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and more capacity, the designation of public water wetland should be consistently used throughout the EAW. With the problems of water quality noted, is it possible that novel approaches could be considered for enhancing the development, especially those that would provide more habitat for emergent marsh vegetation along the shoreline. Establishing marshy habitat has been quite successful elsewhere in the metropolitan area and consideration should be made of this possibility. Response 1: Mirror Lake will be referred to, where applicable, as a “public water wetland” in order to be consistent with its classification. See the Response to Comment 1.2 about revegetation and habitat enhancement efforts for this project. Comment 2: Please provide the total area of vegetation (both aquatic emergent, shoreline, and buffer areas) planned for this project and provide a narrative on how vegetation re-establishment and continued management will be approached. Response 2: A native lake buffer will be installed and will contain a diverse amount of plants with extensive root systems that will reduce erosion, improve infiltration into the soils, and catch and treat some of the runoff from adjacent areas improving the overall quality of the water entering the lake. The native buffer will also support pollinators by providing a wide range of plants for food and habitat throughout the year. Approximately 1.25 acres will be seeded with a native seed mixture and 0.70 acre will be available to plant emergent vegetation. Soil Preparation Once the site has been graded to finished elevations, all topsoil meeting required organic matter content has been placed (6 inch minimum depth), and all weeds have been removed, the site shall be prepped for seeding. Within one week of seeding operations, the site shall be ripped or chisel plowed to a minimum depth of 12 inches. The soil shall not have a measured compaction greater than 5 pounds per square inch based on Lang or Cone Penetrometer readings. If 10% or more of the readings read higher than 5 pounds, disc harrow or rotovate to reduce compaction to appropriate readings. Once the site compaction requirements are met, the site shall be raked smooth for a uniform and even surface free of lumps, soil, and debris larger than 1-inch-diameter. Native Plant Establishment Starting from the lake water elevation (normal water elevation is 918.86) up to the top of the disturbed construction limit slopes, the 3:1 slopes will be covered with 6 inches of topsoil and seeded with a native grass and forb seed mixture. The native grass species shall be drill seeded at a minimum rate of 10 pounds per acre with 25 pounds of cover crop per acre. The native flower species shall be broadcast at a rate of 4-6 pounds per acre. The seeded areas will either be covered with MnDOT Category 2S erosion control blanket with all natural netting 38