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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWetland Delineation Report WETLAND DELINEATION REPORT: WESTON COMMUNITIES CARMEL, INDIANA Revised September 1, 1994 Prepared for: Estridge Development Company 1041 West Main Street • Carmel, Indiana 46032 Prepared by: Mr. Robert W. Wolfe J.F. New & Associates, Inc. 708 Roosevelt Road Walkerton, IN 46574 219-586-3400 REVISED WETLAND DELINEATION REPORT: WESTON COMMUNITIES CARMEL, INDIANA I. INTRODUCTION J.F. New & Associates was contracted to delineate the jurisdictional boundaries of wetlands on the Estridge Development Company "Weston Communities" property north of 106th Street and east of Michigan Road in Hamilton County, Indiana. J.F. New & Associates completed the delineations in July and August 1994. The wetland determination and boundary delineation was made following the methodology detailed in the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual (1987) as required by the most recent Corps of Engineers guidance. This report identifies the jurisdictional status of the delineated wetland based on J.F. New & Associates' best professional understanding and interpretation of the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual (1987) and Corps of Engineers guidance documents and regulations. The Corps of Engineers, however, is the regulatory authority that must make the final determination as to the jurisdictional status of the project area. H. REGULATORY DEFINITIONS 1. Waters of the United States "Waters of the United States" are within the jurisdiction of the Corps of Engineers under the Clean Water Act. "Waters of the United States" is a broad term which includes waters used for interstate traffic or commerce, all interstate waters, and wetlands adjacent to other waters. Also included are such areas such as lakes, streams, rivers, mudflats, wetlands, playa lakes, ponds, and sandflats which meet certain interstate use criteria. A specific, detailed definition of "waters of the United States" can be found in the Federal Register (33 CFR 328.3). 2. Wetlands Wetlands are a category of "waters of the United States" for which a specific identification methodology has been developed. As described in detail in the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual (1987), wetland boundaries are delineated using three criteria: hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils, and wetland hydrology. Hydrophytic vegetation includes those species classified as Obligate Wetland, Facultative Wetland and Facultative. The indicator status of plant species is expressed in terms of the estimated probabilities of a species occurring in wetland conditions within this region. The indicator categories as defined by the Corps are: J.F. New& Associates, Inc. Page 1 Weston Communities September 1, 1994 -- Obligate Wetland (OBL) Occur almost always (estimated probability >99%) under natural conditions in wetlands. Facultative Wetland (FACW) Usually occur in wetlands (estimated probability 67%- 99%), but occasionally found in non-wetlands. Facultative (FAC) Equally likely to occur in wetlands or non-wetlands (estimated probability 34%-66%). Facultative Upland (FACU) Usually occur in non-wetlands, but occasionally found in wetlands (estimated probability 1%-33%) Obligate Upland (UPL) Occur almost always (estimated probability >99%) in uplands. Plants which are OBL, FACW and FAC are considered wetland species. The percentage of the dominant wetland species in each of the vegetation strata in the sample area determines the hydrophytic or wetland status of the plant community. Soil type and hydroperiod are two factors important in controlling species composition. Hydric soils are defined as soils that are saturated, flooded, or ponded long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions near the surface. In general, hydric soils are flooded, ponded, or saturated for a week or more during the growing season when soil temperatures are above 41°F. The anaerobic conditions caused by the _ saturation or flooding results in changes in soil color, mottling, structure, and chemistry which differentiate hydric from nonhydric soils. Wetland hydrology is defined as the presence of water for a significant period time at or near the surface (within the root zone) during the growing season. Wetland hydrology is often inferred by the presence of indirect evidence, as it is present only seasonally in many cases. Hydrology is controlled by such factors as seasonal rainfall patterns, local geology and topography, soil type, local water table conditions, and drainage. In general, if any one of the three wetland criteria is not met an area cannot be classified as a wetland. III. BACKGROUND SITE INFORMATION Attached are details from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service's National Wetland Inventory Map (NWI), the Soil Conservation Service Wetland Determination Maps, and the SCS Soil Survey of Hamilton County, Indiana. These maps identify potential wetlands and wetland soil units'on the site. The NWI maps, however, were prepared from high altitude photography and, in most cases, were not ground-truthed. Because of this, wetlands are sometimes erroneously identified, missed, or misidentified. Additionally, J.F. New& Associates, Inc. Page 2 • Weston Communities September 1, 1994 the criteria used in identifying these wetlands were different from those currently used by the Corps of Engineers. The county soil maps, on the other hand, were developed from actual field investigations, however, they address only one of the three required wetland criteria and may reflect historical conditions rather than current site conditions. The Soil Conservation Service wetland determination maps were developed for USDA farm program purposes from a series of aerial photographs and have not been ground truthed in Hamilton County. While these maps were not developed for the purpose of establishing the definitive presence or absence of wetlands or for marking specific wetland boundaries for Corps of Engineers jurisdictional purposes they can, however, be useful in carrying out preliminary site assessments. • The NWI map of the area identifies one area as "PEMAh", indicating a palustrine wetland dominated by emergent vegetation, temporarily flooded, and created or enlarged by a dike or impoundment (Figures 1 and 2). The county soil map.(Figure 3) identifies three soil types on the Weston Communities property. Of these, only Brookston (Br) is classified as a hydric or wetland soil. Crosby silt loam with 0 to 3% slopes (CrA) and Miami silt loam with 2 to 6% slopes (MmB2) are not hydric soils. The area in question is identified on the soils map by a symbol indicating a "wet spot", although the soils in the immediate vicinity are mapped as non- hydric Crosby soils. Crosby frequently has small unmapped components or inclusions of hydric Brookston soils in depressions and potholes. The SCS wetland determination map (Figure 4) identifies three wetlands ("W") on the site: on the west side, in the northeast corner and in the south-central portions of the property. IV. JURISDICTIONAL DETERMINATION AND DELINEATION The jurisdictional boundaries of the delineated wetlands are identified on Figure 5. Attached are the Routine Onsite Determination Method data forms used in the jurisdictional determination and delineation process. These forms are the written documentation of how representative sample stations along the wetland boundaries meet or do not meet each of the wetland criteria. Note that no attempt was made to examine a full soil profile to confirm the soil series designations indicated on the SCS county soil survey, however soils were examined to a depth of at least 18 inches to assess soil characteristics and site hydrology. Soil names noted on the data sheets were taken from the map where soil field characteristics appeared to be consistent with published soil series characteristics. Complete descriptions of typical soil series characteristics can be found in the SCS county soil survey. J.F. New& Associates, Inc. Page 3 Weston Communities September 1, 1994 \rl For data stations which represent a wetland boundary point, two data sheets were prepared: one each documenting the upland and wetland sides of the wetland boundary. The distance of the specific upland or wetland sample area from the surveyed boundary point is noted on the data sheet. Wetland 1 This is a small (0.77 acre) wetland that has developed in a depression in a farmed field The soils in this area are mapped as Crosby silt loam with 0 to 3% slopes (CrA) which is not classified as a hydric soil, although as noted above, there are often small unmapped areas of hydric soils, especially Brookston silt loam, which is classified as hydric. A field examination confirmed the hydric status of soils at this location. Hydric characteristics present included low matrix chroma(10YR 4/1 and 10YR 5/1) with strong mottling near the surface. Although the soil was not saturated at the surface or inundated at the boundary at the time of inspection, there was evidence of recent inundation or saturation, including oxidized root channels in the upper soil layer and a crust of dried algae on the surface. The presence of oxidized root channels indicates that soil saturation is generally long term. The interior of the wetland was saturated to the surface. Dominant vegetation included broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia, OBL), clasping leaf dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum, FAC), spikerush (Eleocharis sp., OBL-FACW), and fox sedge (Carex vulpinoidea, OBL). The adjacent uplands were characterized by a lack of wetland hydrology, a higher soil matrix chroma (10YR 4/3), and a shift in vegetation to upland species such as goldenrod (Solidago sp., FACW-FACU), wild rose (Rosa sp., FACW-FACU) and soybeans (Glycine max, FACU). We found not evidence that the wetland was enlarged or created by diking as indicated by the National Wetland Inventory designation. Wetland 2 This wooded area in the northeast corner of the site is composed of a mosaic of wetlands and uplands. The wetland boundary delineated by J.F. New & Associates represents the outermost wetland edge, and does not define inclusions of upland areas within the wetland as that portion of the site will not be developed. The soils in this area are mapped as Brookston in low areas with Crosby higher on the broad uplands. Field examination confirmed the presence of hydric Brookston soil throughout the wetland/upland mosaic. The dark gray color (10YR 3/1) is characteristic of hydric soils, whether or not accompanied by mottling. The soil was not ponded or saturated at the time of inspection, but there was evidence of seasonal saturation in wetland areas. On the wetland side of data station 2-1 in the northwest corner of the wetland, dominant trees included slippery elm (Ulmus rubra, FAC) and green ash (Fraxinus americana, FACW). The understory is dominated by spicebush (Lindera benzoin, FACW), J.F. New&Associates, Inc. Page 4 Weston Communities September 1, 1994 -4 riverbank grape (Vitis riparia, FACW) and Virginia knotweed Pol onurn virginiana, ( yg g ntana, FAC). Common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis, FAC-) is an upland species. The dominant trees in the adjacent uplands include pignut hickory (Carya glabra, FACU) as trees and saplings, basswood (Tilia americana, FACU), black cherry (Prunus serotina, FACU), red oak (Quercus rubra, FACU) and American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana, FAC). Dominant species in the understory include giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifada, FAC), Virginia knotweed(FAC)and riverbank grape(FACW). Although several wetland species are present here, upland species predominate. There is no evidence of wetland hydrolgy such as saturation or ponding, water marks on tree trunks or dried algal mats. On the wetland side of data station 2-1 in the southwest corner of Wetland 2, dominant trees included silver maple (Acer saccharinum, FACW) as trees and saplings, basswood (FACU), and hackberry (FAC-) as trees and seedlings. Species dominating the understory include .spicebush (FACW), Virginia knotweed (FAC), poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans, FAC)and Virginia creeper(Parthenocissus quinquefolia,FAC- ). The vegetation is dominated by hydrophytic species, although several upland species are also present. Vegetation approximately 20 feet upland of data station 2 is dominated by pignut hickory (FACU), white ash (Fraxinus americana, FACU), spicebush (FACW), black walnut (Juglans nigra, FACU), basswood (FACU), red oak (FACU). Herbaceous species include a species of bedstraw (Galium species, OBL-FACU), and Virginia knotweed (FAC). There is no evidence of wetland hydrology at this location. Wetland 3 This wetland is a long narrow swale that drains south to a roadside ditch. This depression is at least partially tiled. The surrounding upland areas are farmed, and are planted to soybeans in the 1994 crop year. The vegetation on the wetland side of data station 3-1 is dominated by hydrophytic species including Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pennsylvanicum,FACW),barnyardgrass(Echinochloa crusgalli, FACW)and nutsedge (Cyperus species, OBL to FACW). The soil color is dark gray (10YR 3/1) typical of hydric Brookston silt loam, and the soil was saturated to the surface at the time of inspection. On the upland side of data station 3-1, the vegetation is dominated by soybean (Glycine max, FACU),annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia, FACU), barnyardgrass (FACW), and nutsedge (OBL-FACW). The soils here are Brookston, however there is no evidence of wetland hydrology at this point 20 feet upland of the data station. The dominant vegetation at data station 3-2 is sandbar willow (Salix exigua, OBL), J.F. New& Associates, Inc. Page 5 r Weston Communities September 1, 1994 broad-leaf cattail (Typha latifolia, OBL) and poison ivy (FAC). The soils in this wetland are Brookston, and feature the dark gray color (10YR 3/1) typical of hydric soils. Lighter colored mottles (10YR 4/6) are also an indication of hydric soils. The soil was saturated to the surface at the time of inspection. On the upland side of data station 3-2, the dominant vegetation is soybean (FACU) with and wild carrot (Daucus carom', UPL). The soil at this location exhibits the lighter color (10YR 5/4) of non-hydric Crosby silt loam, and also has yellowish brown (10YR 6/2) mottles typical of this soil type. There is no evidence of wetland hydrology at this location. This wetland is farmed at least intermittently. Because of this and the fact that it is tiled, the area should be classified by the U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service as a Farmed Wetland (FW). V. JURISDICTIONAL ANALYSIS Permits must be obtained from the Corps of Engineers prior to any filling, mechanical land clearing,,excavation, or building activities that occur within the boundaries of any wetlands or "waters of the United States." U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permits can be divided into two general categories: Individual Permits and Nationwide Permits. Nationwide Permits have been developed for projects which meet specific criteria and are deemed to have minimal impact on the aquatic environment. As a result of the assumed low environmental impact these permits undergo a reduced level of regulatory scrutiny. Individual Permits are required for projects that do not fall into one of the specific Nationwide Permits or are deemed to have significant environmental impacts. These permits are much more difficult to obtain and receive a much higher level of regulatory agency and public scrutiny. For isolated wetlands and "waters of the United States", impacts less than 10 acres should qualify for a Nationwide Permit 26: Headwaters and Isolated Waters Discharges. Under Nationwide Permit 26, approval must be obtained from the Corps of Engineers and from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) under Sections 404 and 401 of the Clean Water Act. These agencies generally require mitigation, or replacement, of the wetland acreage at ratios ranging from 1:1 to 4:1, depending on the wetland quality. Mitigation ratios applicable to this project can be determined through discussions with the Corps of Engineers and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. J.F. New& Associates, Inc. Page 6 • 411 FIGURES and DATA SHEETS