08-04-25 - City Council Work Session Agenda

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The MnDNR required specific mitigation efforts for the Blanding's turtle, which include: • Avoid wetland and aquatic impacts during hibernation season, between September 15 and April 15, if the area is suitable for hibernation. • Limit erosion and sediment control to wildlife friendly erosion control." • Check bare ground within construction areas for turtles before the use of heavy equipment or any ground disturbance. • Inspect trenches, holes, or depressions prior to starting work each day and immediately prior to filling. Upon completion, holes and trenches must be filled. • The Blanding's turtle flyer sheet24 must be given to all contractors working in the area. • Report any sightings using the DNR Plant and Animal Observation Form." • If turtles are in imminent danger, move them by hand out of harm's way following Minnesota DNR's guidelines26; otherwise, they are to be left undisturbed. Directions on how to move turtles safely can be found at Helping Turtles Across the Road Additional voluntary mitigation measures were provided in the Natural Heritage Review Letter which are not required by the DNR, but were still recommended include: • Recommendations from List 1 of the Blanding's turtle fact Sheet.27 If greater protection for turtles is desired, implement recommendations from List 2. • Nesting occurs in open (grassy or brushy) sandy uplands. Blanding's turtles have been known to nest in residential areas, farm fields, and areas of exposed soil/sand/sediment (including soil stockpiles and gravel pads). To minimize impacts: o Avoid impacts to potential nesting habitat from June 1 through September 15, or o Exclude Blanding's turtles from potential nesting habitat from May 15 through July 15. To exclude turtles from potential nesting habitat: Install a barrier, buried 10 inches, around suitable nesting habitat. • Minimize impacts to small, vegetated temporary wetlands (Types 2 & 3) as much as possible. • Avoid hydro -mulch products that contain any materials with synthetic (plastic) fiber additives, as the fibers can re -suspend and flow into waterbodies. • Disturbed ground should be restored to pre -construction contours and re -vegetated with native species suitable to the local habitat.28 • Culverts should be 36 inches or greater in diameter, at least twice as wide as the normal width of open water, and have an elliptical bottom, flat bottom, or be embedded. • Roads should be ditched, not curbed or below grade. If curbs must be used, install wildlife friendly curbs to allow turtles to leave the road. Gutters and stormwater inlets should be designed to prevent turtles from entering the storm sewer. Sensitive Ecological Resources The southern RSEA is completely located within an existing housing development, and therefore no impacts are expected. The RSEA along the eastern border of the study area is currently a wooded area with some single-family residential use in the vicinity. Potential impacts to this area are proposed in both AUAR scenarios. Coordination with the DNR is ongoing to determine if mitigation is needed. 23 Wildlife -friendly Erosion Control Fact Sheet. 24 Blanding's Turtle Flyer Sheet. 25 Plant and Animal Observation Form. 26 Helping Turtles Across the Road Guidelines. 27 Blanding's Turtle Fact Seet. 28 Native Plant ID and Information Guidance. Lino Lakes Main Street - AUAR 64 July 2025 Page 72 of 617