Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 01/18/2017

Home

Item-by-item guidance Chapter 7. Cover types Estimates of the acres of land cover before and after the project should be provided. One important purpose of this information is to assess the project's impact on wildlife habitat. Site surveys or recent aerial photos are good sources of information.Additional GIS data sources include USGS Upper Midwest Gap Analysis Program(GAP) Cover Type,Minnesota Land Cover Classification System, and Land-Sat Land Use Land Cover. These data sources,as well as others are all available from the data catalog at the DNR Data Deli located at http://deli.dnr.state.mn.us/data catalog html. Of course,the most useful type of information to use will depend on the location and nature of the project. The total number of acres in the Before and After columns of the table should be equal. If the total number of acres is not equal for the pre-project and post-project conditions,explain why not in the space on the form below the table. In addition,be sure to provide descriptions for any acres listed under"other." Because the cover type categories are broad,it is possible that cover types within a specific project may fall into two categories or there may be two cover types under one category that would seem to warrant a distinction. If this is the case the RGU should make decisions on the best way to complete the acres within the table and then provide additional clarification below the table in paragraph form. Note that the cover type table does not require a distinction between wetland types,but there may be very good reasons for including this supplemental information below the table. One example is a case where a project isn't going to remove wetland acres,but rather would change wetland type. This is information that is helpful to the RGU and reviewers,but is difficult to capture in the table. In identifying types of wetlands,use the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Circular 39 guidelines.The table also makes a distinction between wetlands and deep water or streams. Deep water and streams are areas that have more than two meters of water during low water conditions. Dedicated stormwater detention ponds constructed in upland areas should not be designated as wetlands.Natural wetland areas that may have been used for stormwater storage in the past are to be designated as wetlands. The"wooded/forest"category should be applied only to relatively undisturbed wooded areas. "Lawn/landscaping" is the appropriate classification for developments constructed in wooded areas,even if many of the trees are maintained. Similarly,the "brush/grassland"category applies to areas that are undisturbed or infrequently maintained. If an area is to be regularly mowed or maintained,even if in a rural setting,list it under "lawn/landscaping." Category,Specific Guidance: Historical Places(Subp 3l):Describe if any demolition work will disturb or impact any vegetated areas around the property. Environmental Quality Board EAW Guidelines—October 2013 15