Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 12/01/2014

Home

• Discourage excavation in wetlands that are dominated by native, non-invasive plant species. • Maintain the hydrologic regime of habitats that support native, non-invasive plant communities. • Limit the placement of mitigation wetlands to highly degraded terrestrial habitats or highly degraded wetland areas. • Discourage removal of native, non-invasive vegetation. • Request an on -site biological survey and report the proposed taking or degradation of native plant communities; o within areas mapped as moderate, high, or outstanding DNR biodiversity significance; o that have a conservation status ranking of S1, S2, S3, or S4; o that involve the taking of state (endangered, threatened, special concern) or federally -listed (endangered, threatened, candidate) species; o that are likely to support state or federally -listed species. • Discourage pruning of, or damage to, oak trees April — July. • Abandon private and public lateral drainage ditches during development to eolui wetland hydrology provided adequate stormwater conveyance capacity can be maintained. • Encourage discharge of dewatering water to areas where storage and infiltration is most likely to occur. Criteria for Wildlife Habitat Exemptions ACD will use the following criteria for certification of MN Statute Chapter 8420 Wildlife Habitat Exemptions In Chapter 8420 Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act there is an exemption for excavation and deposition of spoil in a jurisdictional wetland for the purpose of improving wildlife habitat. The purpose of this guidance document is to provide sound rationale for applicants to perform wetland excavation and spoil deposition to improve wildlife habitat. The 1995 Amendments to the Wetland Conservation Act of 1991 states "a replacement plan for wetlands is not required for excavation or associated deposition of spoil within a wetland for a wildlife habitat improvement project, if:" the project maintains all of the following regulations: 1. The area of deposition, within the wetland, does not exceed five percent of the wetland area or one-half acre, whichever is less. 2. Spoil is stabilized to prevent erosion, and permanent native, non-invasive vegetation is established, via plantings or seeding. 3. The project does not have an adverse impact on any species designated as endangered or threatened under state or federal law. 4. The project will provide wildlife habitat improvement as certified by the Soil and Water Conservation District using "Wildlife Habitat Improvements in Wetlands" guidance, or similar criteria used by the SWCD board. Excavation and deposition of spoil of a wetland may be certified by the Soil and Water Conservation District for wildlife habitat exemption improvement provided the following conditions are met: Anoka Conservation District Comprehensive Plan October 2014 page 45