Agenda Packets - 1988/10/24 - Laserfiche WebLink

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P APPROACH Based on our conversations with City staff, we understand the City to have multiple objectives for Wetland 893. This proposal outlines the tasks necessary to evaluate and fulfill these management goals. Since this wetls.nd is also a state protected water, any management measures undertaken muet be compatible with Minnesota DNR regulations. The following management objectives have been Identified: I. Maintenence or .mprovement or existing water quality. 2. Maintenence or i.Aprovement of existing wildlife hgbit.at, eloi ' e—*' 3. Development of a viable fishery. .#17 L 9. Maintenence or improvement of the aesthetics of this basin, with emphasis on retaining natural appearance. We have undertaken a preliminary field review of Wetland 893 to aid in formulating our approach to fulfilling the desired management objectives. Based on this review, we note that the basin has the following characteristics: 1. The subject wetland.was artificially createl by dredging in about 1980. Because of this origin, the basin's bottom substrate is generally sandy with minimal organic material in most areas. The depth of '..he wetland ranges roughly from 2 to 8 feet. 2. The basin's water quality seers quite good for a metropolitan area wetland he.ving a substantial portion of Its inflow in the form of urban storawater. OUI' field review was don^ in July during a period of prolonged hot weather and low water conditions. Though euch conditions typically foster algae blooms, we observed relatively little algae growth suggesting a relatively low level of nutrient pollution. However, submergent .macrophytes are abundant in many parts of the wetland. 3. The basin presently receives considerable use by waterfowl and fish -eating wading birds. We noted several mallard and wood duck broods and also a number of feeding green herons. The number of duck broods using the wetland ® as very nagn in relation to the quality of the adjacent nesting habitat. This suggests that hens are moving their broods into this wetland to feed on the invertebrates asssociated with the abundant macrophytes.