Vegetation and Habitat: desk report

The rule

Code computed the rating from the assessor's inputs:

impact_likely=yes -> 2

Set by the rule

Decision

Released with flags

The engine's reasons

• Agencies not in the register or the evidence: USFWS, Carroll County

Evidence state

VERIFIED · field study or agency determination

The assessor's comments

Woodlots along Sallow Creek and in the East Block, with riparian forest lining most of the creek. Draft layout clears about 38 acres of trees. Canada thistle, a state noxious weed, is scattered on field edges. No native prairie, rare natural communities or old-growth forest were found, though parts of East Block woodlots were not accessible.

Worst case

The same rule on the worst case gives no rating above the point.

• Present: yes

  Land cover includes woodlots along Sallow Creek and on reclaimed mine ground in the East Block (C-9d4b1ab8e4), riparian forest lining most of Sallow Creek (C-e10af45ca9), and a draft layout that clears about 38 acres of trees (C-c0e63f6881). Canada thistle, a state noxious weed, is scattered on field edges (C-08f3573546). The survey found no native prairie remnants, rare natural communities or old-growth forest (C-100c2c5e80); that absence covers those communities only, and parts of the East Block woodlots were not accessible (C-421d66e93e), so it is not complete for those areas.

  Cites C-9d4b1ab8e4, C-e10af45ca9, C-c0e63f6881, C-08f3573546, C-100c2c5e80, C-421d66e93e

• Extent: peripheral

  Cropland is 818 acres (72%) and reclaimed grassland 80 acres (7%) of the Project Area (C-67ba142a5a, C-a6c169a2d9). Woodlots sit along Sallow Creek and on East Block reclaimed ground (C-9d4b1ab8e4), and the draft layout clears about 38 acres of trees (C-c0e63f6881), small against 780 buildable acres. This is a judgment: some East Block woodlots were not accessible (C-421d66e93e), so their extent is not fully verified, and corridor or fragmentation effects are not documented.

  Cites C-67ba142a5a, C-a6c169a2d9, C-9d4b1ab8e4, C-c0e63f6881, C-421d66e93e

• Avoidable: partly

  The draft layout clears about 38 acres of trees (C-c0e63f6881). The consultant recommends avoiding the riparian forest and the W-3 wetland stand (C-b1fad0c404; W-3 vegetation is rated under AQ-01). Some clearing for arrays and access remains, so avoidance is partial.

  Cites C-c0e63f6881, C-b1fad0c404

• Pathway: standard

  The record shows no state forest-conversion rule, mapped rare community or contested approval. Routine measures apply: tree cutting October 1 to March 31, clearing outside the nesting season, native pollinator seed mix, vegetation management plan, and mowing outside April 15 to July 31 (C-ffa524ccb3, C-4e22698f2d, C-557a6ccbbf, C-d756845b5e). The Parcel 9 conservation easement area along Sallow Creek is to remain in natural riparian cover (C-828699d893), a siting constraint rather than a bar on the site.

  Cites C-ffa524ccb3, C-4e22698f2d, C-557a6ccbbf, C-d756845b5e, C-828699d893

• Impact likely: yes

  The draft layout clears about 38 acres of trees (C-c0e63f6881). Canada thistle, a state noxious weed, is documented on field edges, and solar grading would disturb soil there (C-08f3573546). Clearing alone makes the impact likely.

  Cites C-c0e63f6881, C-08f3573546

Supporting statements (14)

Each claim the row cites: the statement in the assessor's words, then the quote the engine found on the page.

1. C-08f3573546

   Reclaimed mine grassland is heavily invaded by autumn olive and multiflora rose; Canada thistle, a state noxious weed, is scattered on field edges.

   Canada thistle, a state noxious weed, is scattered on field edges.

   Bat Habitat Assessment and Vegetation Survey - Tamsin Ridge Solar and Storage Project · DR-0007 · Page 2 · 2023-06-20

   Source field_study · Claim type presence · Polarity presence · Confidence high · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

   See it on page 2, claim C-08f3573546

2. C-100c2c5e80

   No native prairie remnants, rare natural communities or old-growth forest were found.

   No native prairie remnants, rare natural communities or old-growth forest were found.

   Bat Habitat Assessment and Vegetation Survey - Tamsin Ridge Solar and Storage Project · DR-0007 · Page 2 · 2023-06-20

   Source field_study · Claim type absence · Polarity absence · Confidence high · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

   See it on page 2, claim C-100c2c5e80

3. C-421d66e93e

   Parts of the East Block woodlots were not accessible because of reclamation spoil and dense autumn olive.

   Parts of the woodlots in the East Block were not accessible because of reclamation spoil and dense autumn olive.

   Phase I Environmental Site Assessment - Tamsin Ridge Solar and Storage Project · DR-0012 · Page 3 · 2023-01-27

   Source consultant_memo · Claim type data_gap · Polarity neutral · Confidence high · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

   Cited by EN-04 · Filed under EC-03, EN-04

   See it on page 3, claim C-421d66e93e

4. C-4e22698f2d

   Service recommends scheduling vegetation clearing outside the primary nesting season where possible.

   schedule vegetation clearing outside the primary nesting season where possible.

   Official Species List - Tamsin Ridge Solar and Storage · DR-0010 · Page 1 · 2023-04-12

   Source agency_determination · Claim type recommendation · Polarity neutral · Confidence medium · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

   Cited by EC-02 · Filed under EC-02, EC-03

   See it on page 1, claim C-4e22698f2d

5. C-557a6ccbbf

   The Division recommends wildlife-permeable fencing, native pollinator-friendly seed mixes, and mowing outside the grassland bird nesting season (April 15 to July 31).

   native pollinator-friendly seed mixes under and around the arrays, and mowing outside the grassland bird nesting season (April 15 to July 31).

   ODNR Environmental Review - Tamsin Ridge Solar and Storage Project (ODNR 23-0477) · DR-0011 · Page 1 · 2023-05-02

   Source agency_determination · Claim type recommendation · Polarity neutral · Confidence high · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

   Filed under EC-02, EC-03

   See it on page 1, claim C-557a6ccbbf

6. C-67ba142a5a

   Cropland covers about 818 acres (72%) of the Project Area, mostly on prime farmland soils.

   Cropland (corn, soybeans) 818 72% Mostly prime farmland soils

   Bat Habitat Assessment and Vegetation Survey - Tamsin Ridge Solar and Storage Project · DR-0007 · Page 2 · 2023-06-20

   Source field_study · Claim type extent · Polarity presence · Confidence medium · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

   Cited by EN-03 · Filed under EC-03, EN-03

   See it on page 2, claim C-67ba142a5a

7. C-828699d893

   The conservation easement area along Sallow Creek on Parcel 9 is to remain in natural riparian cover.

   which is to remain in natural riparian cover.

   Commitment for Title Insurance No. ATA-23-0418 (Parcels 2, 5 and 9) · DR-0006 · Page 2 · 2023-04-18

   Source public_record · Claim type presence · Polarity presence · Confidence medium · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

   Cited by EN-07 · Filed under AQ-01, EC-03

   See it on page 2, claim C-828699d893

8. C-9d4b1ab8e4

   Land cover is cropland and hay with woodlots along Sallow Creek and on reclaimed surface-mined ground in the East Block.

   Land cover is cropland and hay with woodlots along Sallow Creek and on reclaimed surface-mined ground in the East Block.

   Tamsin Ridge Solar and Storage Project - Project Description · DR-0001 · Page 1 · 2023-06-12

   Source developer_document · Claim type presence · Polarity presence · Confidence high · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

   Cited by EC-01 · Filed under EC-03, EN-01, EN-03

   See it on page 1, claim C-9d4b1ab8e4

9. C-a6c169a2d9

   About 80 acres (7%) of the Project Area is reclaimed surface-mined grassland.

   Reclaimed surface-mined grassland 80 7%

   Bat Habitat Assessment and Vegetation Survey - Tamsin Ridge Solar and Storage Project · DR-0007 · Page 2 · 2023-06-20

   Source field_study · Claim type extent · Polarity presence · Confidence medium · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

   Cited by EC-02 · Filed under EC-03, EN-01

   See it on page 2, claim C-a6c169a2d9

10. C-b1fad0c404

    Recommendation to avoid the riparian forest and the W-3 wetland stand when limiting tree clearing to 38 acres.

    avoid the riparian forest and the W-3 wetland stand.

    Bat Habitat Assessment and Vegetation Survey - Tamsin Ridge Solar and Storage Project · DR-0007 · Page 2 · 2023-06-20

    Source consultant_memo · Claim type recommendation · Polarity presence · Confidence medium · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

    Filed under AQ-01, EC-03

    See it on page 2, claim C-b1fad0c404

11. C-c0e63f6881

    Forest covers about 41 acres and the draft layout clears about 38 acres of trees.

    The draft layout clears about 38 acres of trees.

    Bat Habitat Assessment and Vegetation Survey - Tamsin Ridge Solar and Storage Project · DR-0007 · Page 1 · 2023-06-20

    Source field_study · Claim type extent · Polarity presence · Confidence medium · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

    Cited by EC-01, EC-02 · Filed under EC-01, EC-03

    See it on page 1, claim C-c0e63f6881

12. C-d756845b5e

    Seed arrays with a low-growing native pollinator-friendly mix and keep a vegetation management plan for the project life.

    Seed the arrays with a low-growing native seed mix with pollinator-friendly flowering species

    Bat Habitat Assessment and Vegetation Survey - Tamsin Ridge Solar and Storage Project · DR-0007 · Page 2 · 2023-06-20

    Source consultant_memo · Claim type recommendation · Polarity neutral · Confidence high · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

    See it on page 2, claim C-d756845b5e

13. C-e10af45ca9

    Riparian forest lines most of Sallow Creek's length.

    Riparian forest lines most of its length.

    Wetland and Stream Delineation Report - Tamsin Ridge Solar and Storage Project · DR-0013 · Page 2 · 2023-05-22

    Source field_study · Claim type presence · Polarity presence · Confidence medium · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

    Cited by AQ-01 · Filed under AQ-01, EC-03

    See it on page 2, claim C-e10af45ca9

14. C-ffa524ccb3

    Cut trees only from October 1 to March 31, leave riparian forest within 100 feet of Sallow Creek standing, and survey first if summer clearing is needed.

    cut trees only from October 1 to March 31, as ODNR and the Service recommend;

    Bat Habitat Assessment and Vegetation Survey - Tamsin Ridge Solar and Storage Project · DR-0007 · Page 1 · 2023-06-20

    Source consultant_memo · Claim type recommendation · Polarity neutral · Confidence high · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

    Cited by EC-01 · Filed under EC-01, EC-03

    See it on page 1, claim C-ffa524ccb3

• Survey inaccessible East Block woodlots and measure forest by acre.
• Refine layout to avoid riparian forest and the W-3 wetland stand and reduce clearing.
• Prepare vegetation management and invasive species plan with native pollinator seed mix; clear trees October 1 to March 31.

Agencies