APPENDIX D - Duluth International Airport · 2015. 10. 23. · Barr Footer: ArcGIS 10.3, 2015-08-20 14:36 File:...

APPENDIX D Biological Site Assessment

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Reynolds, Smith and Hills, Inc. / Biological Assessment for EA 

Chapter 4: Affected Environment 

Existing Site Conditions 

The 9.1 acre tract of land is highly altered and consists predominately of turf grass and developed areas, 

including parking lots and buildings (Table 4‐1).  The entire extent of the property (including the 

surrounding area) has been developed or disturbed at some point in its history as is evident by remnants 

of past construction, current development, and lack of native vegetation.  A total of three abandoned 

buildings stand on the central and western portion of the site.  A driveway runs from the eastern edge of 

the site to the central building where it connects to a large asphalt parking area and Vandenberg Drive.  

In addition to the remnants of previous development, the site contains a scattered component of 

planted coniferous and deciduous tree species and a series of ditches containing a variety of grass and 

ruderal species (Table 4‐2).  A majority of the ditches are shallow and lined with concrete; however, the 

ditch along the western property line is approximately 5 feet deep, vegetated, and lined with native soil.  

The vegetated ditch appears to channel runoff from Airport Road and parking lot to the north into a 

tributary to Miller Creek located offsite to the southwest.  Excluding the ditches, the site is relatively flat 

with very little topography.  The soil on the project site is entirely the Urban land‐Normanna‐Canosia 

complex, 0 to 8 percent slopes, that is comprised predominantly of hydrologic soil class D, with some 

B/D (see attached figure). The only standing water visible was within a single depression near the 

westernmost building.  See the attached figure for a detailed spatial layout of the site.   

Table 4‐1: Spatial coverage of dominant features 

Feature  Area (acres) 

Buildings  0.4 

Impermeable surfaces and roads  2.7 

Concrete Lined Ditches  0.1 

Vegetation ‐ Turf and Natural Depressions  5.7 

Table 4‐2: Vegetative species observed onsite 

Species 

Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) 

Maple species – cultivars (Acer sp.) 

Red Pine (Pinus resinosa) 

Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) 

White Cedar (Thuja occidentialis) 

Plantain (Plantago sp.) 

Dandelion (Taraxacum sp.) 

Orange Hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum L.) 

Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) 

Ryegrass (Lolium sp.) 

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) 

Fescue (Fescuca sp.) 

Red Top (Agrostis Stolonifera L.) 

Brome grass (Bromus sp.) 

The proposed project will result in the loss of turf grass, up to 20 trees, and demolition of three existing 

buildings due to the construction of new finishing facilities (approximately 3.0 acres), aircraft aprons 

(approximately 3.1 acres), and taxiways (approximately 0.9 acres). However, new drainage 

infrastructure will be added, including an underground detention facility that would be capable of 

capturing the first inch of precipitation from all impervious surfaces at the project site. 

The project site is located within the headwaters of Miller Creek, a designated trout stream, which is 

impaired along the entire length for lack of coldwater assemblage and portions of the creek also 

experience high chloride levels. The proposed increase in the overall amount of impervious surfaces on 

the project site has implications for increasing the rate, volume and temperature of stormwater runoff. 

However, the installation of an underground detention facility will serve as a rate control practice for 

the first inch of precipitation received on the site that can help slow down the associated stormwater 

flow and heat energy, thereby reducing the magnitude of stream temperature spikes received 

downstream by Miller Creek from the project site (UM SAFL, 2009). Therefore, the proposed project is 

not expected to present significant cumulative adverse impacts to the environment.  

Section 4.2.6: Fish, wildlife, and plants 

Federally Threatened and Endangered Species 

Table 4‐3 lists the federally threatened and endangered species found in St. Louis County, Minnesota.  

Because of the habitat requirements of the five species listed below and the highly altered site 

conditions, it is very unlikely that any of these species would be found on the project site.  The gray wolf 

and the Canada lynx both require a reasonable extent of northern forest to survive and hunt for food.  

Similarily, the northern long eared bat roosts and forages in woodland habitats and utilizes caves and 

mines for hibernation.  Besides a few scattered trees, the project site is void of anything resembling 

forest habitat and surrounded by medium to high density development based on the National Land 

Cover Database (see attached figure)  These conditions make the project site unsuitable to support any 

resident population of forest dwelling species.  In addition, the project site is 6.4 miles from the nearest 

beach habitat making it unsuitable for the piping plover and the rufa red knot, which both require sandy 

beach or coastal environments (USFWS, 2015).    

Table 4‐3: Federally‐Listed Threatened and Endangered Species of St. Louis County, Minnesota 

Species  Status  Habitat 

Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis) 

Threatened  Northern forest 

Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis) 

Critical Habitat  Map of lynx critical habitat in Minnesota 

Gray Wolf (Canis lupis) 

Threatened  Northern forest 

Northern Long Eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis) 

Threatened  Hibernates in caves and mines ‐ swarming in surrounding wooded areas in autumn. Roosts and forages in upland forests during spring and summer. 

Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) 

Endangered and Critical Habitat Designated in this county 

Sandy beaches, islands 

Rufa Red knot (Calidris cantus rufa) 

Threatened  Coastal areas along Lake Superior 

State Threatened and Endangered Species 

A query of the Natural Heritage Information System (NHIS) spatial database, maintained by the 

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Division of Ecological and Water Resources, was completed 

for the project site and an additional half mile buffer around the site.  This Rare Features Database holds 

both historic and current location information on rare plants and animals, native plant communities, 

geologic features, and animal aggregations areas.  No features were found within the search area for 

state listed threatened and endangered species. 

Sources: 

USFWS.  “Endangered Species in Minnesota: County Distribution of Federally‐Listed Threatened, 

Endangered, Proposed, and Candidate Species.”  Revised April 2015. 

University of Minnesota St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (UM SAFL). “Stream Temperature Modeling of 

Miller Creek, Duluth, Minnesota.” Project Report No. 535. October 2009. 

Chapter 5: Environmental Consequences - describes the potential environmental effects of the Proposed Action compared to the No Action Alternative.

Section 5.5: Fish, wildlife, and plants 

The potential environmental effects of the proposed project compared to the No Action Alternative are 

minimal due to the existing highly altered site conditions that do not currently provide habitat to the 

listed Federal threatened and endangered species (at this time there are no state listed species).   

Additionally, the existing soils onsite (hydrologic group D and B/D) have high runoff potential when fully 

saturated and water movement through the soil is restricted. Currently, under the No Action 

Alternative, the stormwater runoff would travel across both vegetated surfaces, roads, and rooftops 

until reaching either a concrete lined ditch or a vegetated ditch. The current stormwater management 

most likely does not address issues associated with the rate, volume, or temperature increase of the 

stormwater runoff that is then discharged into a tributary to Miller Creek. The proposed project will 

collect and temporarily store the first inch of a precipitation event in an underground detention facility 

that will serve as a rate control practice prior to discharging into the existing storm sewer.  

Airport Road

Saint Louis County

T50N, R15WS1

T50N, R15WS2

T50N, R15WS12

T50N, R15WS11

Barr Footer: ArcGIS 10.3, 2015-08-20 14:48 File: I:\Projects\23\69\1670\Work_Orders\DLH_Site_Assessment\Maps\FigureX_Site_Layout_20150820.mxd User: jwk

Figure SITE LAYOUT

Reynolds, Smith and HillsBiological Assessment

!;N

1 Inch = 200 Feet

Site LocationField Verified Landcover

Ditch/Concrete Lined DitchNatural Vegetation - Natural DepressionNatural Vegetation - TurfBuildingsImpermeable Surface - GravelImpermeable Surface - Pavement

0 200 400Feet

St. Louis County Imagery Circa 2013

Barr Footer: ArcGIS 10.3, 2015-08-20 14:36 File: I:\Projects\23\69\1670\Work_Orders\DLH_Site_Assessment\Maps\FigureX_Land_Cover_20150820.mxd User: jwk

Figure LAND USE COVERAGEReynolds, Smith and Hills

Biological Assessment

!;N

1 Inch = 2,000 feet

Site LocationOpen WaterDeveloped, Open SpaceDeveloped, Low IntensityDeveloped, Medium IntensityDeveloped, High IntensityDeciduous ForestEvergreen ForestMixed ForestShrub/ScrubHerbaceuousHay/PastureCultivated CropsWoody WetlandsEmergent Herbaceuous Wetlands

0 2,000 4,000Feet

Source: National Land Cover Database 2011

Soil Map—St. Louis County, Minnesota, Duluth Part

Natural ResourcesConservation Service

Web Soil SurveyNational Cooperative Soil Survey

8/20/2015Page 1 of 3

5187

140

5187

200

5187

260

5187

320

5187

380

5187

440

5187

500

5187

200

5187

260

5187

320

5187

380

5187

440

5187

500

560840 560900 560960 561020 561080 561140 561200 561260 561320 561380

560840 560900 560960 561020 561080 561140 561200 561260 561320 561380

46° 50' 18'' N92

° 1

2' 8

'' W46° 50' 18'' N

92° 1

1' 4

1'' W

46° 50' 5'' N

92° 1

2' 8

'' W

46° 50' 5'' N

92° 1

1' 4

1'' W

N

Map projection: Web Mercator Corner coordinates: WGS84 Edge tics: UTM Zone 15N WGS840 100 200 400 600

Feet0 35 70 140 210

MetersMap Scale: 1:2,640 if printed on A landscape (11" x 8.5") sheet.

MAP LEGEND MAP INFORMATION

Area of Interest (AOI)Area of Interest (AOI)

SoilsSoil Map Unit Polygons

Soil Map Unit Lines

Soil Map Unit Points

Special Point FeaturesBlowout

Borrow Pit

Clay Spot

Closed Depression

Gravel Pit

Gravelly Spot

Landfill

Lava Flow

Marsh or swamp

Mine or Quarry

Miscellaneous Water

Perennial Water

Rock Outcrop

Saline Spot

Sandy Spot

Severely Eroded Spot

Sinkhole

Slide or Slip

Sodic Spot

Spoil Area

Stony Spot

Very Stony Spot

Wet Spot

Other

Special Line Features

Water FeaturesStreams and Canals

TransportationRails

Interstate Highways

US Routes

Major Roads

Local Roads

BackgroundAerial Photography

The soil surveys that comprise your AOI were mapped at 1:24,000.

Warning: Soil Map may not be valid at this scale.

Enlargement of maps beyond the scale of mapping can causemisunderstanding of the detail of mapping and accuracy of soil lineplacement. The maps do not show the small areas of contrastingsoils that could have been shown at a more detailed scale.

Please rely on the bar scale on each map sheet for mapmeasurements.

Source of Map: Natural Resources Conservation ServiceWeb Soil Survey URL: http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.govCoordinate System: Web Mercator (EPSG:3857)

Maps from the Web Soil Survey are based on the Web Mercatorprojection, which preserves direction and shape but distortsdistance and area. A projection that preserves area, such as theAlbers equal-area conic projection, should be used if more accuratecalculations of distance or area are required.

This product is generated from the USDA-NRCS certified data as ofthe version date(s) listed below.

Soil Survey Area: St. Louis County, Minnesota, Duluth PartSurvey Area Data: Version 10, Mar 12, 2015

Soil map units are labeled (as space allows) for map scales 1:50,000or larger.

Date(s) aerial images were photographed: Jul 6, 2011—Sep 19,2011

The orthophoto or other base map on which the soil lines werecompiled and digitized probably differs from the backgroundimagery displayed on these maps. As a result, some minor shiftingof map unit boundaries may be evident.

Soil Map—St. Louis County, Minnesota, Duluth Part

Natural ResourcesConservation Service

Web Soil SurveyNational Cooperative Soil Survey

8/20/2015Page 2 of 3

Map Unit Legend

St. Louis County, Minnesota, Duluth Part (MN615)

Map Unit Symbol Map Unit Name Acres in AOI Percent of AOI

F158B Urban land-Normanna-Canosiacomplex, 0 to 8 percentslopes

32.1 100.0%

Totals for Area of Interest 32.1 100.0%

Soil Map—St. Louis County, Minnesota, Duluth Part

Natural ResourcesConservation Service

Web Soil SurveyNational Cooperative Soil Survey

8/20/2015Page 3 of 3

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