06/27/2001 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • 5. Wildlife Habitat Assessment - Important Wildlife Habitats of Lino Lakes (see Figure 2) Despite these losses, the City of Line Lakes still could sustain components of most native habitat types and associated wildlife communities at a few remaining important sites such as: A. Elmcrest Ave. pasture and wetland complex: this approximately one square mile of habitat is located in T 31 N, R 22W, portions of Sec. 12 and 13. It is bounded by Highway 35E on the west and Elmcrest Avenue on the east with County Road 140 as the northern limit. The south extent of this tract is 1/4 mile north of Main Street. Most of the acreage is currently in extensive hayfields and pasture interspersed with dozens of small, shallow wetlands. This mixture of habitats is utilized by a variety of grassland and water birds that are currently exhibiting substantial declines in Minnesota and nationwide. There are nine farmsteads, two large horse farms and a recently opened commercial apple orchard. The area is currently zoned rural agriculture. The block of habitat includes a portion of a stream, Hardwood Creek. Similar habitat occurs west of Elmcrest Avenue in Hugo Township where a new development is in advanced stages of planning. Elmcrest Ave has severed the habitat continuity of this important wetland complex. The proposed development in Hugo will increase the number of homes and traffic in the vicinity of the Elmcrest wetland complex and would adversely impact this important wildlife habitat complex in Lino Lake as well as in Hugo. While existing wetland laws may protect some wetlands, the adjacent uplands constituting an important component of the habitat complex will be lost when converted to residential buildings, lawns and pavement. Species noted during recent reconnaissance of the tract included yellow- headed blackbird, marsh wren, mallard, blue winged teal, great blue heron, red -tail hawk, great horned owl, barn swallow, tree swallow, bobolink, meadowlark, goldfinch, common yellowthroat, red - winged blackbird, grasshopper sparrow, savanna sparrow, coot, sora rail, and kestrel as well as a number of reptile and amphibian species. • • Management actions recommended to sustain habitat values and functions: maintain existing habitat types and connections, recreate connections where necessary maintain current zoning and protect existing pasture and other non -row crop agricultural uses, include area as part of a public open space greenway and wildlife corridor in both cites, avoid converting natural wetlands to storm water retention basins (provide basins on site as part of any adjacent development and manage those developments to retain water on the development site, not draining into wetlands) improve the waterway connection along Hardwood Creek by restoring vegetative buffers along the creek and provide wildlife travel corridors such as underpasses along the creek at Highway 35E, in any upgrade of Elmcrest Ave. provide modified curbing or crossings for wildlife as appropriate, do not fragment the remaining habitat by constructing the proposed Otter Lake Road extension through the Lino Lakes portion of the habitat complex,