The State of Minnesota
Sustainable Building Guidelines (MSBG) Version 2.0

S.4 Sustainable Vegetation Design

Intent
Conserve existing site features during planning and construction to promote biodiversity and both net and viable species populations and richness on the site and to restore natural areas damaged by construction so the site can sustain its water, soil, and plant cover functions.

Required Performance Criteria
Vegetation Design:
A. On previously developed sites: maintain or improve natural site functions and biodiversity for 50% of site area (excluding building footprint) in accordance with existing conditions and surrounding site context.

B. On all sites: A minimum of 75% of total vegetated area on the site shall be native to the local area. In addition, a minimum of 75% of all trees and shrubs, by quantity, are to be native material. Native is defined as within 200 mile radius of the site. Cultivars may be used if they do not appear on the Minnesota Native Plant Society or University of Minnesota Extension Service "Invasive" or "Species of Concern" lists. Exception: do not remove existing, non-invasive vegetation solely in order to achieve this threshold.

C. Maintain or supplement tree trunk area of site so that there is no net loss of tree trunk area (square inches) at dbh (diameter at breast height=4.5 ft.) (Reference: International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) measurement tree area ratio for translating dbh to caliper.) Pre-project tree trunk area may disregard existing trees less than 6" in diameter. Replaced tree trunk area may include trees of any diameter.

Vegetation Management Plans:
D. If the site selected did not completely avoid (per Guideline S.1A) land of national, state, regional, or local natural resource and biological/ecological significance as identified in national, state, regional, or local natural resources inventories, assessments and biological surveys and an associated 150 ft buffer zone, then for the portions of this site that include this type of land, create and implement a protection and maintenance plan that follows County Biological Survey (CBS) guidelines and with CBS staff input before any site work is done.

E. If the site selected did not completely avoid (per Guideline S.1C) Land whose elevation is lower than 5 feet above the elevation of the 100-year flood the local Watershed District, Watershed Management Organization, or Joint Powers organization)) and an associated 50 ft buffer zone, then for the portions of this site that include this type of land, create and implement a protection and maintenance plan that follows BWSR guidelines and with BWSR staff input before any site work is done.

F. If the site selected did not completely avoid (per Guideline S.1D) land (including a 300ft buffer zone)which provides habitat for any animal or plant species on the Federal or State threatened or endangered list, and/or if the site provides habitat for any rare animal or plant species, using County Biological Survey (CBS,) then, create and implement a protection and maintenance plan that follows CBS guidelines and with CBS staff input before any site work is done.

G. Determine if the vegetation on site includes invasive species using the Invasive Species County Weed Guideline. If the site does contain invasive species, create or implement a mitigation and maintenance plan as defined by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Recommended Performance Criteria
H. On previously developed sites: maintain or improve natural site functions and biodiversity for 90% of site area in accordance with existing conditions and surrounding site context.

Compliance Tools and Resources

• www.nh.nrcs.usda.gov/technical This will lead to a page that has a link to the Electronic Field office Technical Guide (eFOTG)
• Seeding Manual - Latest Edition, Mn/DOT Office of Environmental Services, Turf Establishment & Erosion Control Unit
• The Minnesota County Biological Survey: www.dnr.stste.mn.us/ecological_services/mcbs/index.html. For Item F. While not needed for compliance, these resources may help in creating the required plan: BWSR's 2006 publication: "Restoring and Managing Native Wetland and Upland Vegetation" and MPCA's 2005 publication: "Minnesota Stormwater Manual"