WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY: ASYLUM LAKE PROPERTY HISTORICAL USES AND LAND COVER, NATURAL FEATURES INVENTORY, AND HABITAT ENHANCEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS Submitted by Kalamazoo Nature Center October 2001 (Revised February 2002) WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY: ASYLUM LAKE PROPERTY HISTORICAL USES AND LAND COVER, NATURAL FEATURES INVENTORY, AND HABITAT ENHANCEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS Submitted by Kalamazoo Nature Center (Research Department—Ray Adams, Tyler Bassett, Tricia Benson, Leslie Brown, Caroline Causey, Monica Evans, Megan Faurot, Connie Ferguson, Rob Klein, Theresa Mau-Crimmins, Katie Miller, Torrey Moss, Doug Powless, Michele Richards, Jason Schmidt, Jody Simoes; Community Wildlife Department—Steve Allen) October 2001 (Revised February 2002) Table of Contents Title # of Pages Executive Summary 3 History of the Property 3 Land Cover 7 Aquatic Ecosystem 6 Non-vascular Plants 3 Vascular Plants Vegetation Survey 8 Terrestrial Insects 7 Amphibians and Reptiles 3 Birds 4 Mammals 1 Habitat Enhancement Recommendations 17 Bibliography 5 Sources of Additional Information 5 Appendices Fieldwork Plan 2 Maps Map 1. Land Cover circa 1800 at the Asylum Lake Preserve and Adjacent Properties, Kalamazoo, Michigan Map 2. Current Land Cover at the Asylum Lake Preserve and Adjacent Properties, Kalamazoo, Michigan C:\asylum\03_Table of Contents.doc 3/1/02 Page 1 of 6 Map 3. Soils at the Asylum Lake Preserve and Adjacent Properties, Kalamazoo, Michigan Map 4. National Wetlands Inventory, Asylum Lake Preserve and Adjacent Properties, Kalamazoo, Michigan Map 5. Topographic Map of the Asylum Lake Preserve and Adjacent Properties, Kalamazoo, Michigan Map 6. Asylum Lake Bird Census Route Spring 2000 Map 7. Asylum Lake Property Small Mammal Live-Trapping Points Map 8. Suggested Future Land Cover at the Asylum Lake Preserve Emphasizing an Increase in Forested Acreage Map 9. Suggested Future Land Cover at the Asylum Lake Preserve Emphasizing the Restoration of Oak Savanna Map 10. Asylum Lake Preserve and Adjoining Western Michigan University Open Lands, with Study Compartments Map 11. Asylum Lake Preserve Plant Survey Points Tables Table A. Asylum Lake Preserve: Fungi by Compartment (1 page) Table B. Asylum Lake Preserve: Mosses, Lichens and Ferns by Compartment (1 page) Table C. Asylum Lake Preserve: Plants by Compartment, with Coefficients of Conservatism (9 pages) Table C-1. Asylum Lake Preserve: Vegetation Survey Line Data— Occurrences of Woody Plant Species (2 pages) Table C-2. Asylum Lake Preserve: Vegetation Survey Canopy Data—Percentage of Occurrences (1 page) Table C-3. Asylum Lake Preserve: Vegetation Survey Belt Data— Small Woody Plants (<3 cm DBH) (2 pages) C:\asylum\03_Table of Contents.doc 3/1/02 Page 2 of 6 Table C-4. Asylum Lake Preserve: Vegetation Survey Belt Data— Medium Woody Plants (3-12.99 cm DBH) (1 page) Table C-5. Asylum Lake Preserve: Vegetation Survey—Large Trees with DBH >13 cm (1 page) Table C-6. Asylum Lake Preserve: Plant Species Observed at Parkview Hills in 2000-2001 That May Occur at the Preserve (5 pages) Table C-7. Asylum Lake Preserve: Species Observed During Three Previous Asylum Lake Property Studies, 1976-1992, and Coinciding Observations at Parkview Hills (3 pages) Table C-8. Asylum Lake Preserve: Vascular Plant Species Collected 1930-1976 for which Records Exist at Hanes Herbarium, Western Michigan University (2 pages) Table D. Asylum Lake Preserve: Butterflies (2 pages) Table E. Asylum Lake Preserve: Odonata (1 page) Table F. Asylum Lake Preserve: Amphibians and Reptiles (1 page) Table G. Asylum Lake Preserve: Birds Observed 1970-2000 (12 pages) Table H. Asylum Lake Preserve: Birds Observed by 10-day Period, Sept. 1999-Oct. 2000 (4 pages) Table I. Asylum Lake Preserve: Avian Census, Spring 2000 (10 pages) Table J. Asylum Lake Preserve: Avian Census, Summer 2000 (2 pages) Table K. Asylum Lake Preserve: Waterfowl Census, Fall 1999 (4 pages) Table L. Asylum Lake Preserve: Waterfowl Census, Winter 2000 (3 pages) C:\asylum\03_Table of Contents.doc 3/1/02 Page 3 of 6 Table M. Asylum Lake Preserve: Waterfowl Census, Spring 2000 (5 pages) Table N. Asylum Lake Preserve: Waterfowl Census, Summer 2000 (1 page) Table O. Asylum Lake Preserve: Total Birds and Total Days per Census Period (1 page) Table P. Asylum Lake Preserve: Mammal Trapping Results (4 pages) Table P-1. Asylum Lake Preserve: Small Mammal Live-trapping, 2000—Data Summary (1 page) Table Q. Asylum Lake Preserve: Mammals by Compartment (1 page) Table R. Asylum Lake Preserve: Locations of Invasive Plants (1 page) Figures Figure 1. Asylum Lake Vegetation Survey—Percentage Make-up of Canopy Figure 2. Asylum Lake Vegetation Survey—Belt Data—Small Woody Vegetation Figure 3. Asylum Lake Vegetation Survey—Belt Data—Medium Woody Vegetation Figure 4. Asylum Lake Vegetation Survey—Belt Data—Trees with DBH >13 cm Figure 5. Asylum Lake Vegetation Survey—Belt Data—Average DBH of Large Trees Figure 6. Asylum Lake Vegetation Survey—Belt Data—White Oak and Black Cherry DBH C:\asylum\03_Table of Contents.doc 3/1/02 Page 4 of 6 Addenda I. Asylum Lake Natural Features Inventory Data Compilation Title # of Pages Mosses and Lichens 1 Fungi 1 Ferns 1 Grasses and Sedges 1 Forbs 10 Shrubs and Trees 11 Butterflies 5 Odonata 3 Fish 1 Amphibians 2 Reptiles 2 Birds 103 Mammals 7 Contamination Concerns 1 II. Floristic Quality Assessment Forest A 4 Forest B 3 C:\asylum\03_Table of Contents.doc 3/1/02 Page 5 of 6 Forest C 2 Forest E 2 Farm Field A 2 Old Field A 2 Old Field B 2 Old Field D 2 Old Field E 2 Old Orchard 2 C:\asylum\03_Table of Contents.doc 3/1/02 Page 6 of 6 WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY: ASYLUM LAKE PROPERTY HISTORICAL USES AND LAND COVER, NATURAL FEATURES INVENTORY, AND HABITAT ENHANCEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS Executive Summary Western Michigan University’s Asylum Lake property is valued by the community as a natural area with a variety of plant and animal life and scenic amenities. However, it is far from being a pristine natural area. The university was in need of a study of historical uses and land cover, a natural features inventory and habitat enhancement recommendations for use in developing a management plan for this property and contracted with the Kalamazoo Nature Center to undertake this work. Nature Center staff searched archives and interviewed individuals with first-hand knowledge of activities and structures on the site. In addition, staff examined reports from previous studies conducted by university faculty and students. Present university personnel were interviewed about on-going programs. The Asylum Lake area has been affected by human activities over many years, particularly since expansion of European settlement in the mid-1800s. A number of buildings and the infrastructure to serve them were built. Many have been demolished, but rubble and underground materials remain. In the mid-1800s there was a farm, including orchards, on the land. It was sold to the Kalamazoo State Hospital in 1887. The hospital built a number of buildings between then and the 1950s. All have since been demolished, most in 1965. In addition to buildings, there were a number of steam tunnels connecting them, as well as water, sewer and storm drainage lines. A small dump was located in a gully just south of the lake. An earthen dam was constructed in the 1870s between the lakes, with an elevation difference of approximately four feet. Field personnel visited the site regularly between September 1, 1999, and November 30, 2000, noting plant and animal species and their associations. Special effort was made to search for areas critical for preservation and for habitat likely to support listed species. Observers focused on non-vascular and vascular plant species and communities, insects, particularly butterflies (Lepidoptera) and dragonflies (Odonata), amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Quantitative surveys of birds, mammals and forest plant species were conducted. The forest plant inventory was carried out between September 15 and October 18, 2000, using both a belt transect and one-meter plots. The vegetation on the site was not notably diverse. Specifically, the herbaceous and shrub layers of the flora include extensive populations of invasive species. As a result C:\asylum\04_execsumm.doc 3/1/02 Page 1 of 3 the coefficient of conservatism is relatively low. Spring wildflower species were particularly scarce. The forest canopy is dominated by mature white oaks (Quercus alba) and wild black cherry (Prunus serotina). Glossy buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula), wild black cherry and red-osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera) are the predominant plants in the shrub layer. Approximately 44% of the shrub layer was non-native species. There was little evidence of oak regeneration, except for red oak (Quercus rubra) that composed 10% of the small stems. Altogether, 30% of the woody vegetation on the property is non-native. It appears that the increase in numbers of glossy buckthorn is causing a decrease in native wildflowers and in biodiversity. The numerous white- tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) also contribute to habitat degradation. However, the long period of human use is mostly responsible for the low plant diversity and proliferation of non-native species. Asylum Lake is critical habitat for a number of species of resident and migrating birds. Waterfowl were plentiful. Many more species than expected for a site of this size use the area for stopovers in winter and during spring and fall migrations. The presence of both waterfowl and songbirds draws both scientists and recreational birders. Current vegetation trends would likely be detrimental to breeding bird species through reduced nesting success because of increased exposure to predators. The plentiful non-native fruiting shrubs, however, provide substantial food for post-breeding and migrant bird populations. Amphibian populations appeared relatively low, with no unusual species noted. Reptiles included black rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta), Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) and Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina), all species on the Michigan special concern list.