Thank you Steve for these updates and your efforts. Charlie Sent from my iPhone
> On Nov 25, 2025, at 6:00 PM, Paul Worwa <[email protected]> wrote: > > Thanks for the update Steve. Hopefully the neighbors will prevail > > Paul Worwa, PE > Project Manager > > > > 7875 Fuller Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 > Office Main: 952-934-3999 > Cell Phone: 612-490-2639 > [email protected] > https://allanmechanical.com/ > > -----Original Message----- > From: Minnesota Birds <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Steve Weston > Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2025 5:57 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [mou-net] 180th Street Marsh > > Update on 180th Street Marsh. > Last night I attended the Vermillion Township special board meeting on the > pit expansion. > While the public were welcome, the meeting wasn't for public input and > virtually no questions were tolerated. > As expected, the board passed everything unanimously (2 to nothing - one > board recused himself with a conflict of interest). They decided that an > environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) was not needed. Then they passed a > number of resolutions resulting in giving the gravel pit the go ahead for the > expansion. > The neighbors who oppose the expansion have retained an attorney to appeal > the decision in court. They are hoping they can raise the funds for that > action. > All governmental institutions, such as the EQB, DNR, county, etc. are aware > of the pit expansion and the petition of the neighbors requesting a EAW. > I have offered to be a witness if it goes to court on the environmental > issues. > > Steve Weston > On Quigley Lake in Eagan, MN > [email protected] > > >> On Sat, Nov 22, 2025 at 11:18 PM Steve Weston <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Here is the latest on what is happening in the vicinity of 180th >> Street Marsh (aka Marshall's Marsh), the most visited birding location >> in Dakota County. >> >> A few hundred yards up the hill to the southwest of the marsh is a >> small aggregate (gravel) pit that is planning to expand. The company >> that owns the pit has bought the two houses to the north with plans to >> tear them down and mine the land. These houses are the first two >> houses on the east side of Fischer Avenue south of 180th Street. >> >> The neighbors are fighting to keep the pit from expanding. Besides >> being one of the premier birding locations in the region, the marsh >> ranks as one of the highest quality wetlands in Dakota County. Also, >> the Hastings school district has bought land on this wetland as an outdoor >> science laboratory. >> Is mining a compatible land use with a sensitive, protected wetland >> habitat that is a host to educational activities just a couple of >> hundred yards above the marsh? The township board will be meeting this >> Monday (Nov 24) at >> 6:30 at 118 Park Avenue South in Vermillion to consider whether there >> are enough environmental issues to warrant requiring an environmental >> assessment worksheet (EAW). The second item on the agenda of this >> special meeting (called with only 3 days notice) is whether to grant >> the permit for the expansion. >> >> Locals assume that because they have included both items on the agenda >> that the issue has already been decided and an EAW will not be >> required. I have heard from contacts I have at Dakota County that they >> have decided that it is in the hands of the township board to decide >> what action to take. I have also heard that the DNR and the local >> watershed people are not inclined to be involved. >> >> I have written a letter to the Township Board requesting a copy of the >> EAW as a representative of the Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter >> (MRVAC). >> MRVAC has led field trips to the area with stops at the marsh. We have >> also invested in the Hastings school district's establishment of the >> site as a dedicated destination for the study of grassland and marsh >> habitats. >> >> I will be at the meeting on Monday to address our concerns and I >> welcome anyone who is concerned about the future of the 180th Street >> Marsh to join me. >> >> Steve Weston >> On Quigley Lake in Eagan, MN >> [email protected] >> > > ---- > General information and guidelines for posting: > https://moumn.org/listservice.html > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > ---- > General information and guidelines for posting: > https://moumn.org/listservice.html > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html ---- General information and guidelines for posting: https://moumn.org/listservice.html Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
