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1999-03-19 Wright Soil Monitoring Requirements . ~ WRIGHT SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT 306e Brighton Avenue Buffalo, Minnesota 55313 Telephone (612) 682-1933 682-1970 Fax (612)682-0262 March 19) 1999 Don Jensen Pilot Land Developll1ent 13736 Jolmsoll St. NE Hanl Lake MN 55304 RE: MONITORING REQUIREMENTS FOR APPROVED REPLACEMENT PLANS. INCLUDING CEDAR CREEK, CENTER OAKS, KARSTON COVE, PARK SIDE THIRD AND FOURTH DEVELOPMENTS. Dear Mr. Jensen: As part of an approved replacenlent plan the Wetland Conservation Act Part 8420.0620 Subparts 1 and 2 requires 311 annual monitoring report for all approved replacenlent plans. TIle purpose of this report is to ensure tile replacelnent wetland achieves the goal of replacing tile lost function and values of impacted wetlands. The statute requires these monitoring reports be submitted for a period of five years to tile Local Governing Unit (LGU) or wltil the LGU deenls tile replacement successful. At a minimum the atIDual reports 111Ust include the following infonnation: . In the first report only, a cOluparison of the as-built specification with the design specification and any explanation for significant lllodifications. Also tlus first report lllust include copies of all deed restrictions or other restrictive covenants as required by statute. . A brief description of the \vetland tnitigation areas, including location, size, vegetative and hydrologic 1110nitoring reports, currcnt wetland types and desired wetland types. . For each subsequent year, a conlparison of existing conditions in the wetlands with the as-built specifications and an ex-planation for any significant differences. . A sutntuary of water level nIeasurements or soil pit data collected to date and a determination as to whether tbe hydrology in the wetlands tneets the design elevations and wetland hydrology criteria as defined in federal wetland delineation nIanuals. Data for at least one soil pit near tbe wetland edge luust be SUblUitted. . A summary of plant species growing in each wetland and a deternlination whether the vegetation meets the wetland criteria as defined in federal \vctland delineation tuanuals. For wetland mitigation areas greater than 0.5 acres plant species data, fronl at least "Vo sanlple locations lnust be collected and their locations indicated on a site plan included with the monitoring report. Mitigation areas less than 0.5 acres only need plant species indicated for onc sanlple location. Percent donunance should be recorded at each location with enlphasis placed upon dominant species present. t- . A summary of managenlent activities and/or corrective actions conducted in the wetlands during the previous year and activities planned for the following year. (I.e. burning, retilling, regrading, reseeding and mulching). . Color photographs of the wetland mitigation sites taken July through August of each year at the designated photo-reference points. At least one photo should be taken from each reference point. Photo-reference points should include views of any control structures and enough additional information points to adequately depict the entire project. The direction in which the picture was taken should be specified. Be advised in the event that the wetland monitoring requirements are not met The LGU may reserve the right to extend the wetland monitoring report period beyond five years and withhold future wetland permit approvals within the LG.U's jurisdiction until you have satisfied this requirement. Also it is possible that, based on a TEP recommendation, wetland establishment criteria will be achieved prior to completion of the five-year monitoring period, at which time monitoring report requirements may be terminated. Sincerely, A...( ~ /Co<.. "~~ Mark McNamara Resource Conservationist Wright SWCD cc: Keith Grow, Board Conservationist BWSR . . . . WETLAND MONITORING REPORT COMPONENTS After completion of the wetland mitigation areas, monitoring must be conducted for a five year period to evaluate the success of the mitigation area, to identify maintenance and management needs, and to correct any identified problems with the mitigation. During the growing season of each year, hydrologic and vegetative parameters should be measured in each of the mitigation areas. If standing water is expected, the hydrology of the mitigation areas will be monitored by installing staff gauges immediately upstream from each control structure and measuring water levels on a monthly basis during the growing season. In cases where there is little or no standing water, soil pits must be dug, depth of standing water recorded, and the location of each soil pit located on a site plan of the mitigation site. Wetland vegetation must be both quantitatively and qualitatively evaluated once per year during the period of July through August in each mitigation area. Hydrology should also be monitored from early May to mid June. Documentation photographs should also be taken during the months of July through August from fixed reference points established at each wetland within the mitigation plan. At the end of the five years, a wetland delineation may be conducted to verify that the areas have met the three parameter wetland criteria and the results of the delineations should be addressed in the fmal report submitted. A monitoring report must be prepared annually during the five-year monitoring period. The report should describe the status of the wetland mitigation, summarize the results of the vegetative and hydrologic monitoring, and discuss management activities and corrective actions conducted during the previous year as well as activities planned for the upcoming year. Tbe report must be submitted to the LGU by December 31 of each year. At a minimum, the annual report must include the following information: . In the frrst report only, a comparison of the as-built specifications with the design specifications and an explanation for significant modifications. . A brief description of the wetland mitigation areas, including location, size, vegetative and hydrologic monitoring reports, current wetland types and desired wetland types. . For each subsequent year, a comparison of existing conditions in the wetlands \vith as-built specifications and an explanation for any significant differences. . A swnmary of water level measurements or soil pit data collected to date and a determination as to whether the hydrology in the wetlands meets the design elevations and wetland hydrology criteria as defined in federal wetland delineation manuals. Data for at least one soil pit near the wetland edge must be submitted. . A summary of plant species gro\ving in each wetland and a determination \vhether the vegetation meets the wetland criteria as defined in federal wetland delineation manuals. For wetland mitigation areas greater than 0.5 acres, plant species data from at least t\VO sample locations must be collected and their locations indicated on a site plan included with the monitoring report. Mitigation areas less than 0.5 acres only need plant species indicated for one sample location. Percent dominance should be recorded at each location with emphasis placed upon dominant species present. . 1\ swnmary of management activities and/or corrective actions conducted in the \vetlands during the previous year and activities planned for the following year (ie. burning, retilling, regrading, herbicide application, reseeding and mulching). . Color photographs of the wetland mitigation sites taken in July through August of each year at the designated photo- refer~nce points. At least one photo should be taken from each reference point. Photo-reference points should include views ofnny control structures and enough additional points to adequately depict the entire project. The direction in which the picture is taken should be specified. NOTE: The LGU may reserve the right to extend the wetland monitoring period beyond five years and withhold or cash any monitoring escrow required as part of an approved \vetland replacement plan in the event that the wetland monitoring requirements are not met. It is possible that, based on a TEP detennination, wetland establishment criteria will be achieved prior to completion of the five-year monitoring period) at which time monitoring report requirements may be terminated. a:monreprt (4/97)