Southern Lake Michigan Coastal Ecological Landscape
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Chapter 19 Southern Lake Michigan Coastal Ecological Landscape Where to Find the Publication The Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin publication is available online, in CD format, and in limited quantities as a hard copy. Individual chapters are available for download in PDF format through the Wisconsin DNR website (http://dnr.wi.gov/, keyword “landscapes”). The introductory chapters (Part 1) and supporting materials (Part 3) should be downloaded along with individual ecological landscape chapters in Part 2 to aid in understanding and using the ecological landscape chapters. In addition to containing the full chapter of each ecological landscape, the website highlights key information such as the ecological landscape at a glance, Species of Greatest Conservation Need, natural community management opportunities, general management opportunities, and ecological landscape and Landtype Association maps (Appendix K of each ecological landscape chapter). These web pages are meant to be dynamic and were designed to work in close association with materials from the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan as well as with information on Wisconsin’s natural communities from the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory Program. If you have a need for a CD or paper copy of this book, you may request one from Dreux Watermolen, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Photos (L to R): Peregrine Falcon, photo by Laura Erickson; reflexed trillium, photo by Thomas Meyer, Wisconsin DNR; Lesser- fringed gentian, photo by Thomas Meyer, Wisconsin DNR; Long-tailed Duck, photo by Wolfgang Wander; Butler’s gartersnake, photo by Rori Paloski, Wisconsin DNR. Suggested Citation Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 2015. The ecological landscapes of Wisconsin: An assessment of ecological resources and a guide to planning sustainable management. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, PUB-SS-1131 2015, Madison. Suggested Citation for This Chapter Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 2015. The ecological landscapes of Wisconsin: An assessment of ecological resources and a guide to planning sustainable management. Chapter 19, Southern Lake Michigan Coastal Ecological Landscape. Wisconsin Department of Natural Re- sources, PUB-SS-1131U 2015, Madison. Cover Photos Top left: Chiwaukee Prairie occurs on swell-and-swale topography near Lake Michigan in southeastern Kenosha County. This site supports an exceptionally high diversity of native grassland species, many of them now very rare. The dominant flowering forb in this photo, taken in spring, is eastern shooting star (Dodecatheon meadia). Photo by Thomas Meyer, Wisconsin DNR. Bottom left: The Wisconsin Endangered smooth phlox is restricted in Wisconsin to just a few deep- soil, tallgrass prairie remnants. Kenosha County. Photo by Thomas Meyer, Wisconsin DNR. Top right: The Peregrine Falcon, formerly extirpated in Wisconsin, has been successfully reintroduced to portions of its former range, including the City of Milwaukee. Photo by Laura Erickson. Center right: Mesic hardwood forest composed of maples, oaks, and American beech. Habitat frag- mentation is severe in southeastern Wisconsin; all remnants are small and usually isolated. Southern Milwaukee County. Photo by Emmet Judziewicz. Bottom right: Remnant Oak Opening within extensive coastal prairie. Kenosha County. Photo by William E. Tans. Contents Thomas Meyer, WDNR Thomas Meyer, Southern Lake Michigan Coastal Ecological Landscape at a Glance .............................. vii Introduction ................................................................................. 1 General Description and Overview ............................................................ 3 Environment and Ecology .................................................................... 4 Physical Environment ....................................................................... 4 Size .................................................................................... 4 Climate ................................................................................. 4 Bedrock Geology .......................................................................... 4 Landforms and Surficial Geology .............................................................. 5 Topography and Elevation ................................................................... 6 Soils ................................................................................... 6 Hydrology ............................................................................... 6 Biotic Environment ......................................................................... 9 Vegetation and Land Cover .................................................................. 9 Flora ................................................................................... 17 Fauna .................................................................................. 20 Natural and Human Disturbances ............................................................. 26 Management Opportunities for Important Ecological Features of the Southern Lake Michigan Coastal Ecological Landscape .............................................................. 33 Lake Michigan Shoreline, Shoreline Habitats, and Nearshore Waters ................................ 36 Great Lakes Coastal Prairies and Wetlands ...................................................... 37 Rivers, Streams, and Riparian Corridors: the Milwaukee, Menomonee, Root, Pike, Kinnickinnic, and Des Plaines Rivers .................................................................... 38 Inland Lakes ............................................................................... 40 Surrogate Grasslands ....................................................................... 40 Miscellaneous Natural Communities and Rare Species Habitats .................................... 41 Socioeconomic Characteristics ................................................................ 41 History of Human Settlement and Resource Use ................................................. 42 American Indian Settlement ................................................................. 42 Euro-American Contact and Settlement ......................................................... 42 Early Agriculture .......................................................................... 42 Early Mining ............................................................................. 44 Early Transportation and Access ............................................................... 44 Early Logging Era .......................................................................... 44 Resource Characterization and Use ............................................................ 44 U-iii The Land ................................................................................ 45 Minerals ................................................................................ 45 Water (Ground and Surface).................................................................. 45 Recreation ............................................................................... 46 Agriculture .............................................................................. 48 Timber.................................................................................. 48 Infrastructure ............................................................................ 50 Current Socioeconomic Conditions ............................................................ 51 Demography ............................................................................. 52 The Economy ............................................................................. 53 Integrated Opportunities for Management ................................................... 56 Appendices .................................................................................. 57 Appendix 19.A. Watershed Water Quality Summary for the Southern Lake Michigan Coastal Ecological Landscape ... 57 Appendix 19.B. Forest Habitat Types in the Southern Lake Michigan Coastal Ecological Landscape ............... 58 Appendix 19.C. The Natural Heritage Inventory (NHI) Table of Rare Species and Natural Community Occurrences (Plus a Few Miscellaneous Features Tracked by the NHI Program) for the Southern Lake Michigan Coastal Ecological Landscape in November 2009 ........................................................ 59 Appendix 19.D. Number of Species with Special Designations Documented within the Southern Lake Michigan Coastal Ecological Landscape, 2009 ............................................................ 63 Appendix 19.E. Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) Found in the Southern Lake Michigan Coastal Ecological Landscape ....................................................................... 64 Appendix 19.F. Natural Communities for Which There Are Management Opportunities in the Southern Lake Michigan Coastal Ecological Landscape ...................................................... 66 Appendix 19.G. Public Conservation Lands in the Southern Lake Michigan Coastal Ecological Landscape, 2005 ...... 67 Appendix 19.H. Land Legacy Places in the Southern Lake Michigan Coastal Ecological Landscape and Their Ecological and Recreational Significance......................................................... 68 Appendix 19.I. Importance of Economic Sectors within the Southern Lake Michigan Coastal Counties Compared to the Rest of the State ............................................................. 69 Appendix 19.J. Scientific