Information for File # 2017-03115-ARC Applicant Consultant Corps Contact Bob Manzoline St. Louis and Lake Counties Regional Rail Authority Natalie White Short Elliot Hendrickson (SEH) Inc. Andrew R Chambers Address 00 South Lake Avenue, Suite 211, Duluth, MN 55802 E-Mail Andrew.R.Chambers@usace.army.mil Phone 218-720-5291 Primary County St. Louis County Section 2 & 3 3 Township 2 3 North Range 13 13 West Information Complete n September 14, 2017 Posting Expires n December 8, 2017 Authorization Type LP-05-MN This application is being reviewed in accordance with current practices for documenting Corps jurisdiction under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act identified in Regulatory Guidance Letter 08-02. We have made a preliminary determination that the aquatic resources that would be impacted by the proposed project are subject to Corps of Engineers jurisdiction under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. If an approved jurisdictional determination is completed as part of the review process for this application, a copy will be posted on the St. Paul District web page at the following link: http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/missions/regulatory.aspx. Project: The purpose and need of the proposed project is to extend the Mesabi Trail an additional 2.8 miles to connect the existing trail terminus at the Trunk Highway (TH) 19 underpass to a proposed parking area on County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 88. The project location is on the north side of Trunk Highway 19 approximately 3 miles west of Ely, MN. PRJECT DESCRIPTIN AND PURPSE: The purpose of the proposed project is to extend the Mesabi Trail 2.8 miles from its existing terminus at the TH 19 underpass to a proposed parking area at CSAH 88, which will support future development of the Mesabi Trail to its ultimate terminus near Ely, Minnesota. The trail extension satisfies a need for an accessible multi-user trail system a safe distance from high speed vehicles traveling TH 19. The project proposes to construct a 9-foot wide paved trail with 2-foot shoulders on each side and 3:1 side-slopes. The trail would head east from TH 19 for 0.7 miles on an existing railroad 1
grade before diverting southeast from the grade towards TH 19. The trail would then continue within the TH 19 right-of-way (RW) for approximately 0.27 miles before turning northeast and diverting back onto the railroad grade. The trail would continue on the grade for approximately 0.22 miles before diverting southeast to the TH 19 RW once again. The trail would be routed within the TH 19 RW for approximately 0.28 miles before being routed back onto the grade. nce the trail diverted onto the grade again it would immediately cross over Armstrong Creek via an existing culvert under the grade. The trail would remain on the railroad grade until reaching CSAH 88, approximately 1.11 miles. The trail terminus at CSAH 88 would include a paved parking area with vehicle access from CSAH 88 and an associated water treatment pond. The parking area would be 2,50 square feet with 4 parking stalls. The water treatment pond would be 1,230 square feet and treat precipitation runoff from the impervious parking area, with a treatment volume of 1,820 cubic feet. NAME, AREA AND TYPES F WATERS (INCLUDING WETLANDS) SUBJECT T LSS: The Mesabi Trail extension would include the proposed discharge of dredged and fill materials in wetlands adjacent to Armstrong Creek. The project would result in permanent discharge of dredged and fill materials into 1.245 acres of wet meadow, sedge meadow, shrub-carr, shallow marsh, and forested wetlands. The permanently impacted wetlands occur within Major Watershed #72 (Rainy River Headwaters) in Bank Service Area (BSA) 2. Erosion control measures and sediment control BMP s would be in place such as silt fence, erosion control blanket, coir logs, and sediment control devices. The disturbed areas would be reseeded and/or planted and stockpiles stabilized to limit erosion and further impact to wetlands. ALTERNATIVES CNSIDERED: The no build alternative consisted of not connecting the current Mesabi Trail terminus to Ely, MN. Alternative 1 This alternative would route the trail entirely on the existing railroad grade and greatly avoid and minimize wetland impacts. This design would utilize the previously filled grade the entire length of the trail extension, and would result in the permanent discharge of fill into 0.5 acre of wetlands. Alternative 2 (Preferred Alternative) Construct the trail along the railroad grade where easements can be secured. The trail would be diverted to TH 19 RW in areas where easements cannot be secured, and would involve a 20-foot corridor in this span. CMPENSATRY MITIGATIN: The applicant has avoided and minimized wetland impacts by utilizing an existing railroad grade and proposes to compensate for the loss of function associated with the discharge of dredged and fill materials into 1.245 acres of wetlands by purchasing 1.245 wet meadow wetland credits from the Hasbargen Wetland Mitigation Bank in Bank Service Area 2. Drawings See attached. 2
Mesabi Trail TH 19 - CSAH 88 Legend City Hall Giants Ridge Golf & Ski Resort Municipal Airport Vermilion Community College 2017 Google Image Landsat / Copernicus 20 mi N
Project Construction Limits (Aug. 9, 2017) Morse Twp., MN Project Construction Limits (Approx. 2.8 miles) Path: S:\PT\R\REGRA\134132\3-env-stdy-regs\GIS\WetlandPermit\ 1 - Site Location USGS.mxd 0 0.125 0.25 0.5 0.75 PHNE: (51) 490-2000 Print Date: 8/15/2017 Background: USGS 24k Quad MESABI TRAIL - TH 19 UNDERPASS T CSAH 88 Site Location Map USGS 24k Topography 1
Project Construction Limits (Sept., 2017) Wetland Plant Community Type Fresh (Wet) Meadow Alder Thicket Shrub-Carr Hardwood Swamp 400 401 402 403404 405 40 407 408 409 4 411 412 413 Path: S:\PT\R\REGRA\134132\3-env-stdy-regs\GIS\WetlandPermit\ 5 - Wetland Impacts.mxd PHNE: (51) 490-2000 Background: St. Louis Co., 201 MESABI TRAIL - TH 19 UNDERPASS T CSAH 88 5-1
Project Construction Limits (Sept., 2017) Proposed Permanent Wetland Impacts Wetland Plant Community Type Sedge Meadow Shrub-Carr Hardwood Swamp Coniferous Swamp Wetland 2 Type /PSS1B Impact: sf 414 415 41 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 42 427 428 429 Path: S:\PT\R\REGRA\134132\3-env-stdy-regs\GIS\WetlandPermit\ 5 - Wetland Impacts.mxd Wetland 3 Type 7/PF4B Impact: 0.0721ac. Twin Lakes Rd Wetland 3 Type 7/PF4B Impact: 0.0805ac. PHNE: (51) 490-2000 Background: St. Louis Co., 201 MESABI TRAIL - TH 19 UNDERPASS T CSAH 88 5-2
Project Construction Limits (Sept., 2017) Proposed Permanent Wetland Impacts Wetland Plant Community Type Fresh (Wet) Meadow Shallow Marsh Wetland 2 Type /PSS1B Impact: sf Wetland 2 Type /PSS1B Impact: 205sf Wetland 2 Type /PSS1B Impact: 14sf Wetland 3 Type 7/PF4B Impact: 0.032ac. 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 43 437 438 439 Wetland 3 Type 7/PF1B Impact: 0.0987ac. Wetland 4 Impact: 372sf 440 441 442 443 Shrub-Carr Hardwood Swamp Coniferous Swamp Path: S:\PT\R\REGRA\134132\3-env-stdy-regs\GIS\WetlandPermit\ 5 - Wetland Impacts.mxd Wetland 3 Type 7/PF4B Impact: 0.0805ac. Wetland 4 Type 7/PF4B Impact: 0.01ac. Wetland 4 Type 3/PEM1C Impact: 0.0130ac. Wetland 4 Type 7/PF4B Impact: 0.0321ac. Wetland 4 Type 3/PEM1C Impact: 0.035ac. PHNE: (51) 490-2000 Background: St. Louis Co., 201 MESABI TRAIL - TH 19 UNDERPASS T CSAH 88 5-3
Wetland 5 Impact: 18sf 41 442 443 444 44544 447 Wetland Impact: 0.1209ac. Wetland Impact: 0.0132ac. 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 Wetland Type /PSS1B Impact: 0.153ac. Project Construction Limits (Sept., 2017) Proposed Permanent Wetland Impacts Wetland Plant Community Type Fresh (Wet) Meadow Sedge Meadow Shallow Marsh Shrub-Carr Wetland 7 Impact: 17sf 455 45 457 458 459 40 Path: S:\PT\R\REGRA\134132\3-env-stdy-regs\GIS\WetlandPermit\ 5 - Wetland Impacts.mxd Wetland 4 Impact: 372sf Wetland Impact: 0.048ac. Wetland Type /PSS1B Impact: 0.0325ac. PHNE: (51) 490-2000 Background: St. Louis Co., 201 MESABI TRAIL - TH 19 UNDERPASS T CSAH 88 5-4
Project Construction Limits (Sept., 2017) Proposed Permanent Wetland Impacts Wetland Plant Community Type Fresh (Wet) Meadow Sedge Meadow Shallow Marsh Shrub-Carr Wetland Type /PSS1B Impact: 0.153ac. 457 458 459 40 41 42 43 44 Wetland 7 Type /PSS1B Impact: 0.2532ac. Wetland 7 Impact: 0.0314ac. 45 4 Hardwood Swamp Coniferous Swamp 47 48 49 470 471 472 473 474 Path: S:\PT\R\REGRA\134132\3-env-stdy-regs\GIS\WetlandPermit\ 5 - Wetland Impacts.mxd Wetland 7 Wetland 7 Type 7/PF1B Impact: 17sf Impact: 12sf Wetland 7 Type 7/PF4B Impact: 172sf Wetland 7 Impact: 0.013ac. PHNE: (51) 490-2000 Background: St. Louis Co., 201 MESABI TRAIL - TH 19 UNDERPASS T CSAH 88 5-5
Project Construction Limits (Sept., 2017) Proposed Permanent Wetland Impacts Wetland Plant Community Type Sedge Meadow Alder Thicket Hardwood Swamp Wetland 8 Type 7/PF1B Impact: 194sf 472 473 474 475 47 477 Wetland 9 Type /PSS1B Impact: 0.0340ac. 482 483 484 485 48 487 4 478 479 480 481 Path: S:\PT\R\REGRA\134132\3-env-stdy-regs\GIS\WetlandPermit\ 5 - Wetland Impacts.mxd PHNE: (51) 490-2000 Background: St. Louis Co., 201 MESABI TRAIL - TH 19 UNDERPASS T CSAH 88 5-
Project Construction Limits (Sept., 2017) 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 49 497 498 499 500501 502 Path: S:\PT\R\REGRA\134132\3-env-stdy-regs\GIS\WetlandPermit\ 5 - Wetland Impacts.mxd PHNE: (51) 490-2000 Background: St. Louis Co., 201 MESABI TRAIL - TH 19 UNDERPASS T CSAH 88 5-7
Project Construction Limits (Sept., 2017) 501 502 503 504 505 50 507 508 509 5 511 512 513 514 515 51 517 Path: S:\PT\R\REGRA\134132\3-env-stdy-regs\GIS\WetlandPermit\ 5 - Wetland Impacts.mxd PHNE: (51) 490-2000 Background: St. Louis Co., 201 MESABI TRAIL - TH 19 UNDERPASS T CSAH 88 5-8
Project Construction Limits (Sept., 2017) Proposed Permanent Wetland Impacts Wetland Plant Community Type Fresh (Wet) Meadow Sedge Meadow Shallow Marsh Alder Thicket 518 519520 521 522 523 524 525 52 527 528 529 530 531 532 517 Path: S:\PT\R\REGRA\134132\3-env-stdy-regs\GIS\WetlandPermit\ 5 - Wetland Impacts.mxd Wetland 11 Type 3/PEM1C Impact: 47sf PHNE: (51) 490-2000 Background: St. Louis Co., 201 MESABI TRAIL - TH 19 UNDERPASS T CSAH 88 5-9
Project Construction Limits (Sept., 2017) Proposed Permanent Wetland Impacts Wetland Plant Community Type Fresh (Wet) Meadow Sedge Meadow Shallow Marsh Alder Thicket Hardwood Swamp UV 88 Coniferous Swamp 531 532 533 534 535 53 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 543 Path: S:\PT\R\REGRA\134132\3-env-stdy-regs\GIS\WetlandPermit\ 5 - Wetland Impacts.mxd Wetland 11 Type /PSS1B Impact: 24sf Wetland 12 Impact: 0.0740ac. ST 98 ld Hwy 19 PHNE: (51) 490-2000 Background: St. Louis Co., 201 MESABI TRAIL - TH 19 UNDERPASS T CSAH 88 5-