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<br />", <br />, <br />I <br /> <br />\ <br /> <br />~ STATE OF <br />lNllNllE $@'U' ~ <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br /> <br />lOX . 500 LAFAVETTE ROAD · ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA · 551.6 <br /> <br />ONR INFORMATION <br />(612) 296-6157 <br /> <br />May 7, 1986 <br /> <br />Ms. Ann Norris <br />City of Ramsey <br />15153 Nowthen Boulevard NW <br />Ramsey, Minnesota 55303 <br /> <br />RE: NORTHFORK PUO - DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (DElS) <br /> <br />Oear Ms. Norris: <br /> <br />The Department of Natural Resources (ONR) has reviewed the above-referenced <br />document and we offer the following comments for your consideration. <br /> <br />The development alternatives proposed in the OEIS on pages 11 and 12 do not <br />completely satisfy the request we made in commenting on the Scoping EAW for an <br />alternative that would concentrate development in previously disturbed cropland <br />areas and preserve the wooded areas as open space. The heavily vegetated area <br />to the north of Lake Itasca (see red outline on attached diagram) currently 1 <br />provides good quality wildlife habitat. None of the proposed development <br />alternatives appear to have the objective of minimizing disturbance to existing . <br />wildlife habitat. From our perspective, this objective could be satisfied by <br />developing the extreme southern area of the site (yellow area on diagram) and <br />retaining the area within the red.line in as natural a condition as possible. <br />This open space area would also provide additional opportunities for siting <br />recreational trails. <br /> <br />The DEIS mentions an east-west wildlife travel corridor south of Lake Itasca and <br />indicates that the value of this feature may be reduced by the construction of 2 <br />an east-west road through the area. We feel that addition of vegetative cover <br />to this corridor could partially offset the adverse impacts of the road. Area <br />Wildlife Manager Lloyd Knudson (296-5200) could provi~e advice on vegetative <br />planting species and locations to maximize wildlife use. <br /> <br />The OEIS contains good information on the water quality impacts of stormwater <br />runoff but neglects to identify the water level fluctuations that can also <br />adversely affect waterfowl use of Lake Itasca and the wetland areas. The OEIS <br />refers in several places to a 50-acre pond which may be constructed to the west 3 <br />of Lake Itasca and would receive stormwater from a portion of the site. The <br />location of this pond should have been identified in the DEIS and the impacts 0 <br />constructing it described. We would like to know what the effects of both <br />overflow from this pond and direct flows to Lake Itasca will be on water levels <br />in the lake. If the "bounce" effect is severe it can have a significant advers <br />impact on waterfowl nesting success. At present, Lake Itasca water levels are <br />relatively stable. <br /> <br />-68- <br />AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br /> <br />.... ~ <br />