Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 01/18/2017

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Item-by-item guidance Chapter 13. Fish,wildlife,plant communities, and sensitive ecological resources (rare features) This item is divided into four sections,the first two sections are meant to describe fish,wildlife,plant communities,and sensitive ecological resources within or in close proximity to the site. The third section is meant to provide a discussion on how the project will affect these features. The fourth section is meant for identification of measures or mitigations that have been incorporated into the project to avoid or minimize effects to these features. a. Fish,wildlife, habitat, and vegetation State and federally designated refuges,trout streams, and other areas dedicated to fish and wildlife habitat are well defined. Examples of designated habitat areas include Wildlife Management Areas,Waterfowl Production Areas,Wildlife Refuge Inventories,Reinvest in Minnesota(RIM)easements,wild rice lakes, migratory waterfowl feeding and resting lakes,Outstanding Resource Value Waters (ORVWs), and identified Regionally Significant Ecological Areas in the seven county Metro Area. However,fish and wildlife habitat areas exist throughout the state and are not all specifically designated. Nearly all undeveloped land has some wildlife habitat value. The quality and value of the habitat depends on many factors including the degree of disturbance,the nature of the adjoining areas,and the area and type of vegetation or water resources present.The presence of habitats within the project area is to be identified here and any project-related effects described in response to EAW Item 13.c. Questions about the presence and value of the habitat can be directed to regional offices of the DNR. Keep in mind,however,that it is the responsibility of the RGU to determine the nature and significance of any project- related impacts. It often is necessary to hire a specialist to conduct a field survey of the site. This is especially true if unusually valuable or extensive habitat may be impacted. Additional Resources: • Regionally Significant Ecological Areas in the seven county Metro: hllp://www.dnr.state.mn.us/rsea/mgp.html • Wildlife Management Areas: htip://www.dnr.state.mn.us/wmas/index.html • Trout Streams: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/trout_streams/index.html • Reinvest in Minnesota(RIM) Conservation Easements: htip://maps.bwsr.state.mn.us/rimonline/ • GIS data for designated habitat areas can be downloaded at: http://deli.dnr.state.mn.us/ Another information source for identifying important wildlife habitats is Tomorrow's Habitat for the Wild& Rare: an Action Plan for MN Wildlife,DNR,2006. This comprehensive wildlife conservation strategy can be used to identify the Ecological Classification System Subsection where the project is located. Information also can be found to assist identifying key habitats for wildlife conservation within that subsection. Additional Resources: • The report, Tomorrow's Habitat for the Wild&Rare: an Action Plan for MN Wildlife, DNR, 2006,is available at: www.dnr.state.mn.us/cwcs/index.html I Environmental Quality Board EAW Guidelines—October 2013 33