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Western Prairie Ecological Landscape

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Western Prairie Ecological Landscape Chapter 23 Western Prairie 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): Prothonotary Warbler, photo by John and Karen Hollingsworth, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; prairie ragwort, photo by Dick Bauer; Loggerhead Shrike, photo by Dave Menke; yellow gentian, photo by June Dobberpuhl; Blue-winged Teal, photo by Jack Bartholmai. 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 23, Western Prairie Ecological Landscape. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, PUB-SS- 1131Y 2015, Madison. 86 pp. Cover Photos Top left: The Western Meadowlark is among the many declining grassland species in Wisconsin. Photo by John and Karen Hollingsworth, courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Bottom left: The Wisconsin Endangered Carolina anemone is extremely rare in Wisconsin, where it occurs only in a few counties in the west central part of the state. Photo by Kitty Kohout. Top right: The Western Prairie Ecological Landscape still offers critical management opportunities for several of Wisconsin’s most severely declining natural communities and associated wildlife. Photo by Chris Trosen, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Center right: Lower St. Croix River corridor, including channels, extensive emergent marsh, floodplain forest, and forested bluffs. The lower St. Croix is among Wisconsin’s most diverse big river ecosystems and supports a wealth of native plant and animal life. St. Croix Islands State Wildlife Area, St. Croix County. Photo by Harvey Halvorsen, Wisconsin DNR. Bottom right: Very few intact tallgrass prairie remnants persist anywhere in the Upper Midwest, and most of them are very small and isolated. In addition to serving historical and educational functions, they are invaluable as refugia for native plants, invertebrates, and micro-organisms and also serve as templates upon which to base restoration actions for public agencies, NGOs, and interested private parties. Photo by Missy Sparrow-Lien, Wisconsin DNR. Contents Kitty Kohout Western Prairie Ecological Landscape at a Glance .............................................. vii Introduction ................................................................................. 1 General Description and Overview ............................................................ 3 Environment and Ecology .................................................................... 3 Physical Environment ....................................................................... 3 Size .................................................................................... 3 Climate ................................................................................. 3 Bedrock Geology .......................................................................... 4 Landforms and Surficial Geology .............................................................. 6 Topography and Elevation ................................................................... 7 Soils ................................................................................... 7 Hydrology ............................................................................... 7 Biotic Environment ......................................................................... 13 Vegetation and Land Cover .................................................................. 13 Flora ................................................................................... 18 Fauna .................................................................................. 20 Natural and Human Disturbances ............................................................. 28 Management Opportunities for Important Ecological Features of the Western Prairie .......... 31 Grasslands: Prairies, Surrogate Grasslands, Savannas ............................................. 32 Lower St. Croix River Valley, including the Floodplain and Adjoining Bluffs ........................... 35 Kinnickinnic River Valley: River Falls Downstream to the St. Croix River .............................. 36 Coldwater and Coolwater Streams ............................................................ 37 Miscellaneous Natural Features ............................................................... 38 Socioeconomic Characteristics ................................................................ 38 History of Human Settlement and Resource Use ................................................. 38 American Indian Settlement ................................................................. 38 Euro-American Contact and Settlement ......................................................... 39 Early Agriculture .......................................................................... 39 Early Mining ............................................................................. 39 Early Transportation and Access ............................................................... 40 Early Logging Era .......................................................................... 40 Resource Characterization and Use ............................................................ 40 The Land ................................................................................ 41 Minerals ................................................................................ 41 Water (Ground and Surface).................................................................. 41 Y-iii Recreation ............................................................................... 41 Agriculture .............................................................................. 43 Timber.................................................................................. 43 Infrastructure ............................................................................ 45 Current Socioeconomic Conditions ............................................................ 46 Demography ............................................................................. 46 The Economy ............................................................................. 48 Integrated Opportunities for Management ................................................... 51 Appendices .................................................................................. 52 Appendix 23.A. Watershed Water Quality Summary for the Western Prairie Ecological Landscape ................ 52 Appendix 23.B. Forest Habitat Types in the Western Prairie Ecological Landscape ............................ 53 Appendix 23.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 Western Prairie Ecological Landscape in November 2009 ......................................................................... 54 Appendix 23.D. Number of Species with Special Designations Documented within the Western Prairie Ecological Landscape, 2009 .................................................................. 58 Appendix 23.E. Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) Found in the Western Prairie Ecological Landscape ... 59 Appendix 23.F. Natural Communities for Which There Are Management Opportunities in the Western Prairie Ecological Landscape ....................................................................... 61 Appendix 23.G. Public Conservation Lands in the Western Prairie Ecological Landscape, 2005................... 62 Appendix 23.H. Land Legacy Places in the Western Prairie Ecological Landscape and Their Ecological and Recreational Significance .................................................................... 63 Appendix 23.I. Importance of Economic Sectors within the Western Prairie Counties Compared to the Rest of the State ........................................................................... 64 Appendix 23.J. Scientific Names of Species Mentioned in the Text ......................................
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