Court Opinion

ID: 4122959
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-02-03 04:07:36.684157+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:13.866701
License: Public Domain

This opinion will be unpublished and
                          may not be cited except as provided by
                          Minn. Stat. § 480A.08, subd. 3 (2016).

                               STATE OF MINNESOTA
                               IN COURT OF APPEALS
                                     A16-0380

                   In the Matter of the Wetland Conservation Act appeal
                      filed by William T. Fisher of a no-loss decision,
                            located in Section 5, T.119N, R.24W,
                             Rockford Township, Wright County.

                                 Filed January 30, 2017
                                        Affirmed
                                 Smith, Tracy M., Judge

                      Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources

William T. Fisher, Rockford, Minnesota (pro se relator)

Lori Swanson, Attorney General, Karen Olson, Deputy Attorney General, St. Paul,
Minnesota (for respondent)

       Considered and decided by Reyes, Presiding Judge; Johnson, Judge; and Smith,

Tracy M., Judge.

                         UNPUBLISHED OPINION

SMITH, TRACY M., Judge

       In this certiorari appeal, relator challenges a decision by the Minnesota Board of

Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) denying relator’s petition to appeal Wright County Soil

and Water Conservation District’s (SWCD) denial of his application for a no-loss

determination under the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act (WCA).1 Relator argues

1
 A no-loss application is an opportunity for the applicant to demonstrate that his activities
will not result in any permanent loss, or impact, to the wetlands. Minn. R. 8420.0415
that the BWSR erred by (1) determining that his petition to appeal was without sufficient

merit and (2) rejecting his procedural challenges. We affirm.

                                          FACTS

       In 2007, relator Fisher T. Williams purchased property that abuts Lake Charlotte in

Wright County. That same year, Anderson Engineering of Minnesota, LLC (Anderson)

issued a wetland-delineation report, documenting wetland areas in Fisher’s property. The

SWCD approved the report.

       In August 2008, the SWCD completed an inspection and discovered that Fisher had

placed 2,352 square feet of unauthorized fill in wetland areas while constructing a

driveway. The following month, the SWCD issued a restoration order directing Fisher to

remove the 2,352 square feet of unauthorized fill.2         In response, Fisher offered an

alternative restoration plan, agreeing to remove all the fill except for 400 square feet under

a de-minimis exemption of the WCA. The SWCD approved Fisher’s plan, and by

December 2009, the SWCD deemed the restoration order satisfied.

(2015). The no-loss applicant is responsible for submitting the proof necessary to show
qualification for the claim. Minn. R. 8420.0315 (2015).
2
  WCA prohibits the drainage or filling of wetlands unless they are replaced by wetlands
of equal public value, under an approved replacement plan, or mining reclamation plan.
Minn. Stat. § 103G.222, subd. 1(a) (2016). The Department of Natural Resources (DNR),
with the assistance of local soil and water conservation districts (such as the SWCD), are
authorized to issue wetland restoration orders to landowners who have acted in violation
of the WCA. Minn. Stat. § 103G.2372, subd. 1 (2016); Minn. R. 8420.0900, subp. 3
(2015). Upon receiving a restoration order, the landowner may restore the impacted
wetlands as directed, or instead may submit a replacement plan, exemption, or no-loss
application to the local government unit. Minn. R. 8420.0900, subp. 4(A) (2015).

                                              2
       In 2013, Fisher retained Anderson to conduct a second wetland delineation on his

property. The updated delineation report showed less wetland in Fisher’s property than

what was identified in the 2007 report. The SWCD approved the second delineation report.

       In January 2014, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) notified Fisher that his

2008 driveway construction impacted 3,456 square feet of wetland. The Corps determined

that the wetlands on Fisher’s property are “waters of the United States,” and therefore

subject to section 404 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1344 (2012), which prohibits

discharges of fill material into the waters of the United States without a permit from the

Department of the Army. Instead of pursuing legal action, the Corps offered Fisher an

opportunity to apply for an after-the-fact permit to retain the unauthorized fill and mitigate

for the wetland loss.

       On July 8, 2014, Fisher submitted a Joint Application for Activities Affecting Water

Resources with both the Corps and the SWCD, proposing to mitigate for the 3,456 square

feet of impact on the wetlands noted by the Corps, and for an additional 3,691 square feet

of impact for the construction of a new residence on his property. On August 4, 2014, after

a review by the Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP), the SWCD denied Fisher’s application,

citing two reasons. First, Minn. R. 8420.0520, subp. 3(C)(1) (2015), requires applicants to

provide their local government unit with “at least two alternatives that avoid wetland

impacts.” The TEP concluded that Fisher’s application included only one alternative.

Second, Minn. R. 8420.0520, subp. 1(E) (2015), requires applicants to replace impacted

wetlands by restoring or creating replacement wetland areas having equal or greater public

value. The TEP determined that the function and value of the wetlands impacted by

                                              3
Fisher’s project is specific for Lake Charlotte, and therefore cannot be adequately replaced

off-site per Fisher’s proposal.

       On June 10, 2015, the DNR issued a cease-and-desist order to Fisher, requiring him

to immediately cease unauthorized activities impacting the wetlands on his property. On

June 29, 2015, personnel from the SWCD and the BWSR inspected the property,

discovering that unauthorized fill had been placed in wetlands and an intermittent stream

had been blocked by an earthen dam. On July 16, 2015, the DNR issued a restoration

order, requiring Fisher to restore the wetlands by September 15, 2015, or, in the alternative,

to submit a wetland replacement plan, exemption, or no-loss application to the SWCD

within 40 days.

       On August 10, 2015, Fisher filed a no-loss application with the SWCD, stating that

the wetlands on his property are “incidental,” and therefore not subject to WCA regulation.

His application alleged that wetlands were not originally present on his property but were

created as a result of residential developments in neighboring lots. On September 8, 2015,

the TEP met to discuss Fisher’s no-loss application.

       After reviewing Fisher’s application and the submitted evidence, the TEP found that

the evidence did not support Fisher’s claim that the wetlands were created incidentally. On

September 24, 2015, following the TEP’s recommendation, the SWCD denied Fisher’s no-

loss application, concluding that “[t]he landscape position of the applicant’s property

relative to Lake Charlotte and the findings of the previous wetland delineations suggest

that the wetland has been there historically.”

                                              4
       On October 20, 2015, Fisher appealed the SWCD decision to the SWCD Board. On

November 9, 2015, the SWCD Board met to discuss Fisher’s appeal. After listening to

Fisher’s argument, the Board voted to affirm the SWCD’s determination. The SWCD

Board issued its findings on December 14, 2015, concluding that Fisher’s position was

“without merit,” because Fisher had failed to provide adequate evidence that construction

activities in neighboring sites vectored additional storm water onto his property, resulting

in wetlands where there previously had been none.

       On January 11, 2016, Fisher petitioned for appeal to the BWSR. In addition to

maintaining his position that the wetlands on his property were created incidentally, Fisher

raised several procedural challenges. On February 8, 2016, the BWSR denied Fisher’s

appeal petition, concluding that his petition was without sufficient merit.

       Fisher’s certiorari appeal follows.

                                       DECISION

       A local government unit’s decision on a no-loss application may be appealed to the

BWSR. Minn. Stat. § 103G.2242, subd. 9(a) (2016); Minn. R. 8420.0905, subp. 3 (2015).

Within thirty days after receiving a petition to appeal, the BWSR must decide whether to

grant the petition and hear the appeal, or to deny the petition. Minn. Stat. § 103G.2242,

subd. 9(b) (2016). The BWSR must grant the petition to appeal unless it finds that “the

appeal is without significant merit, trivial, or brought solely for the purposes of delay.” Id.,

subd. 9(b)(1).

       If the BWSR denies the petition to appeal, the denial is considered an agency

decision in a contested case, and the aggrieved party is entitled to judicial review of the

                                               5
decision. Minn. Stat. §§ 14.63-.69 (2016); § 103G.2242, subd. 9(d) (2016). We review

such a decision to determine whether it is: (1) in violation of constitutional provisions; (2)

in excess of the agency’s jurisdiction or statutory authority; (3) the result of unlawful

procedure; (4) affected by an error of law; (5) unsupported by substantial evidence; or

(6) arbitrary or capricious. In re Review of 2005 Annual Automatic Adjustment, 768
N.W.2d 112, 118 (Minn. 2009). An agency’s decision enjoys a presumption of correctness;

the appellate court defers to the agency’s expertise and special knowledge in its field. In

re Cities of Annandale & Maple Lake NPDES/SDS Permit Issuance for the Discharge of

Treated Wastewater, 731 N.W.2d 502, 514 (Minn. 2007).

I.     The BWSR’s decision is not arbitrary or capricious.

       Fisher argues that the BWSR erred in denying his appeal petition for lacking

sufficient merit. In his appeal to this court, Fisher does not specify the statutory ground on

which this court should reverse the BWSR’s denial of his petition. But his informal brief

suggests an assertion that the BWSR’s decision was arbitrary and capricious. We disagree.

              [A]n agency ruling is arbitrary and capricious if the agency
              (a) relied on factors not intended by the legislature; (b) entirely
              failed to consider an important aspect of the problem;
              (c) offered an explanation that runs counter to the evidence; or
              (d) the decision is so implausible that it could not be explained
              as a difference in view or the result of the agency’s expertise.

Citizens Advocating Responsible Dev. v. Kandiyohi Cty. Bd. of Comm’rs, 713 N.W.2d 817,

832 (Minn. 2006). An agency decision is arbitrary or capricious if the decision is based on

whim or is devoid of articulated reasons. CUP Foods, Inc. v. City of Minneapolis, 633
N.W.2d 557, 565 (Minn. App. 2001), review denied (Minn. Nov. 13, 2001).

                                              6
       Fisher’s no-loss application is based on his claim that the wetlands on his property

are incidental. Incidental wetlands are wetland areas that the landowner can demonstrate,

to the satisfaction of the local government unit, were created in nonwetland areas solely by

actions not intended to create the wetlands. Minn. R. 8420.0105, subp. 2(D) (2015).

Incidental wetlands may include drainage ditches, impoundments, containment of waste

material, and storm-water retention or detention. Id. A replacement plan for wetlands is

not required for activities impacting incidental wetlands. Minn. Stat. § 103G.2241, subd.

5 (2016).

       Specifically, Fisher argues that the wetlands on his property were not originally

present but were created when some residential developments in neighboring lots diverted

the flow of storm-water runoff from its usual eastern and northeastern path, onto Fisher’s

lot in the west. In support, Fisher submitted National Wetland Inventory (NWI) maps from

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, dated from August 2015, and five aerial photographs

overlooking his property and the surrounding areas.

       While conceding that the NWI maps do not show wetlands on Fisher’s property, the

TEP and the SWCD Board both stated that the NWI maps do not always provide an

accurate representation of wetland locations. During the November 2015 hearing where

Fisher argued his application in front of the SWCD Board, the district manager for the

SWCD mentioned that wetlands, especially small ones, often do not appear on the NWI

maps. Subsequently, the SWCD Board noted in its findings that “[t]he NWI map has been

known to identify wetlands where none in fact exist and has also, as in the case with

Mr. Fisher, fail[ed] to identify areas where wetland[s] do exist.”

                                             7
         As for Fisher’s aerial photographs, the TEP concluded that “[t]he review of historic

aerial photos shows the development of the surrounding area over time, but is inconclusive

regarding the way in which the watershed has been modified and how that relates to the

wetlands on [Fisher]’s property being incidental.” During the November 2015 hearing, the

SWCD Board members noted that the photographs were undated3 and “pretty grainy to see

anything.”

         Accordingly, the TEP and the SWCD Board both agreed that Fisher had failed to

present sufficient evidence to support his claim that the wetlands on his property are the

result of man-made activities and therefore incidental. On the contrary, the TEP and the

SWCD Board viewed the available evidence as favoring the opposite conclusion.

According to the TEP, the landscape position of Fisher’s property relative to Lake

Charlotte, and the findings of the 2007 and 2013 wetland-delineation reports, which

identified wetland areas on Fisher’s property, suggest that the wetlands in question have

been historically present. Additionally, during the November 2015 hearing, a SWCD

member noted that Lake Charlotte rises into Fisher’s property at times of elevated water

levels, suggesting that the wetlands were created from this natural occurrence, and not from

man-made construction activities.

         Upon review, the BWSR affirmed the determinations made by the TEP and the

SWCD Board and denied Fisher’s petition for appeal as being without sufficient merit.

While recognizing that the NWI maps provide “valuable information on the general

3
    Fisher clarified during the hearing that at least one photograph was taken in the 1950s.

                                               8
location of wetlands,” the BWSR explained that the maps alone are insufficient to

accurately define wetland boundaries and should be referenced in conjunction with on-site

determinations such as the two previous wetland-delineation reports. As for the aerial

photographs, the BWSR noted that they showed the property obscured by medium-to-

heavy tree cover, and therefore could not prove how the path of the storm-water runoff

changed over the years and created incidental wetlands on Fisher’s property. In all,

emphasizing that it was Fisher’s duty to prove the claims made in his no-loss application

pursuant to Minn. R. 8420.0105, subp. 2(D), and 8420.0315, the BWSR concluded that

Fisher did not provide sufficient evidence to support his assertion that wetlands did not

originally exist on his property, and that man-made activities, such as storm-water

alterations, were the sole source of their creation onsite. The BWSR did not offer an

opinion on whether the wetlands on Fisher’s property actually were historically present.

      Fisher argues that WCA regulations require the BWSR to utilize the NWI maps,

which do not show wetlands on his property. WCA rules incorporate by reference the NWI

maps; the rules do not establish the maps as the sole authority on wetland locations. Minn.

R. 8420.0112 (2015). And while it is true that the NWI maps do not show wetlands on

Fisher’s property, the maps include a clear disclaimer that they are for “general reference

only,” and that “the US Fish and Wildlife Service is not responsible for the accuracy or

currentness of the base data shown on [the maps].” In any event, the BWSR did utilize the

NWI maps but found them less persuasive compared to the 2008 and 2013 wetland-

delineation reports that clearly outlined wetland boundaries on Fisher’s property after

onsite inspections. It should also be noted that, at the time the second delineation was

                                            9
completed, Fisher submitted the report to the SWCD for approval (which he received),

without raising any issues concerning the accuracy of the delineation or whether the

wetlands should be classified as incidental.

       As for Fisher’s argument that the wetlands on his property were created as a result

of past construction activities in neighboring lots diverting storm water into his lot, it is

unclear how the aerial photographs demonstrate this theory. The five photographs he

submitted as evidence are mostly undated and show trees obscuring the property. They do

not depict any storm-water paths, or how the paths changed over the years.4

       Because the record supports the BWSR’s finding that Fisher failed to provide

adequate evidence to demonstrate his position that the wetlands on his property are

incidental, we conclude that the BWSR did not act arbitrarily and capriciously in denying

Fisher’s petition to appeal on the basis that it is without sufficient merit.

II.    Fisher’s procedural challenges do not warrant reversal of the BWSR’s
       decision.

       This court may reverse or modify an agency decision if the substantial rights of the

petitioner may have been prejudiced because the administrative findings, inferences,

conclusions, or decisions are made upon unlawful procedure. Minn. Stat. § 14.69 (2016).

       In his appeal petition to the BWSR, Fisher raised several procedural challenges

against the TEP and the SWCD’s decisions.               Fisher argued that (1) the TEP’s

4
  Fisher also submitted watershed maps as part of his appeal petition to the BWSR. The
BWSR does not discuss the maps in its findings. Fisher claims that the watershed maps
show how the storm-water runoff suddenly changed its usual route and began flowing
through his lot. He does not explain where the maps indicate this change.

                                               10
recommendation, and the resulting SWCD denial of Fisher’s no-loss application, is invalid

because the DNR did not participate in the TEP meeting; (2) the TEP did not produce any

findings of fact; and (3) the SWCD Board did not have all the relevant information at the

November 2015 hearing. In its order denying Fisher’s appeal petition, the BWSR rejected

all of Fisher’s procedural arguments. On appeal to this court, Fisher contends that the

BWSR erred in rejecting his procedural challenges, and raises additional challenges by

asserting that (4) the SWCD failed to make a decision on his no-loss application within 60

days as required by statute, and (5) the SWCD cannot act as the local government unit

under the WCA. We discuss each in turn.

       (1)    TEP membership

       Under Minn. Stat. § 103G.2242, subd. 2(a) (2016), the TEP “shall provide the

wetland determination and recommendations on other technical matters to the local

government unit that must approve . . . a no-loss determination.” The statute also provides:

              The Technical Evaluation Panel shall be composed of a
              technical professional employee of the board, a technical
              professional employee of the local soil and water conservation
              district or districts, a technical professional with expertise in
              water resources management appointed by the local
              government unit, and a technical professional employee of the
              Department of Natural Resources for projects affecting public
              waters or wetlands adjacent to public waters.

Id. Minn. R. 8420.0240 adopts the same membership requirement.

       In the present case, the TEP met on September 8, 2015 to discuss Fisher’s no-loss

application. The findings report from that meeting lists two members from the SWCD,

                                             11
and one member from the BWSR, as TEP attendees. No one from the DNR is shown as

an attendee.

       Fisher argues to this court that the DNR was a statutorily required member of the

TEP in this case. Under Minn. Stat. § 103G.2242, subd. 2(a), DNR presence is required

for projects affecting public waters, or wetlands adjacent to public waters. The record does

not indicate whether Lake Charlotte meets the statutory definition of “public waters.” See

Minn. Stat. § 103G.005, subd. 15 (2016). But assuming Lake Charlotte is public waters,

this would mean the BWSR did err when it concluded that the TEP membership

composition met the statutory requirement despite the absence of the DNR. It is, however,

unlikely that this defect could have prejudiced Fisher’s substantial rights to the extent

warranting a modification or reversal of the BWSR’s decision under Minn. Stat. § 14.69.

See E.N. v. Special School Dist. No. 1, 603 N.W.2d 344, 349-50 (Minn. App. 1999)

(“Section 14.69 . . . provides this court the authority to reverse or modify a decision only

when ‘substantial rights’ of a petitioner have been prejudiced by a violation of

procedure.”). The BWSR’s conclusion that Fisher provided insufficient evidence to

support his no-loss claim was not solely based on the TEP’s recommendation. The BWSR

denial order indicates that it reviewed the SWCD Board’s discussion of Fisher’s

application, and independently evaluated the relevance of Fisher’s submitted evidence,

before arriving at the decision that Fisher’s petition was without merit. Accordingly, we

conclude that the BWSR’s decision should not be invalidated based on its error regarding

TEP membership.

                                            12
       (2)    TEP’s findings of fact

       Next, Fisher contends that the BWSR erred in concluding that the TEP produced

adequate findings after its meeting. The record, however, contains written findings from

the TEP. The findings explain why the TEP considered Fisher’s evidence as insufficient

and, accordingly, recommended denial of Fisher’s application. Therefore, we conclude

that the BWSR did not err on this issue.

       (3)    The SWCD Board’s November 2015 hearing

       Next, Fisher argues that the BWSR erred in concluding that the SWCD Board

reviewed all the pertinent evidence at the November 2015 hearing before rendering a

decision on his application. A review of the hearing transcript, however, indicates that the

SWCD Board members had the NWI maps and the aerial photographs in front of them and

referenced these documents throughout the discussion. Accordingly, we conclude that the

BWSR did not err on this issue.

       (4)    Timing of SWCD’s decision on Fisher’s no-loss application

       On appeal to this court, Fisher argues for the first time that the SWCD failed to

make a decision on his no-loss application within 60 days as required by Minn. Stat.

§ 15.99 (2016), resulting in an automatic approval of his application. This court generally

will not consider matters not argued to and considered by the agency below. See Big Lake

Ass’n v. St. Louis Cty. Planning Comm’n, 761 N.W.2d 487, 491 (Minn. 2009) (refusing to

consider an issue on certiorari review that was not properly raised before a local zoning

authority). Because Fisher never raised the argument regarding the timing of the SWCD’s

                                            13
decision before the SWCD Board or the BWSR, and they had no opportunity to address it,

we decline to consider this issue on appeal.

       (5)    The SWCD as the local government unit

       On appeal to this court, Fisher argues for the first time that the SWCD cannot serve

as the local government unit on this matter. This court generally will not consider matters

not argued to and considered by the agency below. See id. Because Fisher never raised

the argument regarding the SWCD’s ability to serve as the local government unit before

the SWCD Board or the BWSR, and they had no opportunity to address it, we decline to

consider this issue on appeal.

III.   The BWSR is not required to reimburse Fisher.

       Fisher argues to this court that the BWSR should reimburse him for costs that he

incurred in pursuing his no-loss application, totaling $15,872.67. Fisher cites to no legal

authority to support his reimbursement claim. Beyond mentioning “the amount of time

and effort” that he spent toward resolving this matter, he does not explain why he is entitled

to reimbursement. This court therefore declines to address this issue. See State Dep’t of

Labor & Indus. v. Wintz Parcel Drivers, Inc., 558 N.W.2d 480, 480 (Minn. 1997)

(declining to address issue in absence of adequate briefing).

       Affirmed.

                                               14