX 952-937-5822 TOLL FREE 1-8S8-937-5150 Westwood Professional Services, Inc. 7699 Anagram Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 Data SOUrce(s): Aetial Express (20(16). USDA NRC'S. SSURUI) database for Washington County (20(I6). MN Highway 36 155B Feet 0 200 V V 155C • lor d r 110 Or - ott wb, 'lb Ilk Legend Soil Type Boundary Approximate Property Boundary • 41 1 • 1 1 • 1 • 1 • 49: Antigo silt loam, 0-2% slopes 49B: Antigo silt loam, 2-6% slopes 49C: Antigo silt loam, 6-12% slopes 120: Brill silt loam 155B: Chetek sandy loam, 0-6% slopes 155C: Chetek sandy loam, 6-12% slopes 454D: Mahtomedi loamy sand, 12-25% slopes 507: Poskin silt loam "•, • Brackey 4th Addition Oak Park Heights, Minnesota Soils EXHIBIT 3 © 2007 Westwood Professional Services, Inc. Long (82-21 P) a e Unnamed (82-22 W MN High wa y 36 ., I • 1 1 4 - i E II '''''- g ' - ' ...... r • IP 0 is , 1 . r 1 ; 0,;7 Legend MnDNR Public Waters and Wetlands Approximate Property Boundary VirZrO.,:z 1 • '4'41 7 Data Sonree(s): Aerial Express (2000. NinDNR Public Waters and Wetlands Inventory (1910). Westwood Westwood Professional Services, Inc. 7699 Anagram Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 PHONE 952-937-5150 FAX 952-937-5822 TOLL FREE 1-888-937-5150 wvm.westwoodps.corn Brackey 4th Addition Oak Park Heights, Minnesota MnDNR Public Waters & Wetlands N 0 1-===1 Feet A 1,000 EXHIBIT 4 © 2007 Westwood Professional Services, Inc. Stormwater Pond A both Street North Type 41,432 s. II Pr Legend �-_ -: Existing Wetland A (approximated by Westwood) Created Stormwater Pond A • Sample Point a Approximate Property Boundary -= 8 th Street North ti•.r srrs s .—, Data Snurdd(s)- Aerial Express (2006) Westwood Westwood Professional Services, Inc. 7699 Anagram Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 PHONE 952 -937 -5150 FAX 952-937- 5822 TOLL FREE 1 -888- 937 -5150 www.westtwoodps_com Feet 0 200 Brackey 4th Addition Oak Park Heights, Minnesota Wetland Boundary Map EXHIBIT 5 REFERENCE PHOTOS Brackey 4 Addition, Oak Park Heights, Minnesota Wetland Delineation Reference Photos, October 3, 2007 • - • - . - • . • • - • - - - - _ _ - _ - -= • = ' - - - Reference Photo] : Wetland A/Pond A, facing northwest Reference Photo 2: Wetland A/Pond A facing north I T Westwood Professional Services, Inc. 7699 Anagram Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 Brackey 4 Addition, Oak Park Heights, Minnesota Wetland Delineation Reference Photos, October 3, 2007 Reference Photo 3: Pond A facing southwest V Westwood Professional Services, Inc. 7699 Anagram Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 WASHINGTON COUNTY SURVEYOR'S OFFICE HISTORICAL AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY © 2007 Westwood Professional Services, Inc. Data Souree(s), Washington County Surveyors Office (1969) Westwood Westwood Professional Services, Inc. 7699 Anagram Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 PHONE M2-937-5150 FAX 952-937-5822 TOLL FREE 1-888-937-5150 www.westwoodps.corn A Not to Scale Brackey 4th Addition Oak Park Heights, Minnesota 1969 Aerial Photography @ 2007 Westwood Professional Services, Inc. Data Source(s), Washington County Surveyors Office (197() Westwood Westwood Professional Services, Inc. 7699 Anagram Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 PHONE 952-937-5150 FAX 952-937-5822 TOLL FREE 1-888-937-5150 www.westwoodps.com A Not to Scale Brackey 4th Addition Oak Park Heights, Minnesota 1976 Aerial Photography 0 2007 Westwood Professional Services, Inc. ''•• • - • • • • ',.- ••:,•• • , , • . , - , - t cc • - • • . , 'L Data Source(s): Washington County Suiveyors Office (1)85). Westwood Westwood Professional Services, Inc. 7699 Anagram Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 PHONE 952-937-5150 FAX 952-937-5822 TOLL FREE 1-888-937-5150 www.westwoodp 5 . CO rn N A Not to Scale Brackey 4th Addition Oak Park Heights, Minnesota 1985 Aerial Photography © 2007 Westwood Professional Services, Inc. Data Source(s): Washington County Surveyors Office (19)11 WWW.westwoodps.corn PHONE 952-937-5150 FAX 952-937-5822 TOLL FREE 1-888-937-5150 Westwood Professional Services, Inc. 7699 Anagram Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 ; .4 .7'777r7Lri.?-777,,Vrztyr Brackey 4th Addition Oak Park Heights, Minnesota 1991 Aerial Photography © 2007 Westwood Professional Services, Inc. Data Source(s), Washington County Surveyors Office (1996) Westwood Westwood Professional Services, Inc. 7699 Anagram Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 PHONE 952-937-5150 FAX 952-937-5822 TOLL FREE 1-888-937-5150 www.westwoodps.com A Not to Scale Brackey 4th Addition Oak Park Heights, Minnesota 1996 Aerial Photography DATA FORMS Depth (inches) Horizon Matrix Color (Munsell Moist) Mottle Color (Mansell Moist) Mottle Textul Texture Abundance Contrast 0 -3 0 10YR 411 None N/A N/A Muck 3 -16 A Gley 4/10Y None N/A N/A Sandy clay 16 -19 A2 Giey 4/10Y 10YR 4/3 Many Distinct Sandy clay Field Indicators of Hydric Soils (Midwest Indicator: Mineral Hydric Soil = Matrix with a Region) USDA, March 1998. (A= all soils, S= sandy soils, F= loamy & clayey soils) value ?4 and chroma of < 2 in mottled soils or <1 in unmottled soils. surface), Common (2 -20% of exposed surface), Many ( >20% of exposed surface), Faint (closely related hues and chromas), Distinct (differ by 1 to 2 hues and several units in chroma and value), Prominent chroma) Mottle Abundance — Few (<2% of exposed to redox) = Mottle Contrast (matrix (vary several units in hue, value, and Remarks: Common Name (Dominant? 20 percent Scientific Name Stratum % Cover Indicator GRASS,REED CANARY Phalaris arundinacea H 70 FACW+ DUCKWEED,LESSER Lerna minor H 30 OBL Percent of dominant species that are OBL, FACW, or FAC (Excluding FAC - ):100% Wetland Type /, at Transect: n Overall Wetland Type: 39 n/a Cowardin Remarks: Project/Job No.: Robert Brackey /Oak Park Heights /Brackey 4th Addition 20072585 Date: 3- Oct -07 Investigator: SJW County /State: Washington County, MN Wetland /Area ID: Pond A Sample Point: A2 Wet Site/ Wetland Remarks: Pond A is a created stormwater pond that receives surface runoff from surrounding paved lots and structures (offsite). Flags A 1 -A43 Special Modifiers x - excavated Potential Problem Area? Yes ❑ No ❑ Do normal circumstances exist on the site? Yes 0 No ❑ Is the site significantly disturbed (Atypical Situation } Yes ❑ No ❑ Primary Hydrology Indicators: U Inundated Depth (in) _ U Sediment Deposits [ ±] Saturated in Upper 12 Inches Depth (in) 0 ❑ Water Marks ❑ Drift Lines ❑ Drainage Patterns in Wetlands Secondary Indicators (2 required): ❑ FAC - Neutral Test ❑ Local Soil Survey Data ❑ Water- Stained Leaves ❑ Oxidized Root Channels in Upper 12 Inches ❑ Other (Explain in Remarks) Water in borehole Depth (in)0 Wetland Hydrology Present? ❑ Hydrology Assumed? ❑ Hydrology Undetermined`? ❑ Remarks: Hydrophytic Vegetation Present? Yes ❑ No ❑ Is the area a wetland? Yes El No • Hydric Soils Present? Yes 0 No ❑ Wetland Hydrology Present? Yes --E No ❑ Distance from Wetland Edge 4 ft. Remarks: While all three wetland criteria were met, this area was created from historical upland for stormwater ponding. HYDROLOGY VEGETATION Westwood Professional Services, Inc. WETLAND DELINEATION DATA FORM (ROUTINE DETERMINATION METHOD) SOILS WETLAND DETERMINATION Page 1 Depth (inches) Horizon Matrix Color ( Munsell Moist) Mottle Color (Munsell Moist) Mottle Texture Abundance Contrast 0 -20 A I0YR 4/4 None N/A N/A Clay loam THISTLE,CREEPING Cir•sium arvense H 20 FACU Field Indicators of Hydric Soils (Midwest Indicator: Mineral Hydric Soil = Matrix with a Region) USDA, March 1998. (A= all soils, S= sandy soils, F— loamy & clayey soils) value >4 and chroma of C 2 in mottled soils or <1 in unmottled sobs, surface), Common (2 -20% of exposed surface), Many ( >20% of exposed surface). Faint (closely related hues and chromas), Distinct (differ by 1 to 2 hues and several units in chroma and value), Prominent chroma) Mottle Abundance = Few (<2% of exposed to redox) = Mottle Contrast (matrix (vary several units in hue, value, and Remarks: Common Name (Dominant > 20 percent Scientific Name Stratum % Cover Indicator GRASS,REED CANARY Phalaiis arundinacea H 40 FACW+ BLUEGRASS,KENTUCKY Poa pr•atensis H 20 FAC - THISTLE,CREEPING Cir•sium arvense H 20 FACU Percent of dominant species that are OBL, FACW, or FAC (Excluding FAC -):33% Wetland Type at Transect: Upland Overall Wetland Type: Circular 39 Upland Cowardin Upland Remarks: Other vegetation present in amounts less than 20% included smooth brome grass and Canada goldenrod. Project/Job No,: Robert Brackey /Oak Park Heights /Brackey 4th Addition 20072585 Date: 3- Oct -07 Investigator: SJW County /State: Washington County, MN Wetland /Area ID: Pond A Sample Point: A2 Upland Site/ Wetland Remarks: Hydrology Undetermined? El Remarks: Special Modifiers Potential Problem Area? Yes ❑ No 0 Do normal circumstances exist on the site? Yes 0 No ❑ Is the site significantly disturbed (Atypical Situation)? Yes ❑ No 0 Primary Hydrology Indicators: Li Inundated Depth (in) Li Sediment Deposits Li Saturated in Upper 12 inches Depth (in) >20 ❑ Water Marks ❑ Drift Lines ❑ Drainage Patterns in Wetlands Secondary Indicators (2 required): ❑ FAC- Neutral Test ❑ Local Soil Survey Data ❑ Water - Stained Leaves ❑ Oxidized Root Channels in Upper 12 Inches ❑ Other (Explain in Remarks) Water in borehole Depth (in) >20 Wetland Hydrology Present? ❑ Hydrology Assumed? ❑ Hydrology Undetermined? El Remarks: Hydrophytic Vegetation Present? Yes ❑ No 0 Is the area a wetland? Yes LI No U Hydric Soils Present? Yes L No 0 Wetland Hydrology Present? Yes [ No [-d Distance from Wetland Edge 4 ft. Remarks: VEGETATION Westwood Professional Services, Inc. WETLAND DELINEATION DATA FORM (ROUTINE DETERMINATION METHOD) HYDROLOGY SOILS WETLAND DETERMINATION Page 2