Biotic Inventory and Analysis of the Governor Knowles State Forest A Baseline Inventory and Analysis of Natural Communities, Rare Plants, and Animals September 2010 Natural Heritage Inventory Program Bureau of Endangered Resources Department of Natural Resources P.O. Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707-7921 PUBL ER-823 2010 Cover Photos (clockwise, from left): Brant Brook, Photo by Drew Feldkirchner, Wisconsin DNR; St. Croix River, Photo by Drew Feldkirchner, Wisconsin DNR; Louisiana Waterthrush, Photo by Lana Hays; and show lady’s slipper (Cypripedium reginae), Photo by Ryan Magana, Wisconsin DNR. Copies of this report can be obtained by writing to the Bureau of Endangered Resources at the address on the front cover. This publication is available in alternative format (large print, Braille, audio tape, etc) upon request. Please call (608-266-7012) for more information. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides equal opportunity in its employment, programs, services, and functions under an Affirmative Action Plan. If you have any questions, please write to Equal Opportunity Office, Department of Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240. Biotic Inventory and Analysis of the Governor Knowles State Forest A Baseline Inventory and Analysis of Natural Communities, Rare Plants, and Animals Acknowledgments We extend our appreciation to Dan Thill, Governor Knowles State Forest Superintendent and Mike Wallis, GKSF Forester. We also thank those individuals who reviewed this document and provided valuable input. Finally, the Minnesota DNR Ecological Resources Program provided two of the species lists used in the report. Funding was provided by the Division of Forestry and the Endangered Resources Fund. Primary Author: Drew Feldkirchner Contributors: Numerous contributors assisted with planning, conducted surveys, mapped and interpreted data, and delineated the Primary Sites. This project would not have been possible without the efforts and expertise of the following biologists: • Craig Anderson – botany, rare plants, planning • Matt Berg – passerine birds • Julie Bleser – data management • Barbara Delaney – community ecology, botany • Eric Epstein – community ecology, birds, planning • Drew Feldkirchner – report production, community ecology, planning • Kim Grveles – planning • Terrell Hyde – zoology, data processing • Christina Isenring – community ecology, botany, data processing, planning • John Krause – rare forest raptors • Janeen Laatsch – botany data processing • Ryan Magana – community ecology • William Smith – zoology • Rich Staffen – passerine birds, rare forest raptors, zoology, data processing, planning Table of Contents Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 9 Project Purpose and Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 9 Overview of Methods .......................................................................................................................................... 9 Background on Past Efforts ............................................................................................................................... 11 Description of the Study Area .................................................................................................... 13 Location ............................................................................................................................................................. 13 Ecoregions ......................................................................................................................................................... 13 Size .................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Special Management Designations .................................................................................................................... 14 Public Lands ...................................................................................................................................................... 15 General Land Use .............................................................................................................................................. 16 Physical Environment ........................................................................................................................................ 16 Vegetation .......................................................................................................................................................... 19 Summary of Findings.................................................................................................................. 22 Natural Communities of the Study Area ............................................................................................................ 22 Rare Vascular Plants of the Study Area ............................................................................................................. 26 Rare Animals of the Study Area ........................................................................................................................ 28 Threats to Biodiversity................................................................................................................ 33 Invasive Species ................................................................................................................................................ 33 Ecological Simplification and Habitat Loss ...................................................................................................... 34 Deer Herbivory .................................................................................................................................................. 35 Altered Ecological Processes and Habitat Degradation .................................................................................... 35 Priority Opportunities to Conserve Biodiversity ...................................................................... 37 Landscape Level Priorities ................................................................................................................................ 37 High Conservation Value Forests ...................................................................................................................... 38 Community Level Priorities .............................................................................................................................. 39 Wisconsin’s Statewide Forest Strategy .............................................................................................................. 41 Primary Sites: Significance and Summaries ............................................................................ 42 Future Inventory, Monitoring and Research Needs.................................................................. 44 Glossary ....................................................................................................................................... 46 Species List ................................................................................................................................. 50 References ................................................................................................................................... 53 Additional Resources ................................................................................................................. 57 Governor Knowles State Forest 1 Appendices A. Natural Heritage Inventory Methods Overview B. Primary Site Descriptions C. Key to the Natural Heritage Inventory Working List List of Tables Table 1. Field Surveys Conducted During 2007 – 2009……………..………....................................................………….............................11 Table 2. State Natural Areas Within the Governor Knowles State Forest.......................................................................................................16 Table 3. Wisconsin Public Lands Near the Governor Knowles State Forest...................................................................................................16 Table 4. NHI Natural Community Types Documented Within the Governor Knowles State Forest with at Least One Element Occurrence- Quality Example..............................................................................................................................................................................23 Table 5. NHI Working List plants documented at the Governor Knowles State Forest...................................................................................27 Table 6. NHI Working List Plants Documented Within one Mile of the Governor Knowles State Forest on the Minnesota Side of the River.................................................................................................................................................................................................29 Table 7. NHI Working List Animals Documented at the Governor Knowles State Forest..............................................................................30 Table 8. Additional NHI Working List Animals not Documented Within the Governor Knowles State Forest but Known From Within one-Mile of the Property..................................................................................................................................................................................31