pf_03431 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

III. RESULTS Review of Soils. NWI. and DNR Information The National Wetland Inventory Map (NWl) (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 1989, New Brighton) shows a PEMB/PFOIB wetland extending onto the property from the west (Figure 2). The Soil Survey of Ramsey County, Minnesota (USDA, 1980) shows the following soil types on the site: Cathro muck (544) and Urban Land-Hayden.,.Kingsley complex (860C) (Figure 3). Cathro is a hydric soil indicative of wetland conditions when undrained. The DNR Protected Waters Map, Ramsey County (Minnesota DNR, 1981), does not show any DNR Protected Waters, Wetlands, or Waterways on the site or within 1,000 feet ofthe property (Figure 4). Wetland Determinations and Delineations Potential wetlands were evaluated in greater detail during field observations. One wetland basin was identified and delineated on the area evaluated (Figure 5). Corresponding data forms are included in Appendix A. The following description of the wetland and surrounding upland reflects field conditions observed at the time ofthe delineation. Precipitation throughout the portion of the growing season preceding the site visit had been above average. Wetland 1 was a partially drained, Type 2 (PEMIBd) basin located in the western half ofthe site, and extended off ofthe property toward the south. An 8-inch diameter corregated pipe was observed to discharge stormwater or house foundation drainage into the wetland at the southeastern comer of the property. The wetland plant community was dominated by reed canary grass, with scattered stinging nettle and sandbar willow along the edges. The adjacent wooded uplands to the west were dominated by common buckthorn, staghorn sumac, and prickly gooseberry, common burdock, and eastern cottonwood trees, with some willow. Adjacent uplands in the old field area to the east were dominated by smooth brome grass with scattered Canada thistle. Uplands to the north consisted ofthe road bank for Gluek Lane North, which was dominated by Kentucky bluegrass, reed canary grass, and smooth brome grass. Soils in the wetland just below the delineated wetland boundary consisted of 18 inches of black muck over mucky peat. No water was observed within 48 inches ofthe surface in soil sample pits located 20 feet below the wetland boundary. Adjacent upland soils consisted of black gravel and sandy loam :fill material which had no iron concentrations or other hydric indicators to 48 inches below the surface. No water was observed within 48 inches of the surface in upland soil sample pits. Although no obvious cause of drainage was found, it was assumed that the changes to the watershed (i.e. increase in impervious surfaces, redirection of runoff to stormwater ponds) resulted in less water entering the wetland. This would account for the discrepancy between the lack of water and the presence of peat soils in the wetland, which are normally saturated to the surface in the absence of drainage. 2