The Superior Mixed Forest Ecoregion: A Conservation Plan November 2002 (c) Harold Malde; Northeastern Minnesota 1 Table of Contents 1 Acknowledgements........................................................................................................................6 2 Executive Summary.......................................................................................................................7 3 Overview of Document Structure..................................................................................................8 4 Introduction to Ecoregional Planning..........................................................................................9 4.1 Goal of Ecoregional Planning (What is Ecoregional Planning?)..................................................9 4.2 Ecoregional Planning Process.......................................................................................................9 4.3 Multiple Scales of Conservation in the Superior Mixed Forest....................................................9 4.4 Implications for The Nature Conservancy and Nature Conservancy of Canada........................10 5 Overview of the Superior Mixed Forest Ecoregion ....................................................................10 5.1 Social Context.............................................................................................................................10 5.2 Current Ownership and Population.............................................................................................11 5.3 Ecological Context......................................................................................................................11 5.4 Ecoregional Boundaries and Map Units .....................................................................................11 6 Ecoregional Planning Methods in the Superior Mixed Forest...................................................12 6.1 Selecting Conservation Targets ..................................................................................................12 6.1.1 Primary Targets...........................................................................................................................13 6.1.1.1 Terrestrial Ecological Systems ...................................................................................................13 6.1.1.2 Aquatic Ecological Systems .......................................................................................................14 6.1.1.2.1 Rivers ..........................................................................................................................................14 6.1.1.2.2 Lakes...........................................................................................................................................17 6.1.1.3 Globally Rare Plant Communities ..............................................................................................18 6.1.1.4 Globally Rare Plant and Animal Species....................................................................................19 6.1.2 Secondary Targets.......................................................................................................................21 6.1.2.1 Wide-Ranging Species................................................................................................................21 6.1.2.2 Local and Intermediate-scale Species.........................................................................................22 6.2 Setting Conservation Goals ........................................................................................................22 6.2.1 Primary Targets...........................................................................................................................22 6.2.1.1 Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecological Systems...............................................................................22 6.2.1.2 Globally Rare Plant Communities ..............................................................................................22 6.2.1.3 Globally Rare Plant and Animal Species....................................................................................23 6.2.2 Secondary Targets.......................................................................................................................23 6.2.2.1 Wide-Ranging Species................................................................................................................23 6.2.2.2 Local and Intermediate-scale Species.........................................................................................24 6.3 Assessing Viability .....................................................................................................................24 6.3.1 Primary Targets...........................................................................................................................24 6.3.1.1 Terrestrial Ecological Systems ...................................................................................................24 6.3.1.2 Aquatic Ecological Systems .......................................................................................................25 6.3.1.3 Globally Rare Plant Communities ..............................................................................................26 6.3.1.4 Globally Rare Plant and Animal Species....................................................................................27 6.3.2 Secondary Targets.......................................................................................................................27 6.3.2.1 Wide-Ranging Species................................................................................................................27 6.3.2.1.1 Wolves ........................................................................................................................................27 6.3.2.1.2 Other Mammals ..........................................................................................................................27 6.3.2.1.3 Forest Interior Birds....................................................................................................................27 6.3.2.2 Local and Intermediate-scale Species.........................................................................................28 2 6.4 Selecting Conservation Areas.....................................................................................................28 6.4.1 Selecting Terrestrial Conservation Areas ...................................................................................28 6.4.1.1 Section-Specific Methods For Selecting Terrestrial Conservation Area....................................30 6.4.1.1.1 Southern Superior Uplands.........................................................................................................31 6.4.1.1.2 Western Superior Uplands ..........................................................................................................32 6.4.1.1.3 Northern Superior Uplands.........................................................................................................34 6.4.1.1.4 Northern Minnesota Drift and Lake Plains.................................................................................36 6.4.1.1.5 Southern Agassiz Peatlands and Lake Plains..............................................................................37 6.4.1.1.6 Lake of the Woods......................................................................................................................39 6.4.1.1.7 Rainy River Clay Plain ...............................................................................................................41 6.4.1.1.8 Thunder Bay—Quetico...............................................................................................................42 6.4.2 Selecting Aquatic Conservation Areas .......................................................................................43 6.4.2.1 Descriptions of the Ecological Drainage Units...........................................................................44 6.4.2.1.1 Red River Basin Ecological Drainage Units...............................................................................44 6.4.2.1.2 Mississippi Basin Ecological Drainage Units.............................................................................45 6.4.2.1.3 Great Lakes Basin Ecological Drainage Units............................................................................47 7 Evaluation of the Suite of Conservation Areas...........................................................................47 7.1 Summary of the Suite of Conservation Areas.............................................................................48 7.2 Representation of Conservation Targets.....................................................................................48 7.2.1 Primary Targets...........................................................................................................................49 7.2.1.1 Terrestrial Ecological Systems ...................................................................................................49 7.2.1.2 Aquatic Ecological Systems .......................................................................................................49 7.2.1.3 Globally Rare Plant Communities ..............................................................................................50 7.2.1.4 Globally Rare Plant and Animal Species....................................................................................50