Office of Environmental Stewardship
395 John Ireland Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
June 2017
Wetland Assessment & Two Part Finding Guidance
Wetland impacts must be estimated prior to completion of the environmental document. This form is intended to
document what is known at the time of the environmental documentation. All projects with wetland impacts must
demonstrate compliance with Executive Order (EO) 11990, specifically that:
(1) That there is no practicable alternative, and
(2) That the proposed action includes all practicable measures to minimize harm to wetlands which may
result from such use.
The Wetland Assessment and Two Part Finding Form is used to demonstrate compliance with EO 11990 and must be
attached to the environmental document. If there are encroachments into wetlands, information must be provided in
a table displaying the nature and amount of impact, and the type/classification of the impacted wetlands. Information
provided in the wetland assessment and total impacts estimates are subject to change as the project proceeds. As
noted in the Section 404 threshold guidance, for projects that impact Waters of the U.S., the environmental
document Wetland Assessment attachment needs to also state the anticipated applicable Section 404 permit,
including basis.
Resources
MnDOT HPDP Wetland Guidance:
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/planning/hpdp/
Check with Wetland Delineator on the need/status of any wetland delineation.

When it has been identified that your project will likely have wetland impacts, ask the Wetland
Delineator when the Level 1 wetland delineation is expected to be sent to the project design staff.
This provides the document writer a timeline of when to expect necessary wetland impact
information. If your document completion date does not work with the expected wetland
delineation timeline you need to discuss this with the Project Manager.

Once permanent impacts are known, ask the Wetland Delineator to contact Office of Environmental
Stewardship Wetland Coordinator to determine if any mitigation is required. If yes, ask OES to
provide a wetland replacement assurance letter. If no, describe why no mitigation is required.
Request information from Project Manager/Design Staff/Wetland Delineator/Consultant

Completed table of total acres of wetland impacts.

General description of the location of wetland impacts.

Description of how the wetland impacts were minimized.

Exhibits/Maps showing wetlands impacts and construction limits.

Ask the PM/Water Resource designer which wetland permits will be required for the project.
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Wetland Location Map
Include a wetland location map to show the wetlands and anticipated impacts--approximate figures are
adequate.
Check with the wetland delineator/PM/CAD tech staff/GIS staff/Consultants. There likely is existing
maps/data/wetlands shown on a layout. If not available, there are other sources that can be used to show the
estimated location of wetland and the impacts. Contact OES to help troubleshoot mapping questions and data
options.

US Fish and Wildlife Service Wetland Mapper- The U.S. FWS Wetlands mapper is a tool designed to
deliver easy-to-use maps of wetland resources. This tool can be used to make a quick/preliminary
assessment of wetland resources, and to make a basic map of wetland locations. This is not considered
to be part of a Level 1 wetland delineation. https://www.fws.gov/wetlands/data/Mapper.html

MnDOT Basemap –Project specific data can be uploaded into the base map to show construction limits,
however design staff will need to export the CAD files as a shapefile. This is not considered to be part of
a Level 1 wetland delineation. http://mndotgis.dot.state.mn.us/basemap/.
o
To zoom to the extent where NWI is visible: click on layers tab on top rowscroll to ‘wetlands’
tab and click the check box to turn on the layerright click the ‘wetlands’ layer under the ‘layer’
tab click ‘zoom to visible layer’
o
Construction limits can be loaded into the base map the +Shape tool. CAD files must first be
exported into shapefiles.
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** Red text should be replaced/removed upon completion of the form. This form is intended to document what is
known at the time the environmental document is complete, and is subject to change as the project proceeds.**
Wetland Impact Assessment & Two Part Finding Form
S.P. Number: [Add S.P number here]
Project Name: [Add project name here]
County: [Add County here]
Watershed: [Add watershed here]
Wetland Assessment
Summarize general project information (purpose and need, project location, construction activities,
location/characteristics of wetlands, etc.). Reference any wetland delineation information that is available.
[Example text: On this project, most impacts to wetlands and ditches will occur where T.H. 28 will be widened to
accommodate new right turn lanes near Minnesota Avenue. Wetlands will also be impacted by the extension of a
box culvert across T.H. 00328, just south of 6th Ave, and the reconstruction of CSAH 20 and T.H. 28.]
See Table 1. Wetland Assessment
See attached Wetland Map
Part 1: Avoidance Alternatives
No- Build Alternative- This alternative would avoid all wetland impacts (except those due to routine
maintenance), but would fail to meet the project purpose and need. It was therefore rejected from further
consideration.
Alternatives Considered - Review and discuss location/design alternatives that will avoid impacts to the
wetlands. If none, explain why there is no practicable alternative to avoid the wetland impact.
Wetland Impacts of Preferred Alternative - [Describe the preferred alternative]. Table 1 below identifies
the anticipated wetland impacts for the preferred alternative concept. Anticipated impacts are based on the
preliminary construction limits. [Describe impacts of preferred alternative].
A table similar to the following may be used to summarize wetland impacts—approximate figures are
adequate.
S.P. XXXX
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Table 1. Wetland Assessment
Wetlands Located within the Right of Way
Wetland
ID
Classification
(Type of wetland)
Approximate Basin Size
(Acres within ROW)
Wetland Impacts of the Preferred Alternative
Impact Duration
Type of Impact
Permanent(P)
Temporary (T)2
(fill, excavate, drain,
remove vegetation, no
impact)
Size of Impact 3
(Acres)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Total Permanent Impacts:
Denote if a wet-ditch
Temporary impacts typically last between 90 and 180 days.
3 Impacts less than 0.01 acre should be reported in square feet. Impacts greater than 0.01 acre should be reported as acres and rounded to the
nearest 0.01 acre.
2
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PART 2: WETLAND MINIMIZATION MEASURES
It was not feasible to completely avoid all wetland impacts/encroachments resulting from this roadway
improvement. Wetland impacts/encroachments that are unavoidable have been minimized to the extent
practicable without compromising safety. The following design measures were used to minimize these impacts:
Discuss how the preferred alternative includes all practicable measures to minimize harm to the wetland(s), such
as, but not limited to:

Steeper inslopes (1:4 or steeper)

Utilize guardrail if necessary and meets design standards.

Lower vertical profiles.

“Broken back” inslopes for roads with a high vertical profile (over 10-12 feet).

Reduced radius curves.

Reduce ditch widths.

Steeper backslopes.

Reduce muck excavation with light weight fill, geotextile, surcharges, etc.

Narrow shoulders (unless needed for bikes or pedestrians).

Minimum safe sight distances to minimize the need for cut and fill.

Turn lanes instead of frontage roads.

Reduced design speed.

Designation as a “Natural Preservation Route” to allow reduced design standards in rare cases.

Construct ditches so that wetland outlets are not lowered.

Ensure that the location or design does not significantly reduce the contributing watershed of a
wetland, resulting in changes to the hydrologic regime.

Use of bridges rather than culverts, in rare cases.
COMPENSATION (REPLACEMENT/ENHANCEMENTS)
Application for wetland permits will be made to the appropriate agencies with wetland jurisdiction. Wetland
mitigation is an on-going development during early stages of project design, and therefore subject to change.
The preferred method of wetland replacement is to use established, federally and state approved wetland bank
credits. Efforts will be made to replace wetland losses within the bank service area of the wetland impact. It is
anticipated that wetlands will be replaced at a [X:X] ratio, within [X] bank service area. The specific wetland
bank credits will be determined through consultation with the Corps of Engineers and the OES.
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Conclusion
In accordance with Executive Order 11990, based upon the above factors and considerations, it is
determined that there is no practicable alternative to the proposed construction in the identified
wetlands, and that the proposed action includes all practicable measures to minimize harm to the
wetlands.
Based on the findings of [X acres] of permanent wetland impacts it is anticipated that the project qualifies for
the following Army Corps of Engineers permit category [Click here to choose permit type] . However, this
finding is subject to change as continued coordination occurs with the US Army Corps of Engineers as the
permitting processes proceeds.
ATTACHMENTS
--Map showing wetlands and impacts/encroachments which displays construction limits in relation to wetland
boundaries.
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