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City of Ramsey February 12, 2007 Functional Assessment of Wetlands 6 preliminary classifications. The full-record rare feature locations were used for the purpose of the GIS assessment, but cannot be reproduced and published due to the possibility that the release of the information could “result in the damage or destruction of a rare element” (correspondence MnDNR, 9-8-2005). One confirmed sighting of an endangered or threatened species in an area is enough to be listed as an element occurrence. The GIS layer that contains the locations of each known occurrence places each occurrence within a circular “buffer” with a radius of ¼ mile. One characteristic for classifying a wetland as “Preserve” is one recorded sighting of an endangered or threatened animal species in the wetland. Since only one characteristic needs to be met to make a “Preserve” classification, inclusion of this data (including the buffer around each occurrence) resulted in 105 of the area’s 349 wetlands being classified as “Preserve”. Of these 105 wetlands, 91 would become Preserve wetlands based solely on the presence of a state-listed species. In short, many wetlands where no listed species has yet been documented would be shifted to “Preserve” status because the wetland falls within the buffer. We believe this represents a substantial over-estimation of the number of wetlands that actually should be upgraded to Preserve status based on listed wildlife species. In order to present the Heritage Program GIS data without the over-estimation of Preserve wetlands, Westwood removed the buffering and cited only those wetlands at the centroid of each known occurrence of listed species. A total of nine wetlands contained a known occurrence of a state-listed species. WETLAND FIELD ASSESSMENT METHOLOGY A total of 349 wetlands were identified from NWI and MMCD information and of those, 124 wetlands were initially placed into Preserve and Manage 1 classifications using GIS methods. These wetlands, along with 12 additional wetlands, as requested by the City, were field verified and underwent a complete MnRAM 3.0 analysis using the existing GIS information augmented with field observations of applicable functional characteristics. A total of 136 wetlands were assessed in the field between June 13 and November 15, 2006 by Westwood Professional Services, Inc. Field Assessment Mapping A preliminary set of maps were created for use in the field to locate the wetlands, to assist with the assessment of wetland functions, and to record necessary data. Each field map covered one full section of land or one square mile for the entire City boundary at a scale of 1 inch equals 600 feet. The maps showed all 136 wetlands that would be field verified along with their unique Wetland ID and Circular 39 classifications. In addition, section numbers, parcel lines, and road names were added to the field maps. Color aerial photographs from 2003 were used as a base layer on the field maps. 6 Records obtained from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program. 9