WETLAND DELINEATION REPORT

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1 WETLAND DELINEATION REPORT Edenborne Parkway Extension 53.1 Acres Section 0, TS, R2E Sections 15 & 45, TS, R3E Ascension Parish, Louisiana for Ascension Parish Department of Public Works by Delta Resource Management, LLC March 2014

2 WETLAND DELINEATION REPORT EDENBORNE PARKWAY EXTENSION 53.1 ACRES SECTION 0, TS, R2E SECTIONS 15 & 45, TS, R3E ASCENSION PARISH, LA TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION METHODOLOGY FIELD DATA SUMMARY Characterization of the Project Site Data Plots Observed Soils Existing Plant Communities Observed Hydrology and Likely Connection to Adjacent Wetlands/Other Waters WETLAND AND OTHER WATERS OF THE U.S. FINDINGS... 5 FIGURES Location Map Site Map NRCS Soils Map Wetland Data/Habitat Map Wetlands/Other Waters of the U.S. Map APPENDICES APPENDIX A APPENDIX B DATA FORMS PHOTOGRAPHS Wetland Delineation Report (53.1 ac) Sec 0, TS, R2E & Secs 15 & 45, TS, R3E Ascension Parish, LA (March 2014) i

3 1.0 Introduction This report summarizes the wetland delineation completed by Delta Resource Management, LLC (DRM) for the Ascension Parish Department of Public Works (DPW) Edenborne Parkway Extension study. The study corridor is comprised of 53.1 acres that lie 200 ft. either side of the centerline of the proposed route. The corridor is located southwest of Gonzales, Ascension Parish, Louisiana, approximately 1.25 mi. south of the intersection of LA 30 and St. Landry Avenue (Location Map). The proposed route is located west of the recently constructed Edenborne Parkway, which is generally south of 1- and Rifle Range and east of St. Landry Avenue. The enclosed Site Map displays the location of the corridor and on a portion of a 2013 aerial. On March 7, and 11, 2014, DRM conducted field work to support a wetland delineation and jurisdictional determination (JD) request from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), New Orleans District (CEMVN). Jurisdictional wetlands are defined as areas that are inundated or saturated at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions (40CFR 230.3). Three mandatory technical criteria for determining the presence of a wetland are (1) hydric soils, (2) hydrophytic vegetation, and (3) wetland hydrology. Potential jurisdictional wetlands as outlined by the 197 USACE Wetlands Delineation Manual (USACE Technical Report Y-7-1) and subsequent Regulatory Guidance Letters (RGL) \are referred to as wetlands throughout this report. Deep-water aquatic habitats are areas that are permanently inundated at mean annual water depths greater than. feet, or permanently inundated areas less than or equal to. feet in depth that do not support rooted-emergent or woody plant species (USACE Technical Report Y-7-1). Any area that meets these two criteria are classified by the USACE as Other Waters of the United States, referred to as Other Waters throughout this report. The wetland delineation tasks involve identifying and mapping potential wetland and Other Waters locations within the property limits in accordance with the USACE 197 Wetland Delineation Manual, and quantifying the aerial extent of wetlands and Other Waters. This wetland delineation report documents the efforts and results of the wetland delineation providing a professional opinion of the location of wetlands and Other Waters present within the site boundaries. Wetland Delineation Report (53.1 ac) 1 Sec 0, TS, R2E & Secs 15 & 45, TS, R3E Ascension Parish, LA (March 2014)

4 2.0 Methodology DRM conducted the wetland delineation in accordance with the USACE 197 Wetland Delineation Manual. Following the three-parameter approach, a site must contain hydric soils, wetland hydrology, and a dominance of hydrophytic vegetation to be deemed a wetland. DRM performed an onsite routine survey of the property, collecting onsite data/sample points to document DRM s observations of onsite wetland conditions. DRM placed one meandering west-east transect, generally along the centerline of the project corridor oriented across the water gradient. DRM collected four (4) wetland data plots and numerous soil test samples across the study corridor acreage to document the onsite vegetation, soils, and hydrology. The data were collected on USACE Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain Region Wetland Delineation Data Forms (Appendix A). In addition, representative photographs were collected and are contained in Appendix B. All potential wetlands were flagged onsite with pink flagging. Most of the corridor limits were flagged with blue flagging. 3.0 Field Data Summary The following sub-sections characterize the project site and describe the results of the investigation. Section 3.1 outlines the site conditions and onsite and adjacent land use while Section 3.2 describes the data collected. Section 3.3 describes the observed soils while Section 3.4 describes the plant communities and representative species observed within wetland and non-wetland areas. Section 3.5 presents the observed hydrology and connection to adjacent wetlands and/or Other Waters offsite. 3.1 Characterization of the Project Site The tract is located in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. Annual precipitation for the area is about 0-2 inches. An average of over 4 inches falls in every month except October. The wettest month is July averaging approximately seven inches of rainfall, with October being the driest month. Elevations are fairly flat ranging from just above ft., in the western end of the site along and adjacent to St. Landry Avenue to elevations below ft. in the central portion of the site and within the man-made drains within the site. There is a system of man-made drains in the western portion of the tract that appear to convey water from west to east across the northern portion of the corridor. Near the central portion of the corridor, the drain veers offsite to the northeast and eventually connects to Boyle Bayou. There are also roadside drainage ditches along the east and west side of St. Landry Avenue that likely convey water to the south of the site. Wetland Delineation Report (53.1 ac) 2 Sec 0, TS, R2E & Secs 15 & 45, TS, R3E Ascension Parish, LA (March 2014)

5 The majority of the site is bottomland hardwood (BLH) timberland. The extreme western end of the site contains pasture and mixed rural residential habitat and the extreme eastern end contains pasture habitat. The adjacent land uses are primarily timberland along the north and south boundaries with some pasture along the eastern and western ends of the site. 3.2 Data Plots The locations of the data plots are depicted on the enclosed Wetland Data/Habitat Map. The table below summarizes DRM s observations and data from the data plots. Please refer to the data forms in Appendix A for detailed information on the vegetation, hydrology and hydric soil indicators observed or deficient for each plot. Data Point P1 P2 P3 P4 Soils Vegetation Hydrology Indicators Determination 4-1 clay YR 5/3 YR 4/ mottles (~%) 5-1 clay YR 4/1 YR 4/4&4/ mottles (35%) 4-1 clay YR 4/2 (50%) YR 4/3 & 4/4 (50%) 9-1 clay YR 4/1 2.5Y 5/5 & 5/ (5-%) Dominant: Sugarberry, sweet pecan, water oak & trifoliate orange; boxelder, common privet, palmetto, Japanese honeysuckle & dewberry present but non-dominant Dominant: Sugarberry, water oak, & palmetto; green ash, Am elm, red maple,, sweetgum, Nuttall oak, trifoliate orange, dayflower present but non-dominant Dominant: Sugarberry, boxelder, Am elm, palmetto, & switch cane; Sweetgum, water oak, live oak, trifoliate orange, dewberry, poison ivy blue beech (hornbeam), common privet, tallow, Japanese honeysuckle & Jap climbing fern, present but non-dominant Dominant: Sugarberry, green ash, Am elm, palmetto & Carex sp; water oak, sweetgum, red maple, boxelder, deciduous holly, poison ivy, Senecio & dayflower Saturation ( + layer); No surface water, no water marks or stained leaves, >1 to free water soil area appears well drained Surface water, high water table, saturation, water marks and water-stained leaves No surface water, high water table & saturation (likely due to heavy recent rainfall & time of yr.) Surface water, high water table, saturation, water marks and water-stained leaves Non-wetland Wetland Non-wetland Wetland 3.3 Observed Soils The Ascension Parish soil survey (see enclosed NRCS Soils Map) has two soil types mapped within the tracts Essen silt loam (Es) and Sharkey Clay (Sc). Essen silt loam is a potential non-hydric soil not listed on either the Louisiana or National Hydric Soils lists. Sharkey clay is a potential hydric soil listed on both the Louisiana and National Hydric Soils lists. Several soil test borings outside of the mapped data plots were collected by DRM. All soils observed onsite appear to match the Essen and Sharkey clay soils mapped within the corridor. Within the potential wetland areas, soil colors at -1 inches were generally a dark gray YR 4/1 with common, fine to prominent and distinct YR 4/4 & 4/ mottles (30-35%). Within potential non-wetland areas, soil colors at -1 inches varied from a brown YR 5/3 with few fine indistinct YR 4/ mottles (5-%) to a mixed 50:50 dark grayish brown YR 4/2 and brown to yellowish brown YR 4/3. Wetland Delineation Report (53.1 ac) 3 Sec 0, TS, R2E & Secs 15 & 45, TS, R3E Ascension Parish, LA (March 2014)

6 3.4 Existing Plant Communities Within the non-wetland BLH areas, dominant trees include sugarberry (Celtis laevigata), sweet pecan (Carya illinoensis) and boxelder (Acer negundo). Water oak (Quercus nigra), American elm (Ulmus americana), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) and American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) are present but non-dominant. Dominant saplings/shrubs include water oak, sugarberry, American elm, trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata), palmetto (Sabal minor) and switch cane (Arundinaria gigantea). Non-dominant shrubs include common privet (Ligustrum sinense), boxelder, red maple (Acer rubrum), swamp dogwood (Cornus drummondii), and elderberry (Sambucus canadensis). Live oak (Quercus virginiana), red mulberry (Morus rubra), blue beech (Carpinus caroliniana) and European privet (Ligustrum vulgare) are also present in some of the tract s non-wetland BLH areas. Woody vines include Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) and poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans). The herbaceous layer in non-wetland BLH areas is sparse but dominated by dewberry (Rubus trivialis), wild onion (Allium canadense), elderberry (browsed), mock strawberry (Potentilla indica) and Japanese climbing fern (Lygodium japonicum). Within the wetland BLH areas, the dominant trees include sugarberry, green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and water oak. American elm, sweetgum, red maple (Acer rubrum) Nuttall oak (Quercus nuttallii), Chinese tallow (Sapium sebifera) and honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) are present but nondominant. Dominant saplings/shrubs include palmetto, sugarberry and American elm. Red maple, boxelder, water oak, deciduous holly (Ilex decidua), trifoliate orange and swamp dogwood are present but non-dominant. The herbaceous layer is sparse but dominated by various sedges (Carex sp.), Senecio sp., dayflower (Commelina sp.), and red maple, boxelder, and American elm seedlings/regeneration. 3.5 Observed Hydrology and Likely Connection to Adjacent Wetlands/Other Waters The mapped wetland areas on the site have one or more primary indicators present including standing water, saturation in the upper inches, water marks and water-stained leaves. The mapped non-wetland areas on the tract lack adequate primary and secondary hydrology indicators. Most of the non-wetland areas at and above ft. elevation also lack adequate hydric soil criteria. Wetland Delineation Report (53.1 ac) 4 Sec 0, TS, R2E & Secs 15 & 45, TS, R3E Ascension Parish, LA (March 2014)

7 The unnamed improved drain that bisects the western portion of the tract and parallels the western twothird s of the north boundary is the most direct connection (via offsite wetlands to the north) between onsite wetlands and Boyle Bayou. Boyle Bayou is the nearest major relatively permanent waterway (RPW) and drainage feature in the area. The top bank width of the drain onsite averages 7 ft. (varies from 4 ft. along the western limits to 9 ft. at the onsite eastern limits) and the drain traverses 3,132 linear ft. The man-made drain connects with Boyle Bayou approximately 0.4 mi. northeast of the site and 0.5 mi. east of St. Landry Avenue. Boyle Bayou eventually connects to Bayou Conway. The roadside drains along the east and west sides of St. Landry Avenue (01 linear ft.) do not appear to be directly connected to tributary drains connected to Boyle Bayou. 4.0 Wetland and Other Waters of the U.S. Findings The Wetlands/Other Waters of the U.S. Map depict the findings of DRM s wetland delineation for this property. Thus, it is DRM s professional opinion that the 53.1 acre site contains 21.0 acres of potential wetlands (all BLH wetlands). In addition, 0.5 acres of Other Waters of the U.S. likely subject to USACE jurisdiction exist within the site. The jurisdictional status of the Section 404 wetlands and Other Waters mapped by DRM in this report can only be determined by the USACE. It is DRM s recommendation that prior to any development or construction that may result in the redistribution of soil or placement of fill, the enclosed draft wetland map and this opinion should be forwarded to the USACE for formal verification. The opinion contained herein may not necessarily reflect that of the USACE, nor does it relieve the proponent of any legal obligations to have the results verified by the USACE, and obtain a Department of the Army permit prior to performing any dredging, filling and/or construction operations in Other Waters, including wetlands. Wetland Delineation Report (53.1 ac) 5 Sec 0, TS, R2E & Secs 15 & 45, TS, R3E Ascension Parish, LA (March 2014)

8 FIGURES

Study Corridor Copyright: 2013 Esri, DeLorme, NAVTEQ,

Edenborne Parkway Extension Corridor Section 0, TS, R2E

$5 Miles Document Path: C:\DRM\DRM ArcGIS$

9 Study Corridor Copyright: 2013 Esri, DeLorme, NAVTEQ, TomTom, Copyright: 2013 National Geographic Society, i-cubed Legend Property (53.1 ac) EdenBorne Parkway Extension Centerline Location Map Edenborne Parkway Extension Corridor Section 0, TS, R2E Sections 15 & 45, TS, R3E Ascension Parish, Louisiana Miles Document Path: C:\DRM\DRM ArcGIS Data\NRP\AscensionParish_WetlandRetainerContract\EdenbornePkwy_WetlandDelin-JD\Location Map.mxd Date: 3/17/2014

1 21 20 T--S R-3-E T--S R-2-E 0 15 45 Esri., Inc.

swisstopo, and the GIS User Community Legend Property (53.

10 T--S R-3-E T--S R-2-E Esri., Inc., City of Naperville, Illinois, Copyright: 2013 Esri, DeLorme, NAVTEQ, TomTom, Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community Legend Property (53.1 ac) EdenBorne Parkway Extension Centerline Coordinate System: NAD 193 UTM Zone 15N Projection: Transverse Mercator Datum: North American 193 Units: Meter Document Path: C:\DRM\DRM ArcGIS Data\NRP\AscensionParish_WetlandRetainerContract\EdenbornePkwy_WetlandDelin-JD\Site Map.mxd Site Map Edenborne Parkway Extension Corridor Sec 0, TS, R2E Sections 15 & 45, TS, R3E Ascension Parish, Louisiana ,000 1,500 Feet Date: 3/13/2014

1 ac) Ascension Soils Ac - Acy silt loam (non-hydric) Es - Essen silt loam (non-hydric) Sc - Sharkey clay (hydric) NRCS Soils Map Edenborne

11 Es Ac Sc Es Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community Legend Property (53.1 ac) Ascension Soils Ac - Acy silt loam (non-hydric) Es - Essen silt loam (non-hydric) Sc - Sharkey clay (hydric) NRCS Soils Map Edenborne Parkway Extension Corridor Sec 0, TS, R2E Sections 15 & 45, TS, R3E Ascension Parish, Louisiana ,320 1,90 Feet Document Path: C:\DRM\DRM ArcGIS Data\NRP\AscensionParish_WetlandRetainerContract\EdenbornePkwy_WetlandDelin-JD\Soils Map.mxd Date: 3/13/2014

1 0!? P1 T--S R-2-E 15 21 T--S R-3-E P2!? 14 4 4 1 4 4 14 4 Man-made drain to Boyle Bayou 4 4 4 4 4 Boyle Bayou P3!

$5 ac) Wetland Data/Habitat Map Edenborne Parkway Extension Corridor Sec 0, TS, R2E Sections 15 & 45, TS, R3E Ascension Parish, Louisiana 0 330 0 1,320 1,90 Feet Document Path: C:\DRM\DRM ArcGIS$

12 1 0!? P1 T--S R-2-E T--S R-3-E P2!? Man-made drain to Boyle Bayou Boyle Bayou P3!?!? P Copyright: 2013 Esri, DeLorme, NAVTEQ, TomTom, Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community Legend Property (53.1 ac) Lidar data (2 ft contours) Wetland Data!? Data Plot-NW!? Data Plot-W Wetland Type Wet BLH (21.0 ac) Non-wetland (31. ac) Drains (01 lin ft) Potential Other Waters (0.5 ac) Wetland Data/Habitat Map Edenborne Parkway Extension Corridor Sec 0, TS, R2E Sections 15 & 45, TS, R3E Ascension Parish, Louisiana ,320 1,90 Feet Document Path: C:\DRM\DRM ArcGIS Data\NRP\AscensionParish_WetlandRetainerContract\EdenbornePkwy_WetlandDelin-JD\Wetland Data-Habitat Map.mxd Date: 3/17/2014

1 21 Man-made drain to Boyle Bayou 20 Boyle Bayou P3 P4 0 T--S R-2-E P1 15 P2 T--S R-3-E 45 Copyright: 2013 Esri, DeLorme, NAVTEQ, TomTom, Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-

$5 ac) Document Path: C:\DRM\DRM ArcGIS$

13 1 21 Man-made drain to Boyle Bayou 20 Boyle Bayou P3 P4 0 T--S R-2-E P1 15 P2 T--S R-3-E 45 Copyright: 2013 Esri, DeLorme, NAVTEQ, TomTom, Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i- cubed, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community Legend Property (53.1 ac) Non-wetland (31. ac) Potential Wetlands (21.0 ac) Drains (01 lin ft) Potential Other Waters (0.5 ac) Document Path: C:\DRM\DRM ArcGIS Data\NRP\AscensionParish_WetlandRetainerContract\EdenbornePkwy_WetlandDelin-JD\Wetland Map_Landscape.mxd Wetland/Other Waters of the U.S. Map Edenborne Parkway Extension Corridor Sec 0, TS, R2E Sections 15 & 45, TS, R3E Ascension Parish, Louisiana ,000 1,500 Feet Date: 3/17/2014

14 1 21 Man-made drain to Boyle Bayou 20 Boyle Bayou P3 P4 0 T--S R-2-E P1 15 P2 T--S R-3-E 45 Esri., Inc., City of Naperville, Illinois, Copyright: 2013 Esri, DeLorme, NAVTEQ, TomTom Legend Property (53.1 ac) Non-wetland (31. ac) Potential Wetlands (21.0 ac) Drains (01 lin ft) Potential Other Waters (0.5 ac) Document Path: C:\DRM\DRM ArcGIS Data\NRP\AscensionParish_WetlandRetainerContract\EdenbornePkwy_WetlandDelin-JD\Wetland Map_CEMVN_Landscape.mxd Wetland/Other Waters of the U.S. Map Edenborne Parkway Extension Corridor Sec 0, TS, R2E Sections 15 & 45, TS, R3E Ascension Parish, Louisiana ,000 1,500 Feet Date: 3/17/2014

16 APPENDIX A DATA FORMS

29 APPENDIX B PHOTOGRAPHS

December 10, U.S. Army Engineer District, New Orleans Regulatory Branch ATTN: Martin Mayer 7400 Leake Avenue New Orleans, LA 70118

December 10, U.S. Army Engineer District, New Orleans Regulatory Branch ATTN: Martin Mayer 7400 Leake Avenue New Orleans, LA 70118 G.E.C., Inc. 8282 Interline Avenue Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806 (225) 612-3000 Fax (225) 612-3015 Verdi Adam, P.E., President Stephen Spohrer, P.E., Chief Operating Officer December 10, 2013 U.S. Army