Agenda - Council - 04/13/2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Riverstone South EAW January 2021 Homeowners will be responsible for management and disposal of hazardous waste thereafter. Homeowners will be able to dispose of household hazardous waste at the Anoka County Household Hazardous Waste Facility. 13. Fish, Wildlife, Plant Communities and Sensitive Ecological Resources (Rare Features) a. Describe fish and wildlife resources as well as habitats and vegetation on or in near the site. Fish and wildlife resources on and near the site are related to the composition, quality, size, and connectivity of plant communities such as cultivated cropland, wetlands, woodlands, and grasslands. Vegetative cover types on the project area were mapped based on aerial photography, the wetland delineation, and field reviews (Figure 6). The project area is about 70% cropland and 30% woodland, with less than one acre of grassland. Habitats in the project area are likely used by wildlife adapted to agricultural and suburban environments, such as white-tailed deer, songbirds, small mammals, and amphibians. The project area falls in the Anoka Sandplain Ecological Subsection of the MN DNR Ecological Classification System and the Anoka Sand Plain and Mississippi Valley Outwash of the Level IV Ecoregion of the U.S. EPA. This area consists of a flat, sandy lake plain and terraces along the Mississippi River. Land use in the area includes row crops, small grains, suburban development, wetlands, woodlands. Much of the project area has limited wildlife habitat value because it has been occupied by annually tilled agricultural crops for years. Cropland consisted of corn, soybeans, wheat, pumpkins, and cabbage during field surveys in 2020. Kjolhaug Environmental Services completed a survey of significant trees on the site during April 13-16, 2020. Significant trees included oaks and evergreens measuring at least 4 inches DBH (diameter breast height) and all other tree species measuring at least 8 inches DBH. The tree survey identified 2,305 significant trees of 28 species. The Tree Survey Memorandum is included in Appendix E. Elm and oak trees accounted for 72% of the significant trees, and hackberry trees were subdominant, with 12% of the trees. Together, all other tree species accounted for 16% of the significant trees. Dominant shrubs in the woodland included honeysuckle, prickly ash, gooseberry, and raspberry. Grassy field edges were dominated by smooth brome, and Kentucky bluegrass. b. Describe rare features such as state -listed (endangered, threatened or special concern) species, native plant communities, Minnesota County Biological Survey Sites of Biodiversity Significance, and other sensitive ecological resources on or within close proximity to the site. Provide the license agreement number (LA-989) and/or correspondence number (ERDB [none assigned]) from which the data were obtained and attach the Natural Heritage letter from the DNR. Indicate if any additional habitat or species survey work has been conducted within the site and describe the results. State A Natural Heritage Inventory System (NHIS) data request was submitted to the MN DNR to assess whether known locations of rare plant or animal species or other significant natural features are known to occur within an approximate 1-mile radius of the project area. A response had not yet been 22