Before purchasing a parcel, you should review the natural resources of the site, including soils, water, vegetation, and wildlife. In addition to these resources, federal, state, and local requirements should be researched and understood to help ensure that any activities are done correctly and that the parcel can meet your needs and expectations.
Most agencies identify property locations according to legal descriptions (PID #'s). You should have this information available before calling (noted on your property tax statement: ex. R30 32 24 14 0999).
Most of the soils in Anoka County have been mapped and compiled in the Anoka County Soil Survey. Photo based maps show the location of the soils and the text summarizes their properties and limitations. The soil survey contains information frequently utilized for general land use planning.
The Soil Survey is easy to use if you focus only on the soil within your parcel. After you know the soil types that exist, you can use the charts to determine things such as suitability for septic systems, roads, buildings, lawns, trees, and gardens. General information is also available for depth of water table and flooding potential.
Copies of Soil Survey maps are available. Please contact the Anoka Conservation District (ACD) for more information.
Before purchasing a parcel, you should review the natural resources of the site, including soils, water, vegetation, and wildlife. In addition to these resources, federal, state, and local requirements should be researched and understood to help ensure that any activities are done correctly and that the parcel can meet your needs and expectations.
Most agencies identify property locations according to legal descriptions (PID #'s). You should have this information available before calling (noted on your property tax statement: ex. R30 32 24 14 0999).
Most of the soils in Anoka County have been mapped and compiled in the Anoka County Soil Survey. Photo based maps show the location of the soils and the text summarizes their properties and limitations. The soil survey contains information frequently utilized for general land use planning.
The Soil Survey is easy to use if you focus only on the soil within your parcel. After you know the soil types that exist, you can use the charts to determine things such as suitability for septic systems, roads, buildings, lawns, trees, and gardens. General information is also available for depth of water table and flooding potential.
Copies of Soil Survey maps are available. Please contact the Anoka Conservation District (ACD) for more information.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service conducted an inventory of the locations and types of wetlands. The inventory has been completed for all of Anoka County and was published in 1991. Most of the wetlands were identified by aerial photo interpretation with limited field verification.
These maps are entitled the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) and should only be used for general land use planning. Photo interpretation is not 100% accurate and some wetlands in farmed areas were not inventoried. Also, the process does not meet the requirements of the 1987 Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual as required by the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) 1995 Amendments. However, the inventory is reasonably accurate when the NWI maps correlate well with the Soil Survey.
For a fee, the ACD will conduct an on-site wetland consultation. A qualified technician will perform an on-site evaluation of potential wetland issues. A letter explaining the requirements of the WCA, as it relates to your project, is included with this inspection. Private consultants also provide similar services for a fee.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, through its National Flood Insurance Program has developed maps which identify zones of 100 year and 500 year flooding. It is important to know if portions of the property are within the flood plain because flood plain areas are more strictly regulated. The ACD has copies of the Flood Insurance Rate Maps for all of Anoka County.
Looking at a site from an aerial viewpoint often provides a better understanding of the resources. The relative location of trees, wetlands, water, open space, etc. on your parcel as well as adjoining land become apparent through the use of aerial slides/photos. Below is a list of agencies that have aerial slides and photos of Anoka County.
After you have looked over the resources identified above, you should walk the site and visualize if the inventory maps seem accurate.
Be sure to have approval for all appropriate local, state and federal agencies regarding wetland issues.
The State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO) has a list of potential archeological sites throughout the County. Call the ACD or your Local Governmental Unit (LGU) that administers the WCA regarding the potential for an archeological resource on your site. If an archaeological resource is inventoried on your site, contact the SHPO at 651/296-5434 for further information.
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has inventoried exceptional natural vegetative communities and the endangered, threatened or special concern species identified by the County Biological Survey. Contact your LGU, the ACD or the Division of Ecological Services within the DNR for information pertaining to your site at 651/296-2835.
Inquire what has been done to the property to prevent construction damage to trees and to control oak wilt in the area. Construction damage is a major reason for tree mortality. It is caused by several activities and may not kill the tree for several years. To protect a tree, you must protect the root system, which is primarily in the upper 12 inches of the soil and extends horizontally more than the the height of the tree. Soil compaction or placing fill over the root system can kill a tree by depriving the roots of oxygen. Lowering the grade of the site may kill a tree by removing some of the root system.
Anoka County is the "Oak Wilt" capital of the world, with the most highly concentrated oak wilt problem anywhere. Much of this is due to the rapid and sometimes careless development of oak woodland areas. Considering that oaks are extremely common in Anoka County and are among the most preferred shade trees, precautions should be taken.
A forestry consultant may be able to help you maintain your property values by reducing the negative impacts on trees as a result of your project.
By law [Minnesota Rules, Chapter 4725], a well must be in use, be under a maintenance permit through Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), or be sealed by a licensed well contractor. A well must be sealed if:
All known wells must be disclosed during property transfer. A well's average life is approximately 25 years. This in mind, a licensed well contractor or other qualified professional should review the site to ensure that all wells are identified. Liability for an unused well lies with the current property owner. Undisclosed wells found within 6 years of property transfer may become a previous owner's responsibility.
Contact the appropriate agencies for regulatory requirements and setbacks. It may be necessary to have the wetlands delineated, soils analyzed, floodplain jurisdiction determined, tree preservation plan developed, topographic survey conducted, etc. before submitting a site plan. The more complete and accurate the site plan is, the faster an appropriate determination can be made. Take note of the dates of board meetings so you can plan accordingly. This takes time, but the more work you put into the planning stage, the more you will avoid delays and frustration.
After you have looked over the resources identified above, you should walk the site and visualize if the inventory maps seem accurate.
Be sure to have approval for all appropriate local, state and federal agencies regarding wetland issues.