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Page 31 The community class was determined to be a WMs83 (Seepage Meadow/Carr) likely either a WMs83a1 (Tussock Sedge) or a WMs83a2 (Aquatic Sedge) subtype. The wetlands were given a status rank of “S3” meaning it is common and widespread in Minnesota. The aquatic resources on/adjacent to the project area, the wetlands, and the Mississippi River, provide habitat for amphibians, fish, and small mammals. The wildlife habitat has diminished value due to historic cultivation and annual tillage. Wildlife is also constrained by the major roadways nearby, U.S. 10/169 and Minnesota 101. The surrounding cultivated fields, residential developments, industrial land uses, and major roadways create limitations for wildlife habitat. b) Describe rare features such as state-listed (endangered, threatened or special concern) species, native plant communities, Minnesota Biological Survey Sites of Biodiversity Significance, and other sensitive ecological resources on or within close proximity to the site. Provide the license agreement number (LA-2024-032) and/or correspondence number (MCE-2024-00635) from which the data were obtained and attach the Natural Heritage Review letter from the DNR. Indicate if any additional habitat or species survey work has been conducted within the site and describe the results. Kjolhaug Environmental reviewed a licensed copy of the Natural Heritage Information System (NHIS) (LA-2024-032). The 2024 NHIS documents the Black sandshell within the Mississippi River, adjacent to and south of the project area. The NHIS also documents the Loggerhead shrike within one mile of the project area. The Loggerhead shrike identification was from 1996. Utilizing the MnDNR’s Minnesota Conservation Explorer tool, a Natural Heritage Review was requested (32). An official NHIS letter was issued on August 30th, 2024 (Appendix K). Table 23 outlines the state-listed species that may be impacted by the proposed project. Table 23. State-Listed Species Identified by the Natural Heritage Review System Common Name Scientific Name Status Loggerhead shrike1 Lanius ludovicianus State-listed Endangered Blanding’s turtles Emydoidea blandingii State-listed Threatened Species Black sandshell Ligumia recta State-listed Species of Special Concern 1 The NHIS letter states that “recent surveys indicate that they are no longer using the project area so impacts to this species are not anticipated” (Appendix K). A review of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Information for Planning and Consultation (IPaC) assessment tool was completed on December 31 st, 2024 to identify federally listed species that have the potential to occur within the project area. The identified species from the IPaC-generated species list are outlined in Table 24 (Appendix L) (33). No critical habitat was indicated within the project area (33). No additional habitat or species survey work is known to have been conducted. The IPaC results did not find that Northern Long-Eared Bats are potentially present in the action area. Additionally, the project area is outside the Northern Long- Eared Bat range based on the USFWS Northern Long-Eared Bat Map (reviewed on January 14 th, 2025) (34).