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DEPARTMENT OF <br />NATURAL RESOURCES <br />Minnesota Department of Natural Resources <br />Division of Ecological & Water Resources <br />500 Lafayette Road, Box 25 <br />St. Paul, MN 55155-4025 <br />June 21, 2024 <br />Kelly Herfendal <br />ISG <br />RE: Natural Heritage Review of the proposed North Oaks Mixed Use Development, <br />T31N R22W Sections 33-35; Anoka County <br />Dear Kelly Herfendal, <br />For all correspondence regarding the Natural Heritage Review of this project please include the project <br />ID MCE-2024-00460 in the email subject line. <br />As requested, the Minnesota Natural Heritage Information System has been reviewed to determine if <br />the proposed project has the potential to impact any rare species or other significant natural features. <br />Based on the project details provided with the request, the following rare features may be impacted by <br />the proposed project: <br />Ecologically Significant Areas <br />The Minnesota Biological Survey (MBS) has identified a Site of Outstanding Biodiversity <br />Significance in a wetland immediately south of the proposed project. Sites of Biodiversity <br />Significance have varying levels of native biodiversity and are ranked based on the relative <br />significance of this biodiversity at a statewide level. Sites ranked as Outstanding contain the best <br />occurrences of the rarest species, the most outstanding examples of the rarest native plant <br />communities, and/or the largest, most intact functional landscapes present in the state. There <br />are mapped examples of two Native Plant Communities in this Site. They are Northern Mixed <br />Cattail Marsh (MRn83), which has a state conservation rank of Imperiled (S2), and Willow — <br />Dogwood Shrub Swamp (WMn82a), which has a state conservation rank of Secure (S5). The DNR <br />recommends that the project be designed to avoid impacts to these ecologically significant areas. <br />Actions to avoid or minimize disturbance include, but are not limited to, the following <br />recommendations: <br />o As much as possible, operate within already -disturbed areas. <br />o Retain a buffer between proposed activities and the MBS Site. <br />