This was one of MNR’s first major projects. Our botanical staff were responsible for conducting all project-related rare plant surveys for a proposed 300-mile pipeline project spanning from northeast North Dakota through northern Minnesota to western Wisconsin.

Surveys resulted in the detection of three previously undocumented calcareous fens, allowing the client to modify the project design to account for these fen features. MNR was additionally brought in toward the end of the project to conduct wetland delineations in some of the more difficult areas. This critical work for the project built up MNR’s good will with both federal and state regulators to the benefit of the client.

MNR was then contracted by the client to conduct post-construction monitoring of over 800 temporarily impacted wetland and waterbody features. The majority of these monitoring efforts occurred over a five-year period, with additional monitoring of a smaller select subset of wetland features over a ten-year period. Monitoring involved the evaluation of wetland boundaries compared to preconstruction boundaries, floristic quality, invasive species distribution, and the assessment of hydrologic restoration.