Laserfiche WebLink
COMMENTS & RESPONSES <br /> <br />CITY QF RAHSEY <br /> <br />Minnesota Department of Natural Resources <br /> <br /> 1200 Warner Road <br />St. Paul, Minnesota 55106 <br />651.772.7900 <br /> <br />7694275543 <br /> <br />P. O2 <br /> <br />Sylvia Frolik, Assistant Community Development Director <br />City of Ramsay <br />15153 Nowthen Boulevard NW <br />Ramsey, Minnesota 55303 <br /> <br />July 19, 2005 <br /> <br />RE: Sweetbay Ridge Development Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) <br /> <br />Dear Ms. Frolik: <br /> <br />The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has reviewed the EAW for the proposed Sweetbay <br />Ridge Development in the City of Ramsay. We offer the following comments for your <br />consideration. <br /> <br />_Cover Types (item No. 10) <br /> <br />The project will affect a substantial amount of wooded/forest cover. The EAW does not describe <br />the composition or condition of the woodland. We know, however, 'that the site contains some <br />large and good quality oak, pine and aspen. Additionally, the EAW does not describe <br />approaches to protect the remaining trees and patches, The spread of oak wilt is one of our <br />main concerns here. The timing of tree removal is critical to the prevention of infestation and <br />spread of the disease. Oak wilt behaves like an exotic pest and we treat it as such. Given the <br />high disease pressure and prevalence of the innoculum base, communities in Anoka County are <br />at risk of losing many if not most of their remaining oaks if they do not take aggressive steps to <br />limit its further spread. Because its incidence is closely tied to the kind of wounding typically <br />associated with construction, we encourage the developer to limit fragmentation, carry out <br />construction operations 'at times other than the peak infection period (April-June) and treat oak <br />wilt prior to breaking ground. We recommend that the City, as part of its approvals and permits, <br />require treatment prior to land clearing. Sherburne County has a good example of how that can <br />be done. If utilizing building permits to control oak wilt is undesirable, the City could build into its <br />fee structure incentives to encourage builders to control oak wilt be'lore construction. <br /> <br />If the project goes forward as proposed, it will result in the conversion of 22.3 acres of <br />wooded/forest cover, This will require the removal of a significant amount of wood from the site. <br />Depending on the condition of this wood, the project proposer may elect to market it as sawlog, <br />landscaping material, firewood, or bio-fuel for the production of energy. We strongly recommend <br />that the City contact Jean Mouelle, Regional Forest Utilization and IVlarketing Specialist (651 <br />772..7567), for advice on this subject. <br /> An F, qual Oplim'mnity F. Inployer ~V[iu Values Diversity <br /> <br /> DNR Inforlnatior~: 651.298-6157 1-888-646-6367 TTY: 651-296-5484 1-800-657-3929 <br /> <br /> <br />