Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 01/25/2021

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3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING 3.1 Geological Background and Soils In his 1990 publication Archaeological Regions in Minnesota and the Woodland Period, former State Archaeologist Scott Anfinson divides the state of Minnesota into nine environmental- archaeological regions based on natural resources available within each region. This classification allows archaeologists to research and analyze prehistoric environments in the state, as well as predict where archaeological sites may be located. The Capstone Homes region 4e: Central Lakes Deciduous East Sub-Region. The region sits within east-central to central Minnesota, spanning Dakota to Becker Counties. Topographically, the region consists of a mixture of moraines, till plains, and outwash plains, and is heavily spotted with lakes, some over 30 meters (m) deep. Major rivers include the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers flowing along the western boundary of the region, and the St. Croix Reastern boundary. Streams draining the western part of the region flow in a western direction to the Red River (Anfinson 1990). River formation was the result of a complex glacial history including several episodes of advancing and retreating glacial lobes. The Central Lakes Deciduous East Sub-Region is located directly west of the Mississippi River, but could arguably incorporate portions of western Wisconsin. The regional topography consists of moraines, glacial till, and outwash plains, as well as a large variety of lakes, streams, and wetlands (Gibbon et al. 2002). Average precipitation ranges from 21 to 32 inches (Grimes 1968). Average high winter temperatures range from 12 to 24 degrees Fahrenheit (F) while average high summer temperatures range from 78 to 82 degrees F. The frost-free season ranges from 140 to 160 days (Gibbon et al. 2002). Soils in the region reflect a diverse history of glacial and vegetation activity. Soil texture ranges from medium to course, with prairie soils more commonly found in the southern and western portions of the region and forest soils found mostly in the north and east portions (Anfinson 1990). comprised of mainly granite outcroppings along river banks (Gibbon et al. 2002). All soil source material was deposited during the Wisconsin stage of the Pleistocene epoch. Two main types of glacial drift were deposited over the county when the Superior Lobe retreated from the area around 13,500 years ago. The Superior Lobe, which flowed into the area from the north, deposited coarse textured material, reddish brown in color, with pebbles of basalt, gabbro, and red sandstone. At a later date, the Grantsburg Sub-lobe, an extension of the Des Moines Lobe, northern and eastern parts of the county and melt water left intermixed outwash gravel and sand from both of the previous lobes. Additionally, when the Grantsburg Lobe retreated westward, it uncovered the Mississippi Valley, and melt water from the wasting Des Moines Lobe filled the Phase I Archaeological Survey of Proposed Capstone Homes Housing Development 6 Ramsey, Anoka County, Minnesota Nienow Cultural Consultants, LLC