2009-03-18 P & R Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Division of Ecological Resources, Box 25 500 Lafayette Road S1. Paul, Minnesota 55155-4025 Phone: (651) 259-5107 Fax: (651) 296-1811 E-mail: heidi.cyr@dnr.state.mn.us November 3, 2008 Ms. Theresa Maahs Bonestroo Rosene Anderlik & Associates 2335 West Highway 36 St. Paul, MN 55113 Re: Request for Natural Heritage information in the vicinity of the proposed Centerville Regional Trail Link Project, BIN R22W Sections 14 & 23, Anoka County Correspondence # : ERDB 20090243 Dear Ms. Maahs, As requested, the Minnesota Natural Heritage Information System has been queried to determine if any rare species or other significant natural features are known to occur within an approximate one-mile radius of the proposed project. Based on this query, several rare features have been documented within the search area (for details, please see the enclosed database reports). Please note the following rare features may be impacted by the proposed project: . Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii), a state-listed threatened species, have been reported from the area and may be encountered on site. If Blanding's turtles are found on the site, please remember that state law and rules prohibit the destruction of threatened or endangered species, except under certain prescribed conditions. If turtles are in imminent danger they should be moved by hand out of harms way, otherwise they should be left undisturbed. For your information, I have attached a Blanding's turtle fact sheet that describes the habitat use and life history of this species. The fact sheet also provides two lists of recommendations for avoiding and minimizing impacts to this rare turtle. Please refer to the first list of recommendations for your project. If greater protection for turtles is desired, the second list of additional recommendations can also be implemented. The attached flyer should be given to all contractors working in the area. The Natural Heritage Information System (NHIS), a collection of databases that contains information about Minnesota's rare natural features, is maintained by the Division of Ecological Resources, Department of Natural Resources. The NHIS is continually updated as new information becomes available, and is the most complete source of data on Minnesota's rare or otherwise significant species, native plant communities, and other natural features. However, the NHIS is not an exhaustive inventory and thus does not represent all of the occurrences ofrare features within the state. Therefore, ecologically significant features for which we have no records may exist within the project area. The enclosed results include an Index Report and a Detailed Report of records in the Rare Features Database, the main database of the NHIS. To control the release of specific location information, which might result in the destruction of a rare feature, both reports are copyrighted. The Index Reoort provides rare feature locations only to the nearest section, and may be reprinted, unaltered, in an environmental review document (e.g., EA W or ElS), municipal natural resource plan, or report compiled by your company for the project listed above. If you wish to reproduce the index report for any other purpose, please contact me to request written permission. The Detailed Reoort may include specific location information, and is for your personal use only. If you wish to reprint or publish the detailed report for any purpose, please contact me to request written permission.