Open-Coniferous Bog Wetlands Typetype 8 8

Open-Coniferous Bog Wetlands TypeType 8 8

Spring Summer Fall Winter

Revised 1-2012 WET-TYPE8 © St. Louis County, Minnesota Planning and Community Development Open-Coniferous Bog Wetlands

Function and Values What is a Wetland? Open-coniferous bog wetlands provide important habitat for such wildlife Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems as moose, deer, black bear, beaver, lynx, fishers, showshoe hare, and ot- in the world and a source of support for all of the major ter because the land is generally undisturbed. Migratory birds use bogs on groups of biological organisms. their flight paths to breed, nest and feed. Bog wetlands are often valuable as By most standards, a wetland has mostly wet soil, is satu- reservoirs for streams (especially trout streams) and habitat for many unique rated with water either above or just below the surface, plants. and is covered with plants that have adapted to wet condi- Other uses of bogs include harvesting of sphagnum moss, aesthetics, and tions. A wetland is a term to describe a wide variety of wet conversion to commercial cranberry and wild rice production. environments from a slight depression, which holds water after spring runoff, to a forested swamp with peat soils. The identification of wetlands can be difficult and it may be necessary for the landowner to hire a consultant to identify wetland boundaries. A consultant can also help with wetland replacement and permitting requirements. Characteristics Bogs are one of the most distinctive kinds of wetlands, Water Flood Erosion Habitat and are characterized by a growth of evergreen trees and Quality Control Control shrubs and a floor covered by a thick carpet of sphagnum moss. Bogs form in very wet places. Some have consider- able amounts of open water surrounded by floating boggy vegetation; in others, vegetation may have completely filled a lake. Vegetation Bog wetlands soil is usually waterlogged and supports Open bog vegetation is woody or herbaceous or both. Typical plants are heath shrubs, a spongy covering of mosses. This type occurs mostly sphagnum moss, and sedges. In the north, leatherleaf, labrador tea, cranberries, carex, and cottongrass are often present. Although scattered, black spruce and tamarack also in shallow basins, on flat uplands, and along sluggish occur in open bog wetlands, but their growth is stunted. In coniferous bog wetlands, the streams. plant communities are similar except with mature trees of black spruce and tamarack dominating the area. Sequencing Submergent and floating – vegetation requiring complete immersion, and are rooted Prior to any draining, filling or excavating in a wetland, in the bottom or free floating with majority of the leaves floating on the surface; proposed impacts to nonexempt wetlands must undergo a process known as sequencing. Sequencing is a step- Emergent – rooted vegetation where most of the plant material is above the water surface; water levels must fluctuate for proper growth and seed germination (usually during by-step process that must be followed for clearly defined drawdown in late summer); projects that intend to impact wetlands and reviewed to as- sess the efforts made by the applicant to follow these prin- Herbs and forbs – broad-leaved plants that typically grow either in the shallow water edges of wetlands, or ponds, and streams; ciples: avoidance, minimization, reduction or elimination of impacts over time, and replacement. Therefore, a Local Shrub – woody vegetation that is less than 20 feet tall with single or multiple stems; Government Unit (LGU) may not consider or approve a species can be broad-leaved deciduous, or broad-leaved evergreen; wetland replacement plan unless the LGU finds that the Tree – woody vegetation that dominate forested wetlands and is greater than 20 feet applicant has demonstrated the activity impacting the wet- tall. lands has complied with all of the following principals in ascending order: 1. Avoiding Impacts The first priority is to avoid impact to a wetland. If a project can be redesigned or relocated to eliminate any wetland impact, you must select this option. 2. Minimization

Trees If St. Louis County determines that wetland im- Black Swamp Tamarack pacts are unavoidable, you must then demonstrate Spruce Birch that the project minimizes wetland impacts to the greatest extent possible. The county will determine if sufficient effort was made to minimize impacts by considering: • The purpose of the project • Size requirements of the project • Location • Sensitivity of the site design to the natural fea- Plants Sphagnum Bog Labrador Leatherleaf tures of the site, including topography, hydrol- Moss Sedge Tea ogy, and existing vegetation

2 © St. Louis County, Minnesota Planning and Community Development Open-Coniferous Bog Wetlands

• The function and value of the wetlands on the Typical Impacts site Filling: adding any material to change the bottom level of a wetland; • Applicants efforts to show alternatives to mod- removing the water from a wetland by ditching, tilling, pumping, or ify the size and scope of the project Draining: other such techniques; 3. Rectification Excavating: dredging and removing soil and vegetation from a wetland; There may be times that a wetland impact is Diverting water: preventing the flow of water into a wetland by removing wa- not possible to avoid, but the impact either is ter upstream, lowering lake levels, or lowering groundwater tables; temporary or results in no net loss of wetlands. Clearing: removing vegetation by digging or scraping; Temporary impacts may be approved by the county if the activity is completed and the physi- Flooding: raising water levels, either behind dams or by pumping or other- cal characteristics of the wetland are restored wise channeling water into a wetland so that water levels are too high for within six months from the start of the activity. wetland vegetation and animals to survive (i.e., converting a wetland to a lake An example would be the construction of a tem- or pond); porary road through a wetland that is needed Diverting or withholding sediment: trapping sediment through the construc- for a short term project. Once the project is tion of dams, channelization or other such projects that inhibit the regeneration completed, the road is removed. A performance of wetlands in natural areas of deposition, such as deltas; bond would need to be provided to the county Shading: placing pile supported platforms or bridges over wetlands, causing for an amount sufficient to cover the cost of re- vegetation to die; storing the wetland to pre-project conditions. Conducting activities in adjacent areas: disrupting the interactions between 4. Reduction or Elimination of Im- wetlands and adjacent land areas, or indirectly impacting wetlands through pacts Over Time activities at adjoining sites. Further impacts from draining or filling must be reduced or eliminated by managing the project in a manner that preserves remaining wetland Do’s functions and values. The county must require Rather than draining or filling wet- the applicants to implement Best Management lands, seek compatible uses involv- Practices (i.e. silt fences) to protect wetland ing minimal wetland alteration, such functions and values. as waterfowl production, fur harvest, 5. Replacement hay and forage, wild rice production, hunting and trapping leases, and se- Replacement wetlands must replace the func- lective timber harvest. tions and values that are lost from a wetland that is drained or filled. Replacement of wetland Maintain wetlands and adjacent buf- functions and values may occur at more than fer strips as open space. one location. Encourage neighbors, developers, Conservation Level and state and local governments to protect the function and value of wet- In both shoreland and nonshoreland areas, open-conif- lands in your watershed. erous bog wetlands are in the high protection level and have impacts limited to 400 square feet. To the extent Select upland rather than wetlands that a local shoreland management ordinance is more sites for development projects and restrictive than 400 square feet, the local shoreland or- avoid wetland alteration or degrada- dinance applies. tion during project construction.

Wetland Areas Impacts Boardwalk Harvesting Temporary Recreation Road in Minnesota This map illustrates the Don’ts concentrated amount of wetlands present in northern Minnesota when compared to the amount of wetlands throughout the remainder of the state emphasizing the need for

wetland conservation. Impacts Dredging Filling Construction Flooding

Primary Contact for all Wetlands Issues Contact these agencies FIRST if you suspect wetlands exist, to request After working with primary contacts, try these agencies for additional a review, or obtain necessary permits for projects that may affect technical assistance. wetlands.

St. Louis County Soil & Water Fond Du Lac U.S. Army State of Minnesota State of Minnesota Planning and Community Conservation District Reservation Corps of Board of Water & Soil Department of Natural Development North St. Louis Office of Water Protection Resources (BWSR) Resources (DNR) Engineers Waters Division or South St. Louis

Local administers of the Minnesota Provides technical, educational, and Administers wetland regulations on all Regulates deposition of fill or dredge State Administration of the Minnesota Regulates Public Waters Permits for all Wetland Conservation Act. Provides financial resources to land occupiers in lands on the Fond du Lac Reservation material in waters of the U.S. or adjacent Wetland Conservation Act work within public water wetlands of types plan and site reviews for wetland order to implement practices and projects and provides technical and educational wetlands through section 404 of the Clean 3, 4 and 5 that are 10 or more acres in size determinations, delineations, banking and that preserve, protect, and enhance water resources to help protect and enhance Water Act and section 10 of the Rivers or 2.5 acres in incorporated areas. replacement. Coordinates enforcement quality and other natural resources. water quality. Water Act of 1899. with DNR.

St. Louis County North St. Louis County Fond du Lac Reservation U.S. Army BWSR DNR Waters Planning and Community Soil and Water Office of Water Protection Corps of Engineers 394 S. Lake Ave. Ste 403 Duluth Metro Development Conservation District (SWCD) 1720 Big Lake Rd. 1554 Hwy. 2, Ste 2 Duluth, MN 55802 1568 Hwy. 2 Northland Office Bldg US Bank Place Cloquet, MN 55720 Two Harbors, MN 55616 Phone: 218-723-4923 Two Harbors, MN 55616 307 1st St. S. 230 1st St. S. Ste 104B Phone: 218-878-8022 218-834-6630 Fax: 218-723-4794 Phone: 218-834-1440 Virginia, MN 55792 Virginia, MN 55792 Fax: 218-879-4854 Fax: 218-834-6639 Phone: 218-749-0633 Phone: 218-749-2000 Rest of St. Louis County 800-450-9777 Fax: 218-749-2004 7979 Hwy. 37 Fax: 218-749-0620 Eveleth, MN 55734

www.nslswcd.org Phone: 218-744-7450

Fax: 218-744-7451

South St. Louis County Soil and Water

Conservation District (SWCD) 215 N. 1st Ave. E. Duluth, MN 55802 Phone: 218-723-4867 Fax: 218-723-4731

www.southstlouisswcd.org www.mvp.usace.army.mil www.bwsr.state.mn.us www.dnr.state.mn.us www.stlouiscountymn.gov

About the Guide This guide is designed to give general information about wetland regulations, identifying wetland areas, common species, and impacts to wetland areas for residents, contractors, and professionals associated with wetland property. St. Louis County has over 1,000 lakes, countless rivers and streams, and hundreds of thousands of acres of wetlands that provide recreational opportunities to both residents and tourists.

Obtaining the Guide Copies of this guide are available free to all residents. Publishing Information Requests for a large number of guides should be This project was funded in part by the Coastal Zone Management Act, by directed to St. Louis County Planning and Community NOAA’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resourced Management, in cooperation Development and may be charged a minimal fee to cover with Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program. printing and production costs. All requests should be directed to: The Wetland Guide was developed and published by St. Louis County Planning and Community Development Department. 218-725-5000 Toll Free Minnesota 800-450-9777 www.stlouiscountymn.gov Information Updates St. Louis County strives to maintain the latest information available. If any St. Louis County information in this guide is incorrect or any additional information is needed, Planning and Community Development please contact St. Louis County Planning and Community Development, 100 Missabe Building 218-725-5000.