Agenda - Council - 05/14/2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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May 6, 2002 · Mr. Patrick Trudgeon Principal Planner City of Ramsey 15153 Nowthen Boulevard N.W. Ramsey, Minnesota 55303 Subject: Blanding's Turtle Habitat Survey The Ponds Residential Development Project Ramsey, Minnesota ProSource Project No. 01-317 Dear Mr. Trudgeon: ProSource Technologies, Inc. (ProSource) is pleased to present to the City of Ramsey (Ramsey) the results of our Blanding's Turtle habitat survey of the above referenced subject property. The specific goal of the habitat survey was to determine the subject property's suitability as habitat for the Blanding's Turtle. In addition, ProSource personnel conducted a visual survey of the subject property and adjacent wetlands and ponds for the presence of Blanding's Turtles. The following is a summary of ProSource's site activities and our findings. Site Activities ProSource's previous investigative activities revealed no record of Blanding's Turtle occurrences at the subject property. According to records obtained from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) Natural Heritage Information System Database (NHISD), the closest recorded Blandings Turtle occurrence locations are separated fi:om the subject property by residential development and/or high traffic roads. This development would prevent Blandings Turtles from migrating to the area of the subject property. On Tuesday, April 16, 2002, ProSource personnel conducted a walkover of the subject property. ProSource personnel traversed the majority of the subject property on foot. In addition to conducting a walkover of the subject property, ProSource personnel also conducted a survey (on foot and by car) of the areas surrounding the subject property. Weather conditions were sunny, warm and windy. The subject property is less than 100 acres in size and has a park, residential and commercial development surrounding it. The western one third of the subject property consists of a heavy oak woods. The eastern portion of¢ the subject property consists of open habitat. The majority of the . open habitat was observed to consist of a thick vegetative covering ofbrome and bluegrass. Several wetlands and ponds are present along the periphery of the subject property. ProSource personnel used binoculars to conduct a visual survey of the wetlands and ponds for the presence of turtles. The visual survey revealed basking Western Painted Turtles, but no Blanding's Turtles, on the ponds and wetlands.