Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 01/25/2021

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Riverstone SouthEAWDraft December 2020 Federal Online information on rare species information maintained by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) was also reviewed for the project area. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) listed the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) as federally threatened on May 4, 2015. On February 2, 2017, the USFWS listed the rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) as federally endangered. Review of the USFWS Information for Planning and Consultation(IPaC) website with a polygon encompassing the project area identified the northern long-eared bat as the onlythreatened or endangered species that may potentially be affected by activities at the project location. The IPaC website also noted that there areno critical habitats at this location. The northern long-eared bat hibernates in caves during winter and establishes maternity roosting colonies under the loose bark of trees during the summer. The project area is not known to include caves and includeslimited tree cover. As of June 3, 2020,MNDNRdata showed no documented maternity roost trees or hibernacula entrancesof the northern long-eared bat in the project vicinity. Review of the USFWS Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Mapindicates the project area falls within a Low Potential Zone. This means that the rusty patched bumblebee is not likely to be presentin the project area. The nearest High Potential Zone, where rusty patched bumble bees are likely to occupy suitable habitat, is located about 3.5milessoutheastof the project and is associated with the Elm Creek Park Reserve in Hennepin County. Most habitats suitable for rusty patched bumble bees in the Upper Midwest have been converted by agriculture or other land uses. Bumble bees need areas that provide nectar and pollen from flowers, nesting sites (underground and abandoned rodent cavities or clumps of grasses), and overwintering sites for hibernating queens (undisturbed soil).Site reviews have not identifiednative prairie plantings or diverse areas of native wildflowers in the project area, indicating a lack of highly suitable bumble bee habitat. c.Discuss how the identified fish, wildlife, plant communities, rare features and ecosystems may be affected by the project. Include a discussion on introduction and spread of invasive species from the project construction and operation. Separately discuss effects to known threatened and endangered species. Project development is expected to convert about 54.14acres of cropland and 16.17acres of woodland to streets, homes, lawns, landscaping, and stormwater features. The balance of the site will include about 7.73 acres of tree preservation and about 0.59 acre of grassland preservation. The project will include about 17.46 acres of open space consisting of tree preservation, stormwater features, parks, and buffers. Of the 23.90acres of woodland, the project will remove about 16.17 acres and preserve about 7.73acres (Figure 9). The project may affect the number and type of wildlife species in the area, but changes in wildlife abundance are not expected to be regionally significant. The existing croplands provide wildlife food, but have limitedvalue as wildlife cover.Wildlife species that depend on agricultural cropland will be displacedby the project. The project will likely have short-term negative effects and long- 23