Swedish Immigrant Trail Segment D – 401 Water Quality Certification

We invite you to comment on the draft 401 Water Quality Certification for the Swedish Immigrant Trail Segment D project in Chisago County.

Chisago County is proposing to impact 0.38 acres (ac) of South Center Lake and 1.14 ac of wetlands. The applicant is proposing to construct a 2.5-mile (mi) segment of the Swedish Immigrant Trail (Segment D), which will span from the cities of Wyoming to Taylors Falls when the entire approximately 20-mi trail is complete. Segment D is a paved trail beginning in Center City and ending approximately 2.5 mi east of town. Highway right-of-way and an old railroad bed are being used to accommodate the trail where it is feasible to avoid aquatic resource impacts. Fill is proposed in South Center Lake to install a 16-foot (ft) x 8 ft concrete box culvert with a total length of 77 ft for a trail crossing. Small pockets of wetland fill are scattered throughout the project area as required to accommodate the trail base.

A 401 Water Quality Certification is required when an individual, business, or property owner proposes construction-related activities near a navigable lake, river, stream, or adjacent wetland. The MPCA reviews projects to ensure they will not violate Minnesota's more protective water quality standards. The 401 certification becomes an enforceable component of the associated federal license or permits issued under the Clean Water Act.