Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 10/15/2018

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associated with. In addition, for birds, a column is included that indicates migratory status. Note that no formal survey has been completed for wildlife; therefore, other species not shown in Table 11.1 may be present and species shown in Table 11.1 may not be present. All of the species shown, however, are documented in Anoka County and known to occur in the types of habitat present on or near the RTC site today. Under existing conditions, the project area provides habitat to species adapted to a mosaic of cropland, wetland, small woodlots and grassland. The most significant habitat on the site is wetland, which may provide habitat for aquatic fur -bearing mammals, such as muskrat and mink, shorebirds and waterfowl. Forest and woodland occur in the northeastern corner, and as patches and windrows in other portions of the project site. These areas would support birds and mammals that require trees for nesting and cover and provide the moist, shaded conditions favorable to amphibians. Fragmentation of these areas, however, would limit the use of these woodlands, particularly for larger mammals and birds that require interior forest habitat. The grassland habitat is generally low in diversity, but would support species that prefer more open areas. Species typically found in disturbed grassland include such species as the plains pocket gopher, red fox and American kestrel. The dry sandy conditions that occur over much of the project area provide habitat for species that prefer loose, sandy soil for burrowing and nesting. Examples include the badger, prairie skink and Blanding's turtle. Under proposed conditions, all of the forest/woodland and portions of the wetland/grassland will be converted to non -natural cover types. For this reason, the greatest impact will occur to forest associates. Species associated with wetland and grassland will probably continue to be present, but at much lower numbers. The degree to which these species continue to exist will be a function of how fragmented remaining patches of habitat are under post development conditions. An additional factor is how good of quality these patches are. Rare Plant Communities The Natural Communities and Rare Species of Anoka and Ramsey Counties Map (DNR Natural Heritage Program, 1994), shows a high quality flood plain forest plant community on an island of the Mississippi River approximately 1/2 mile south of the RTC site. No impacts to this floodplain forest plant community area expected. Fisheries There are no permanent rivers, lakes or ponds known to support fish within the project site. The nearest water bodies supporting fisheries include Lake Itasca and the Mississippi River. No impacts to these fisheries are expected to result from this project. lib. The DNR Natural Heritage Program database was checked for information concerning reports of rare plant and animal species that might be located at or within approximately one mile of the project location. The results of DNR's search of the 11-2