The applicant (City of Shakopee) submitted a complete Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) application for a replacement plan for the Wood Duck Trail Connection project. The project proposes to extend the existing Wood Duck Trail roadway approximately 775 feet from the current termini east of Wolf Ridge Trail to a proposed section within the Arbor Bluff residential development currently under construction. The roadway will be 33 feet wide with curb and gutter. An 8-foot paved trail will be constructed on the south/east side of the roadway and a 5-foot concrete sidewalk will be constructed on the north/west side. 
 
The project proposes 0.225 acres of permanent impact to 1 wetland. The City evaluated alternatives that would have avoided impacts to wetlands, including a no build option, shifting the road alignment, or constructing a bridge. These alternatives were either not feasible given the needs of the project or would not have reduced wetland impacts. The wetlands that remain on site following construction will retain hydrologic connection via a culvert and disturbed areas will be revegetated using a native wetland seed mix appropriate for the site. 

The application was noticed to the WCA Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP) on July 16, 2024. The TEP is advisory in nature and makes technical findings and recommendations. TEP members include representatives from the City, Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), the Scott Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the Scott County Watershed Management Organization. Representatives from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) were also involved in the review of the application. The SMSC owns the land on which the project will be constructed. The TEP met July 30, 2024 to review the project and proposed wetland impacts and ultimately agreed with the proposed project and associated impacts. Comments were accepted until August 5, 2024 and no comments were received. 
 
The City will replace wetland impacts at a 2:1 ratio by utilizing credits from a bank owned by Scott SWCD, which meets the replacement plan siting requirements of WCA. The total amount of wetland replacement provided will be 0.45 acres. A draft purchase agreement is attached for City Council consideration. 

 
On behalf of the City of Shakopee, Local Government Unit for the Wetland Conservation Act, I recommend that the City Council approves the wetland replacement plan for the Wood Duck Trail Connection project. As a condition of approval, the City will be required to provide verification of wetland credit purchase from the Board of Water and Soil Resources. A Notice of Decision is attached for review.