Agenda - Public Works Committee - 07/19/2022

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DNR INFORMATION (612) 296-6157 May 23, 1994 Ryan Schroeder Ramsey City Administrator 15153 Nowthen Boulevard Ramsey, MN 55303 RE: Sunwood Drive NW between ton Street & County Road 116 Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) Dear Mr. Schroeder: STATE OF mrEscyirt: DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCki 500 LAFAYETTE ROAD • ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA 55155-40, 10 ECE!ip0 ( 4 TheDepartment of NaturaResources(DNR)has reviewed the EA .f©r the ahave rnentoned p jro'e�ct. We offer the following comments for your consideration. We appreciate efforts taken by the City to coordinate with DNR the project's designn . personnel and potential alignment during the planning process. We are concerned that the project will lead to unnecessary impacts to DNR rotecte water resources, particularlyprotected waters 2-673W and 2- . . .. 114P. The EAW correctlyindicates that a DNR protected waters permit is red uired for the project as t ��.. n of both pTcw �en�.or�. The associatedpermit process� r�,ti � . ' �� proposed. p requiresst © need and that no other practicalalternatives toprotected waters impacts t�:, , �pAlt � ; a ,� , cts�e�� .. �st., . �, � �a�g�-safe cast -�. .development d tur � e . , p . potentials are important components of the roadway pl , process, or y alig en design A annln limit whichmost t protected waters impacts would likely be ermitted.° :. . s�� �' P '1The alternatives a = rpn enta * t analysis provided �n the EAW n�inirnal y �corisidersthe en�i �h costs associated with the various alignments and provides little detail rega ding potential. ii iti' �ation of wetland impacts. The will in . g pa ts. preferred alignments, (1A & 2B), result the disruption and partial loss of two -rote wetlands. Although protected tough the EAWindicates that the proposed roadvwaywil . fill approximately 0.8 acres of T e III I wetland, uncertaintya �. pP y p . exists because formal wetland delineation was not completed at the time c} EAW preparation. It is verylikelythat p this 0.8 acre estimate is low. Furthermore, regardless of the amount, the EAW should detail proposed mitigationg for all expected project -related wetland p pp � impacts. We also note that the preferred alignment results in the permanent conversion of 11.1 acres of wildlife habitat rather than the 6.3 acres indicated in the EAW. When reviewing other alignment options, use of roadway alignments 1B & 2C would require less wetland. fill. This approach avoids one wetland crossing, re uires less clearing and grabbing of wooded r g g � . areas, and provides a good alignment along with the shortest driving distance. The EAW indicates that the o disadvantages of this approach consist of more excavation, a more curved and slower route the purchase and relocation of one residence, and a short sight -distance at one road crossing.The ervira nmental-costs of this approach are less than those associated with the preferred alignment. Other environmentally sound approaches could significantly reduce pp � .. # � . . �. t „e wetland impacts by.either routing the Sunfish Lake or bybridging wetlands aloh . the routes alre ;c g g � �ad consider roadwaynorthofg ell. It is uncertain from the information provided whether her stormwater ru _; be direct y dis water naff t� char ell ant© fnot s d�estw , . ; . n� . roadwaysl e u �r gip or street storm sewers: - �. p t of untreated wetlands s r��,� theThe D t act stormwater runoff into wetlands. usedimentation basirns- and ki e c� r Although � ir�n�rS+� are n iataned as pretreatment measures, Figures 15 & 16 do not shoal detention � asin0.4,einnt....Thesec emeasures requirefurtherclarification d c ari ication to better assess proposed protection measures for wetlands. AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER