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RICE CREEK NORTH REGIONAL TRAIL MASTER PLAN | 26 <br />There are numerous scattered wetlands through the corridor. Major wetland complexes include floodplain <br />wetlands that surround Rice Creek and contributing ditches, a large complex southwest of the off-leash dog <br />area, a wetland located in the wildlife corridor in the central segment, and a large wetland complex in the south <br />segment, east of Rice Creek. <br />The wetland within the south segment has been altered by man made structures. The wetland is separated <br />into a north and south lobe by a berm that was constructed on top of a buried drinking water supply pipe that <br />runs through the wetland. The northern lobe of this wetland also receives flow from Rush Lake by connected <br />pipes. Rush lake has an outlet in the northwest corner that flows northwest into the wetland. The water from <br />this wetland then travels south through a culvert under the berm and then discharges through a culvert under a <br />paved trail, southwest into Rice Creek. <br />There is an aquifer to surface water connection along Rice Creek within the entire north segment, along with <br />select areas of interaction in the central segment, and no interaction in the south segment. These areas are <br />considered vulnerable for surface to groundwater pollution (Ramsey County Groundwater Protection Plan, 2010, <br />Figure 4-13 Surface water under the influence of groundwater (Metropolitan Council, 2009 Master Water Supply <br />Plan)). There is a significant groundwater contamination plume from the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition <br />Plant that travels southwest through portions of the central and southern segments of the corridor. This plume <br />has affected municipal drinking water supplies and will continue to have an effect on the groundwater for the <br />next half century. <br />Stormwater quality best management practices installed within the corridor have included raingardens and <br />pervious pavement within the north segment in the Lexington Avvenue North parking lot. These features were <br />installed to meet watershed district requirements and to reduce pollutants and volume to the receiving surface <br />waters. <br />Soils <br />Soils within the corridor were formed by glacial ground moraines, outwash plains and alluvium deposits. For the <br />purpose of general classification, the soils are grouped into three categories based on their formation. Soil maps <br />and more detailed descriptions can be found in the appendix. <br />1. Soils formed dominantly in outwash: These soils are underlain by fine sand to gravely coarse sand and <br /> are on outwash plains and stream terraces. They range from excessively drained to very poorly drained, <br /> and the terrain is level to steep. These soils formed under deciduous hardwood forest or prairie. <br />2. Soils formed dominantly in a sandy mantle and underlying glacial till, and in glacial till: These soils <br /> are mostly upland soils that formed in about20 to 40 inches of sandy aeolian or lacustrine sediments <br /> over glacial till. They range from well drained to poorly drained and are nearly level to steep. <br /> They formed under deciduous hardwood forest. <br />3. Soils formed dominantly in recent alluvium: These soils are mostly bottom-land soils that formed in <br /> recent stratified alluvium and variable textured fill materials on flood plains. They are nearly level to very <br /> gently sloping and somewhat poorly drained. They formed under hardwood forest on bottom land.