HomeMy WebLinkAbout8C Pike Lake Development Wetland Replacement Plan PresentationCity Council Meeting
April 10, 2017
Wetland Requirements
State: Wetland Conservation Act (WCA)
City has administered WCA since 1994
City must approve wetland impacts and restoration plans
before any impacts occur
On-site and off-site replacement acceptable under WCA
Federal: US Army Corps of Engineers
Permit required to fill wetlands (Corps jurisdiction)
Authority from Clean Water Act, Section 404
General Permit RGP-003-MN; Corps approved
wetland fill for this project on 2/17/2017
Wetland Replacement Proposal
Applicant proposes to fill 0.0781 acre (3,405 sq ft) of
existing Type 1 wetland
Type 1 wetland = seasonally flooded basin
Existing vegetation consists of reed canary grass (DNR-listed
invasive species)
WCA requires 0.1536 acre of wetland replacement (2:1
ratio)
Applicant proposes to meet requirement by purchasing
wetland credits
Wetland Banking
“Wetland Banking is a convenient way to replace wetlands
that are drained or filled for agricultural or urban
development.” [Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), Wetland
Banking Fact Sheet]
Replacement must replace the public value of wetlands lost
BWSR administers the statewide Wetland Bank
Program connects people who need to replace wetlands
with people who have already restored or created high-
quality wetlands
Wetland Banking
Advantages
Restoring wetlands on-site is a long-term process and there
is potential for site failure
Large wetland complexes created for banking purposes
provide greater overall environmental benefits
Greater public value from a statewide vs. a site-specific
approach
Disadvantages
Often shifts wetlands to areas outside local jurisdiction
Habitat loss on a local scale
Wetland Banking
Proposed Replacement Plan
Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP) discussed the plan on
1/5/2017 and determined that the wetland bank selected
for the project meets WCA siting requirements
Replacement credits proposed to be purchased from
Account #1494, located in Blue Earth County, within Bank
Service Area 9
Questions / Comments
Pike Lake Trail
Proposed wetland fill area –from site, looking east to Pike Lake Trail
History –Pike Lake Marsh Wetlands
10/1/2013 –Site wetlands delineated
10/28/2013 –On-site TEP meeting to review boundaries
1/3/2014 –Synergy Land Company submitted WCA Application for approving site
wetland boundaries
2/3/2014 –City of Prior Lake issued Notice of Decision approving site wetland
boundaries
12/7/2016 –Ron Clark submitted WCA Application for a wetland replacement plan
1/5/2017 –TEP meeting held to discuss wetland replacement plan
1/23/2017 –City Council removed wetland replacement plan from meeting agenda
1/27/2017 –City staff extended WCA NOD deadline to 4/8/2017
2/17/2017 –US Army Corps of Engineers approved wetland impacts
3/27/2018 –City Council removed wetland replacement plan from meeting agenda
3/28/2017 –City staff, per applicant’s request, extended WCA NOD deadline to
5/11/2017