06-30-14-WS - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

According to the Minnesota Land Cover Classification System (MLCCS), there are three primary cover types within the AUAR study area: grassland, woodland, and impervious/developed. The grassland and 7 impervious/developed areas are spread through the AUAR study area; the woodlands cover a much smaller area (seeFigure 7-1).The woodland areas identified in Figure 7-1 can be described as areas with scattered woody vegetation with less than 15 percent canopy cover and an understory of smooth brome grass. The woody vegetation primarily consists of small scrubby volunteer trees and shrubs generally less than 25 feet in height, including cottonwood, juniper, box elder, Siberian elm, and Russian olive. This cover is indicative of a disturbed site that has regenerated with opportunistic plant species.The Minnesota Biological Survey does not show any sites of biodiversity significance or native plant communities within the AUAR study area. Just east side of the AUAR study area is the proposed Rice Creek North Regional Trail. The 2003 Rice Creek North Regional Trail Master Plan Amendment and 2006 Ramsey County System Plan identified 49 acres of TCAAP property to be acquired as a wildlife corridor. According to the2013Rice Creek North Regional Trail Master Plan Amendment (July 9, 2013 Draftapproved by the Metropolitan Council on August 28, 2013), an additional 60 acres is proposed to be added to the wildlife corridor (Figure 7.1). This wildlife corridor provides habitat for birds, small mammals, and invertebrates and has several osprey nesting platforms. It is also provides a wildlife habitat connection between the open space of AHATS and the open space of Rice Creek. b.D-(,) ESCRIBE RARE FEATURES SUCH AS STATELISTEDENDANGERED THREATENED OR SPECIAL CONCERN ,,MCBSSB SPECIES NATIVE PLANT COMMUNITIESINNESOTAOUNTYIOLOGICALURVEYITES OFIODIVERSITY S,. IGNIFICANCE AND OTHER SENSITIVE ECOLOGICAL RESOURCES ON OR WITHIN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE SITE P(LA-____)/(ERDB ROVIDE THE LICENSE AGREEMENT NUMBER ANDOR CORRESPONDENCE NUMBER _20140096)NH FROM WHICH THE DATA WERE OBTAINED AND ATTACH THEATURALERITAGE LETTER FROM THE DNR.I NDICATE IF ANY ADDITIONAL HABITAT OR SPECIES SURVEY WORK HAS BEEN CONDUCTED WITHIN THE SITE . AND DESCRIBE THE RESULTS A DNR database search for the AUAR study area and surrounding area identified a number of resources known to occur near the AUAR study area, and general ecological designations portions of the site. There are no state or federal listed threatened or endangered species or rare plant communities recorded within the AUAR study area in the DNR NHIS database. State-listed occurrences found beyond the AUAR study area in or near Marsden Lake on the AHATS property include a known population of Blanding’s turtles (Emydoidea blandingii – state-listed threatened species); trumpeter swans (Cygnus buccinator – state-listed species of special concern); and a population of the plains pocket mouse (Perognathes flavescens – state- listed species of special concern, between the gravel pit and Marsden Lake). The proposed project is within the statewide importance area for the Blanding’s turtle. The preferred habitat for this species includes calm, shallow wetlands (Type 1-3) with mud bottoms and abundant aquatic vegetation (e.g., cattails, water lilies). Nesting occurs in open (grassy or brushy) sandy uplands, often up to a mile from water bodies. The majority of the wetlands within the AUAR study area are not large enough to support turtles (ditches), and most of the soils are disturbed urban land. There is no record of the turtle within the AUAR study area; however, turtles are known to occur within the vicinity, and may occur within the project boundary. A turtle fact sheet that describes the habitat use and life history of the species along Land cover types were grouped based on similarity. Grassland includes grassland or emergent vegetation, grassland with 7 sparse deciduous trees, short grasses on upland soils, shrubland, tall grassland, and 4-10% impervious cover with perennial grasses. Woodland includes only upland deciduous woodland. Impervious/developed includes 26-50% impervious cover with perennial grasses, 76-90% impervious cover, buildings with 76-90% impervious cover, and pavement with 76-90% impervious cover. June 2014– Final AUAR18