DRAFT Regional & Property Analysis: Sauk Prairie Recreation Area July 2012 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources PUB LF-063 The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides equal opportunity in its employment, programs, services, and function under an Affirmative Action Plan. If you have any questions, please write to: Equal Opportunity Office, Department of Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240. This publication is available in alternative format (large print, Braille, audio tape, etc.) upon request. Please contact the Department of Natural Resources, bureau of Facilities and Lands at (608)266-2135 for more information. For your convenience, this document is also available on the Internet: dnr.wi.gov; search Sauk Prairie Recreation Area Cover photo: Surrogate Grassland within the Sauk Prairie Recreation Area Prairie and Savanna Primary Site. Photo by Christina Isenring. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW ...................................................................................................................... 1 PURPOSE OF A REGIONAL AND PROPERTY ANALYSIS ................................................................................................ 1 INTRODUCTION TO THE PROPERTY ............................................................................................................................. 2 OVERVIEW OF THE SAUK PRAIRIE RECREATION AREA................................................................................................ 4 History of BAAP ................................................................................................................................................... 4 Badger Reuse Committee ..................................................................................................................................... 4 Landowners .......................................................................................................................................................... 5 ANALYSIS OF THE REGIONAL CONTEXT ........................................................................................................ 8 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES AND ECOLOGICAL CAPABILITY ......................................................................................... 8 Defining the Region ............................................................................................................................................. 8 Western Coulee and Ridges and Central Sand Hills Ecological Landscapes ...................................................... 8 Regional Biodiversity Needs and Opportunities .................................................................................................. 9 Rare Species of the Western Coulee and Ridges and Central Sand Hills Ecological Landscape ...................... 10 Significant Conservation Areas .......................................................................................................................... 12 LAND USE AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS ............................................................................................. 13 Defining the Region ........................................................................................................................................... 13 Land Use Perspective ......................................................................................................................................... 13 Population .......................................................................................................................................................... 14 Transportation Network ..................................................................................................................................... 15 Economic Context .............................................................................................................................................. 15 RECREATION RESOURCES, USE AND DEMAND ......................................................................................................... 16 Defining the Region ........................................................................................................................................... 16 SCORP ............................................................................................................................................................... 16 Sauk County CORP ............................................................................................................................................ 18 ANALYSIS OF THE PROPERTY .......................................................................................................................... 23 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................................................................ 23 Topography ........................................................................................................................................................ 23 Geology and Geography .................................................................................................................................... 23 Soils .................................................................................................................................................................... 23 WATER RESOURCES AND AQUATIC HABITATS ......................................................................................................... 24 Groundwater ...................................................................................................................................................... 24 Hydrology .......................................................................................................................................................... 26 Aquatic Habitat Restoration .............................................................................................................................. 26 VEGETATION ........................................................................................................................................................... 27 Historical Vegetation ......................................................................................................................................... 27 Current Vegetation ............................................................................................................................................. 28 Invasive Species ................................................................................................................................................. 31 Wisconsin’s Statewide Forest Strategy .............................................................................................................. 31 High Conservation Value Forests ...................................................................................................................... 32 WILDLIFE RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................................. 33 Grassland and Shrubland Birds ......................................................................................................................... 33 SITES OF HIGH CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE ........................................................................................................ 36 SPRA01. Sauk Prairie Recreation Area Baraboo Hills Woodland ................................................................... 36 SPRA02. Sauk Prairie Recreation Area Prairie and Savanna .......................................................................... 39 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources July 2012 i THREATENED, ENDANGERED, AND SPECIAL CONCERN SPECIES .............................................................................. 41 Ecological Priorities for SGCN ......................................................................................................................... 41 Bat Conservation................................................................................................................................................ 41 RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND USE ...................................................................................................................... 42 CULTURAL RESOURCES ........................................................................................................................................... 43 ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER NON-PUBLIC USE FACILITIES OR STRUCTURES ........................................................ 43 SIGNIFICANT MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND CONSTRAINTS ......................................................................................... 44 Resource Management ....................................................................................................................................... 44 Recreation Management .................................................................................................................................... 45 Future Needs ...................................................................................................................................................... 45 FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS .......................................................................................................................... 47 PROPERTY’S ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND CAPABILITY .................................................................................... 47 Landscape-scale