Agenda - Planning Commission - 08/02/2018

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North Dayton Development Natural Heritage Review December 6, 2017 This project has the potential to impact this rare turtle through direct fatalities or habitat disturbance/destruction due to dewatering, excavation, fill, or other construction activities associated with the project. Actions to avoid or minimize disturbance to this state -protected turtle may include, but are not limited to, the following recommendations: ➢ Avoid or minimize impacts to wetlands, ➢ To avoid any incidental takings, avoid filling or dewatering wetlands during the winter, ➢ Implement stringent sediment and erosion control methods, ➢ Use wildlife -friendly erosion control methods (see links below), ➢ Monitor for turtles during construction and report any sightings to the DNR, ➢ Refer to the first list of recommendations in the enclosed Blanding's Turtle Fact Sheet. If greater protection for turtles is desired, the second list of recommendations can be implemented as well. The fact sheet contains specific recommendations regarding roads, utilities, and landscaping that will pertain to this project. ➢ For specific recommendations pertaining to roads, please refer to Curb Design and Small Animals, Preventing Entanglement, & Reducing Wildlife Vehicle Collisions in Chapter One of the Minnesota Department of Transportation's Best Practices Manual (htto://www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/waterm&mt section/owr ermits/go 2004 0001 manual.html). The attached flyer should be given to all contractors working in the area. If Blanding's turtles are encountered on site, please remember that state law and rules prohibit the destruction of threatened or endangered species, except under certain prescribed conditions. If turtles are in imminent danger they must be moved by hand out of harm's way, otherwise they are to be left undisturbed. • The black sandshell (Ligumia recta), a state -listed mussel of special concern, has been documented in the Mississippi River in the vicinity of the proposed project. Mussels are particularly vulnerable to deterioration in water quality, especially increased siltation. As such, it is important that effective erosion prevention and sediment control practices be implemented and maintained near the river during construction and incorporated into any stormwater management plan. Federally Protected Species • The northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), federally listed as threatened and state -listed as special concern, can be found throughout Minnesota. During the winter this species hibernates in caves and mines, and during the active season (approximately April -October) it roosts underneath bark, in cavities, or in crevices of both live and dead trees. Pup rearing is during June and July. Activities that may impact this species include, but are not limited to, wind farm operation, any disturbance to hibernacula, and destruction/degradation of habitat (including tree removal). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has published a final 4(d) rule that identifies prohibited take. To determine whether you need to contact the USFWS, please refer to the USFWS Key to the Northern Long -Eared Bat 4(d) Rule (see links below). Please note that the NHIS does not contain any known occurrences of northern long-eared bat roosts or hibernacula within an approximate one -mile radius of the proposed project. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources • Ecological & Water Resources 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155 Page 2 of 4