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SUPERIOR - 11

STOCKTON TYPES Eric Epstein Marsh, fen, coniferous bog, coniferous swamp, alder thicket, • seasonally flooded basin, interdunal wetland ECOLOGY & SIGNIFICANCE the carnivorous horned and northeastern bladderworts. In the northwest sector, a large isolated portion of the This Wetland Gem, part of the Apostle Sandscapes tombolo is quite acidic, dominated by ericaceous shrubs, State Natural Area, is Wisconsin’s only tombolo—a including leatherleaf, few-seeded sedge and beaked narrow piece of created by -deposited sedge. Speckled alder is locally common. The tombolo

ASHLAND COUNTY between an island and a . The tombolo, supports three state threatened species—Michaux’s stretching off the southeast end of Stockton Island to sedge, shore sedge and English sundew. former island Presque Isle, is made up of two sandspits that enclose a large wetland and . A series of narrow, at this site are used extensively by migratory birds parallel ridges create swales that support a variety in the spring and fall. The Apostle Islands in general host of wetland habitats including marsh, fen, coniferous tens of thousands of migrating passerines and raptors, and bog, coniferous swamp and alder thicket. Because of the provide important nesting habitat for colonial waterbirds unique and complex of natural communities and a variety of breeding songbirds. Rare animal species at this Wetland Gem, the site boasts high overall species recorded at Stockton Island Tombolo include four- diversity as well as a high concentration of rare species. toed salamander, Swainson’s thrush, northern harrier, Blackburnian warbler, May warbler, yellow-bellied FLORA & FAUNA flycatcher, merlin and red-breasted merganser. Stockton

A fen mat at the site is composed of woolly sedge, the Island is also home to one of the densest populations of rare sedge, twig rush, brown and white beakrushes, black bears in . sweet gale and buckbean. Along the upland margins of the wetland, a boggier mat of sphagnum mosses, THREATS ericaceous shrubs, sedges and scattered small tamarack This site is well protected, but should be monitored for trees occur. An interdunal wetland supports unusual flora invasive species and impacts of human use. Heavy deer including shore rush, Robbins’ spikerush, twig rush, and browsing pressure threatens the regeneration of the site’s conifer trees. Declining Lake Superior levels have altered these and other coastal wetlands in recent years and may continue to do so if this pattern continues with global climate change. Property Owner: National Park Service Property InventoryConservation PrimaryInitiative Site, WI Bird Wetland Area Important Bird WI State Natural Area, WI CoastalRecognitions & Designations: WI State Natural Area, TOMBOLO STOCKTON ISLANDSTOCKTON ACCESS Funding for this project provided Stockton Island, like all of the Apostle by the Wisconsin Program and Islands, is accessible only by boat. Visit the National Oceanic and www.nps.gov/apis/planyourvisit/ for details on Atmospheric Administration, Office of and Coastal travel to the island, camping and foot trails that Resource Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act, can be used to view wetlands at this site. Grant #NA07NOS4190064.

Sources: Coastal Wetlands of Wisconsin's Great Lakes (WDNR) wisconsinwetlands.org Priority Wetland Sites of Wisconsin’s Lake Superior Basin (WDNR) Wisconsin Important Bird Areas (WBCI) Black bear — Drew Feldkirchner Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program (WDNR)