54  Group Check In 22SEP2025

Date: September 22, 2025

54.1 Attendees

  • Nora Pearson
  • Patty Burns
  • Ava McCune
  • Kasia Ulanowski
  • Adam Devlin
  • Kellen O’Connor
  • Nic Jelinski

54.2 Executive Summary

This meeting focused on scheduling adjustments for the academic year, Randy’s potential field visit planning, fall field work coordination, and new site opportunities through existing permits. Key decisions included transitioning field coordination to Adam, establishing new park-based sampling locations, and planning intensive October field activities.

54.3 Administrative and Scheduling

54.3.1 Meeting Time Change

  • Current Issue: Monday 10AM conflicts with Gen and Brianna’s 10:40 AM class
  • Proposed Solution: Move to 11:30AM Mondays starting next meeting

54.4 Randy’s Field Visit Status

54.4.1 Current Timeline

  • Proposed Dates: Week of October 27th (Tuesday-Thursday format)
  • Approval Status: Still awaiting travel authorization from Randy’s team
  • Last Communication: Randy indicated he will update when travel is approved
  • Planning Timeline: Early October for site selection once confirmed

54.4.2 Site Selection Strategy

  • Target Geomorphic Surfaces: River system, fine-loamy, outwash/glacial fluvial, potentially Anoka Sand Plain
  • Site Approach Discussion: Debate between revisiting known good sites vs. testing predictions at new locations.

54.5 Fall Field Work Coordination

54.5.1 Personnel Transition

  • New Field Coordinator: Adam officially assigned starting October 1st
  • Experience: Adam has previous site scheduling experience from last year
  • Training: Gen will provide handoff training on her organizational system
  • Support Structure: Nic confirmed this arrangement and will facilitate connection

54.5.2 Available Team Members

  • Full-time Staff: Adam, Kasia, Ava, Kellen, Julia (5 experienced people)
  • Scheduling: Ava reliably available Thursdays; Kellen available afternoons
  • Strategy: Intensive October field push while weather and personnel allow
  • Academic Constraints: Limited availability for Nora, Gen, Brianna due to classes

54.6 New Site Opportunities

54.6.1 Wetland Soils Class Permits

Ava and Kellen reported new park permissions through Nic’s wetland soils class:

54.6.1.1 Rice Creek Regional Park (Shoreview)

  • Location: Off-leash dog area in Anoka Sand Plain
  • Characteristics: Large riparian wetland system, minimal alteration
  • Historical Context: Creek previously straightened then restored
  • Strategic Value: Addresses Anoka Sand Plain data gap in residential survey responses

54.6.1.2 Otter Lake (White Bear)

  • Geomorphic Diversity: Four surfaces within park bounds (outwash, Anoka Sand Plain, fine loamy till, coarse till)
  • Historical Land Use: Previous agricultural use confirmed through aerial photo analysis
  • Disturbance Potential: Some altered soils near parking areas

54.6.1.3 Joy Park (Maplewood)

  • Historical Analysis: 1947 aerial photos show former farmstead
  • Current Access: Permission for northern sections of park
  • Utility Considerations: Potential need for GSOC tickets near developed areas

54.6.2 Utility and Safety Protocols

  • GSOC Coordination: Kasia volunteered to submit tickets for Thursday/Friday field work
  • Low-Risk Areas: Wooded areas and previously excavated class sites considered safe
  • Historical Precedent: 30+ years of wetland soils class excavation without utility issues

54.7 Additional Site Opportunities

54.7.1 AHATS (Arden Hills Army Training Site)

  • Connection Opportunity: Nic invited Adam to Tuesday class field trip (3-5PM)
  • Access Coordinator: Mary
  • Site Characteristics: Mix of undisturbed and highly disturbed soils
  • Unique Features: Former sand/gravel mining, military disturbance, contaminated areas
  • Security Requirements: Guided access or range safety training required

54.7.2 Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area

  • Location: Southern portion near Circle Pines (within AOI)
  • Permits: Nic has existing permissions
  • Geomorphic Setting: Anoka Sand Plain
  • Seasonal Limitation: Hunting season may require spring timing

54.7.3 Cemetery Collaboration Initiative

  • Concept Origin: Milwaukee urban soil survey
  • Advantages: Private property, routine excavation, known utility locations
  • Implementation: Standard outreach script development needed
  • Contact Strategy: Multiple cemetery outreach during fall personnel availability

54.8 Data Management Updates

54.8.1 Current Status

  • Anoka Sand Plain: Only 4 existing points, significant data gap
  • Target Surfaces: River system, outwash, fine loamy well-represented
  • Fall Priority: Increase Anoka Sand Plain coverage for Randy’s visit options

54.8.2 Data Entry Coordination

  • Brianna’s Status: Continued involvement with reduced hours during semester
  • Backup Support: Adam offered to assist if Brianna falls behind
  • Hour Tracking: Ava to survey undergraduate availability for fall planning

54.9 Technical Support and Training

54.9.1 Survey123 Training

  • Patty’s Request: Training needed for field observation entry
  • Scheduling: Tuesday 3PM Zoom call arranged with Nora

54.9.2 Equipment Status

  • Field Gear: All equipment returned from Gen
  • Data Sheets: Adequate supply available, additional printing capacity confirmed
  • Operational Readiness: Full field capability confirmed for immediate deployment

54.10 Meeting Coordination

54.10.1 Lab Planning Session

  • Participants: Nic, Adam, Kasia, Ava, Kellen, Nora, Julia
  • Purpose: Comprehensive fall coordination and hour planning
  • Scheduling: Thursday 2 PM in room S415
  • Timing Note: Field teams planning morning work, returning by 2PM

54.10.2 Communication Protocols

  • Email Preferences: Adam continuing personal email use, provided updated address
  • Meeting Updates: New 11:30AM Monday timing to begin following week
  • Documentation: Meeting minutes to continue regular updates

54.11 Strategic Priorities

54.11.1 October Intensive Strategy

  • Rationale: Maximize productivity with 5 experienced team members
  • Weather Window: Optimal conditions before winter limitations
  • Site Diversity: Parks permissions plus continued residential outreach
  • Geographic Coverage: Address Anoka Sand Plain gap while maintaining other surface representation

54.11.2 Randy Visit Preparation

  • Concept Demonstration: Prepare representative examples from major geomorphic surfaces
  • Site Selection: Balance known successful locations with predictive testing opportunities
  • Timeline: Site finalization in early October following travel approval

54.11.3 Academic Year Balance

  • Field Work: Continue through fall with staff-led coordination
  • Data Processing: Maintain entry progress with reduced undergraduate hours
  • Training: Cross-train multiple team members for operational continuity

This meeting effectively transitioned the project from summer intensive operations to sustainable academic year coordination while identifying significant new opportunities for expanded sampling through institutional partnerships.