Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 01/18/2017

Home

Item-by-item guidance Chapter Determining the presence of key habitats should be done by direct observation and/or by using existing GIS data. Key habitats have not been mapped,but there are other GIS data sources that can assist in identifying potential key habitats.Native plant communities identified as part of the Minnesota County Biological Survey,(MBS),can be used to identify some key habitats.Native plant community data is available on the DNR data deli at. Additional Resources: • Information on native plant communities is available at hllp://www.dnr.state.mn.us/npc/index.html or at the DNR data deli at http://deli.dnr.state.mn.us/. • A listing of key habitats to native plant communities is available at: http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/assistance/nrplanning/bigpicture/cwcs/key_habitat by_subsection.pdf In some cases land cover type data can be used to identify potential key habitats. GAP data and Metro Area Cover type data is available from the DNR data deli. b. Rare features This item refers to unique natural features or features of special significance,including state-listed endangered,threatened and special concern species;native plant communities that are rare statewide such as prairie remnants or virgin timber;locally rare habitats(regionally significant ecological areas); colonial waterbird nesting colonies; Sites of Biodiversity Significance; and high quality wetland complexes.The DNR Division of Ecological and Water Resources maintain the Natural Heritage Information System(NHIS),a collection of databases that provides the most comprehensive information on Minnesota's rare natural features.The NHIS includes Rare Features Data,including MBS sites of Biodiversity Significance and MBS Native Plant Communities. This information should be incorporated into the EAW,including the correspondence number for reference. If this information was obtained through a license agreement,include the license agreement number. The EAW should also state whether a habitat assessment or other survey work was conducted. Sensitive ecological resources that are not listed in the NNIS,but are known to occur on the project site, should also be identified and described in the EAW. If any MBS sites are within or adjacent to the project area,please provide this map to the DNR when requesting NNIS data. If rare species surveys are going to be completed,coordination for survey methods should occur with the DNR staff prior to the surveys. Potential impacts to identified rare features should be discussed separately in response to EAW Item 13.c. Additional Resources: • Minnesota's List of Endangered,Threatened,And Special Concern Species is available at: hllp://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ets/index.html\ • Information on how to obtain data from the Natural Heritage Information System(NHIS)is available at: http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/nhnM/natural heritagepd£ • Minnesota Biological Surveys and Rare Species: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/mcbs/maps.html • Rare species guide: htip://www.dnr.state.mn.us/rsg/index.html • Sites of Biodiversity Significance: hitp://www.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/mcbs/blodiversiiy guidelines.html Environmental Quality Board EAW Guidelines—October 2013 34