WETLAND DELINEATION BOPRAY 05062015Wetland Delineation Report
Arbor Glen
Chanhassen, Minnesota
Prepared for: Mark Eklo and Sathre-Bergquist Inc.
May 6, 2015
BES Project No. 2015.011
Wetland Delineation Report
Arbor Glen
Chanhassen, Minnesota
May 6, 2015
Background
Bopray Environmental Services LLC (BES) has completed a wetland delineation on an
approximately 10 acre site located in the NW ¼, NW ¼, SW ¼, Sections 24, T116N, R23W, City
of Chanhassen, Carver County, Minnesota (Figure 1). The site consists of open field with a
steep slope down to an extensive wetland along the south side of the property. The topography
of the north half of the site is fairly flat with a 30 foot drop to the wetland on the south side of the
site according to the U.S.G.S. quadrangle topographic map (Figure 2). The approximate
wetland boundaries are shown on an aerial photo in Figure 3. Sathre-Bergquist Inc. surveyed
the wetland boundaries and incorporated them into the site plans (Appendix A). The purpose
of this delineation was to identify wetlands on the site for planning purposes for site
development and for regulatory purposes.
Methodologies
The site was evaluated for wetlands based on
the methods contained in the “Level 2 Routine
Wetland Delineation” section of the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers “Wetland Delineation
Manual” (Technical Report Y87-1, 1987) and
the Regional Supplement to the Corps of
Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual:
Midwest Region. This is the methodology
currently used to determine wetlands by both
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for
implementation of Section 404 of the Clean
Water Act and by the Minnesota Wetland
Conservation Act. According to the
Climatology Working Groups’ webpage, the
Wetland Delineation Report
Arbor Glen, Chanhassen, MN
BES Project No. 2015-011
May 6, 2015
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area was at 90-125% of normal year to date precipitation at the time of the site visit.
Results
Wetland A
Wetland A is eastern end of a large depressional basin that encroaches on the south end of the
property. The wetland is a Palustrine, Emergent, Seasonally Flooded, drained, (PEMCd)
shallow marsh. Off site to the west there is an open water area in the basin. Sample point SA-
W is dominated by lake bank sedge (Carex lacustris). The vegetation community met the
dominance test and had a prevalence index of 1.13. Soils in the wetland consisted of four
inches of 10YR 2/1 sandy loam, over 10YR 3/1 sandy loam with 4% 10YR 3/4 iron
concentrations (F6). Below 10 inches the soil was still frozen at the time of the site visit. The
water table (A2) was observed in the soil pit at a depth of 7 inches and the soil was saturated to
the surface (A3). The other wetland hydrology indicator observed in the wetland included
Inundation visible on aerial imagery (B7), geomorphic position (D2) and a positive FAC-neutral
test (D5). The adjacent upland vegetation was sampled on a slight topographic rise on the toe
slope of the slope. Sample point SA-U is dominated by Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis),
and smooth brome grass (Bromus inermis). The vegetation community did not meet the
dominance test and had a prevalence index of 3.51. The upland soils consisted of 3 inches of
10YR 5/3 sandy loam, over seven inches of 10YR 3/2 sandy loam, over 11 inches of 10YR 3/1
sandy loam with 10% 10YR 3/4 iron concentrations, over 10YR 3/2 course sandy loam. The
water table was observed at a depth of 28 inches and saturated soil was at a depth of 26 inches
in the upland soil pit. There were no wetland hydrology indicators observed at the upland
sampling point. The wetland boundary was generally staked along a slight topographic break
and a change in the plant community.
Resource Maps Review
The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) (Figure 4) does identify a wetland on the south side of
the site in the approximate location as BES delineated Wetland A. The NWI classified the
portion of the basin on the site as a Palustrine, Emergent, Seasonally Flooded, drained
(PEMCd) wetland. The DNR Protected Waters Inventory map (Figure 5) does identify the basin
as public waters wetland 214w on the site. The DNR has not established the ordinary high-
water (OHW) elevation for the basin yet. The Carver County Soils Survey (Figure 6) shows the
site is predominantly mapped as the russet-Lester-Kilkenny complex (YC, YD), with Kilkenny-
Lester loams (KB) at the top of the slope and Terril loam (TB) at the bottom of the slope. The
wetland area of the site is mapped as the Houghton and Muskego soils (MK). The Russet-
Lester-Kilkenny complex, and Kilkenny-Lester loam soil map units are listed as having 0%
inclusions of hydric soils. The Terril loam soil map unit is listed as having 10% inclusions of
hydric soils. The Houghton and Muskego soil map unit is listed as having 100% hydric soils.
Wetland Delineation Report
Arbor Glen, Chanhassen, MN
BES Project No. 2015-011
May 6, 2015
3
Wetland Classification
BES’ classification of the wetlands is based on observations of the site and is include in Table 1
below.
Table 2. Summary of Wetland Characteristics
Basin Class Circ. 39
Type
Isolated
Y/N
Comments
Wetland A PEMCd
3 N Wetland A is fringe of a wetland basin that
extends off site to the west. It appears
that the basin is tributary to Bluff Creek to
the southwest.
Jurisdiction
Table 2 indicates whether the wetlands are isolated or not for purposes of U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (COE) jurisdiction under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. This determination is
made by BES in the field at the time of the delineation and is essentially our best professional
opinion based on the portion of the particular wetland we observed. In some cases, only a
small portion of the wetland edge that is present on the property being delineated is evaluated.
If no inlets or outlets are observed in the evaluated area, and none are evident on topographic
maps or aerial photos, we are inclined to determine the wetland is isolated. However, since the
entire wetland is sometimes not assessed, it is possible that inlets and/or outlets do exist and
that the wetland has a surface connection to a federal “navigable” water and, thus, falls within
the jurisdiction of Section 404. Therefore, a determination by BES of whether a particular
wetland is isolated or not should not be considered a final determination with regard to COE
jurisdiction until the COE concurs with the determination. The basin including Wetland A
appears to have a surface connection to a tributary to Bluff Creek which in turn is flows to the
Minnesota River which is a traditional navigable waters of the US. The COE will likely take
jurisdiction over Wetland A.
The basin including Wetland A is identified on the protected waters inventory so the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will have jurisdiction over wetlands on this site up to
the OHW elevation. The areas of Wetland A above the OHW are regulated under the
Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) which is administered by the City of Chanhassen
as the Local Government Unit (LGU).
A copy of this report should be submitted to the Corps of Engineers and the LGU responsible for
administering the WCA. Supplying these agencies with reports will serve the dual purpose of
determining which agencies have jurisdiction and beginning the process of obtaining
Wetland Delineation Report
Arbor Glen, Chanhassen, MN
BES Project No. 2015-011
May 6, 2015
4
concurrence with the delineated wetland boundaries. If the on-site wetlands may be affected
during site construction, all necessary permits should be obtained prior to construction.
The site survey with the wetland boundaries is included in Appendix A. Additional information
regarding the wetlands’ vegetation, soils and hydrology is included in Appendix B. Ground
level photos of the wetlands are included in Figure 7.
The information contained herein represents the findings of BES during wetland evaluation
activities conducted April 23, 2015 at the referenced site.
Respectfully,
Bopray Environmental Services LLC
______________________________ _______________________
Kelly J. Bopray Date
Professional Soil Scientist
Certified Wetland Delineator
Enclosures
Figure 1. Location Map
Arbor Glen
Chanhassen, Minnesota
Project No. 2015.011
N
Not to Scale
Approximate
Site Location
Figure 2. USGS Quadrangle Map
Arbor Glen
Chanhassen, Minnesota
Project No. 2015.011
N
Not to Scale
Approximate
Limits of Wetland
Delineation
Figure 3. Aerial Photo With
Approximate Wetland Boundaries
Arbor Glen
Chanhassen, Minnesota
Project No. 2015.011
Wetland A
SA-W
SA-U
Approximate Site
Boundaries
Figure 4. National Wetland
Inventory Map
Arbor Glen
Chanhassen, Minnesota
Project No. 2015.011
Approximate Site
Boundaries
Approximate
Site Boundaries
Figure 5. DNR Protected Waters
Inventory Map
Arbor Glen
Chanhassen, Minnesota
Project No. 2015.011
Approximate
Site Location
N
Not to Scale
Figure 6. Carver County
Soil Survey Map
Arbor Glen
Chanhassen, Minnesota
Project No. 2015.011
N
Not to Scale
Soil Map Unit Legend
KB Kilkenny-Lester loams, 2-6% slopes, 0% Hydric soils.
MK Houghton and Muskego soils, 100% Hydric soils.
TB Terril loam, 0-6% slopes, 10% Hydric soils.
YC Russet-Lester-Kilkenny complex, 6-12% slopes, 0% Hydric soils.
YD Russet-Lester-Kilkenny complex, 12-18% slopes, 0% Hydric soils.
Approximate
Site Boundaries
Figure 7. Ground Photos
Arbor Glen
Chanhassen, Minnesota
Project No. 2015.011
Wetland A looking
west along the
wetland boundary.
Soil profile SA-U,
above and SA-W
below. The wetland
soil was still frozen
at a depth of 10
inches. Note the
brown matrix colors
in the upland soil
vs. the dark gray in
the wetland just 10
feet away.
Appendix A
Appendix B