for the Wild & Rare An Action Plan for Minnesota Wildlife Glacial Lake Superior Plains S u b s e c t i o n P r o f i l e Minnesota’s Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy Glacial Lake Superior Plain Glacial Lake Superior Plain SGCN ELEMENT OCCURRENCES BY TOWNSHIP SUBSECTION OVERVIEW Quick facts The Glacial Lake Superior Plain Subsection occupies a small area Acres: 109,673 (0.2% of state) This map depicts the number of validated records of just south Duluth, Minnesota, but it is part of a larger unit in Ownership species in greatest conservation need since 1990 per Wisconsin. Topography is level to gently rolling except along rivers township and public land/conservancy land. It suggests and streams where the Nemadji River and its tributaries have worn Public Private Tribal 29.1% 70.9% 0.0% relationships between known SGCN occurrences and gorges up to 150 feet deep. There are no natural lakes found here. conservation management lands. It also displays areas Before settlement by people of European descent, the forest was Population density (people/sq. mi.) that have not been surveyed for rare animals by MCBS. mostly white spruce, white pine, and aspen-birch. Following logging, Current Change today’s forest is largely quaking aspen. (2000-2010) 42.4 +2.7 Forestry is the most predominant land use, and significant portions of this area remain undeveloped. Natural erosion of the predominantly Current Land Use/Land Cover red clay soils by rivers, which deposit extensive clay sediments into Lake Superior, is a significant problem. Developed 0% Water Row crop 1% 11% SPECIES IN GREATEST CONSERVATION Pasture NEED 11% 55 Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are known or Wetland/ Forest Open predicted to occur within the Glacial Lake Superior Plain. These 67% SGCN include 10 species that are federal or state endangered, 10% threatened, or of special concern. The table, SGCN by Taxonomic Group, displays by taxonomic group the number of SGCN that occur in the subsection, as well as the percentage of the total SGCN set represented by each taxon. For example, 4 mammal SGCN are known or predicted to occur in the Glacial Lake Superior Plain, HIGHLIGHTS approximately 18% of all mammal SGCN in the state. • This subsection has a mixed representation of forest and riparian SGCN BY TAXONOMIC GROUP habitats that are home to wood Taxa # of Percentage Examples of SGCN turtles, gray wolves, bald eagles, SGCN of SGCN Set common ravens, and northern brook by Taxon lampreys. Amphibians 2 33.3 None documented since 1990 • In some winters there are significant Birds 44 45.4 Ovenbird numbers of boreal migrants in the Fish 1 2.1 Northern brook lamprey region including crossbills, pine Insects 0 0 NA siskins, redpolls, and great gray Mammals 4 18.2 None documented since 1990 Sources: MN DNR Natural Heritage database, MN DNR County Biological Survey (MCBS), MN DNR Statewide Mussel Survey, MN DNR owls. Fisheries Fish database. Areas with no MCBS animal surveys may have had mussel and fish surveys, as well as reports of other species Mollusks 2 5.1 Creek heelsplitter occurrences recorded in the MN DNR Natural Heritage database. Reptiles 2 11.8 Wood turtle • Areas important for SGCN include Spiders 0 0 NA Jay Cooke State Park and the SPECIES PROBLEM ANALYSIS Nemadji State Forest. The species problem analysis provides information on the factors influencing the vulnerability or decline of SGCN that are known or predicted to occur in the subsection. The table lists the nine problems, or factors, used in the analysis, and the SPECIES SPOTLIGHT percentage of SGCN in the subsection for which each factor influences species vulnerability or decline. The results of the Wood turtle (Clemmys insculpta) species problem analysis indicate that habitat loss and degradation in the subsection are the most significant challenges Distribution Have been documented in 15 counties in eastern facing SGCN populations. MN. Associated with midsize rivers flowing NOTE: The inverse of the percentages for each problem does not necessarily represent the percentage of SGCN for which the factor is not a problem, but through forested areas, with nesting habitat instead may indicate that there is not sufficient information available to determine the level of influence the factor has on SGCN in the subsection. (sandbars, riverbanks, open hillsides, railroad Problem Percentage of SGCN in the Subsection grades) nearby. for Which This Is a Problem Abundance Uncommon, even in suitable habitat. Habitat Loss in MN 84 Legal Status State list-Threatened. Habitat Degradation in MN 93 Comments The most terrestrial of MN turtles, but studies of Habitat Loss/Degradation Outside of MN 49 radioed turtles have shown that they generally stay Invasive Species and Competition 31 within 100 miles of river. Preservation of this Pollution 31 species depends on collaboration with private and Social Tolerance/Persecution/Exploitation 24 public landowners to protect riparian habitat and Disease 2 water quality. Food Source Limitations 2 Other 4 Tomorrow’s Habitat for the Wild and Rare: An Action Plan for Minnesota Wildlife 136 Tomorrow’s Habitat for the Wild and Rare: An Action Plan for Minnesota Wildlife 137 Glacial Lake Superior Plain Glacial Lake Superior Plain SGCN ELEMENT OCCURRENCES BY TOWNSHIP SUBSECTION OVERVIEW Quick facts The Glacial Lake Superior Plain Subsection occupies a small area Acres: 109,673 (0.2% of state) This map depicts the number of validated records of just south Duluth, Minnesota, but it is part of a larger unit in Ownership species in greatest conservation need since 1990 per Wisconsin. Topography is level to gently rolling except along rivers township and public land/conservancy land. It suggests and streams where the Nemadji River and its tributaries have worn Public Private Tribal 29.1% 70.9% 0.0% relationships between known SGCN occurrences and gorges up to 150 feet deep. There are no natural lakes found here. conservation management lands. It also displays areas Before settlement by people of European descent, the forest was Population density (people/sq. mi.) that have not been surveyed for rare animals by MCBS. mostly white spruce, white pine, and aspen-birch. Following logging, Current Change today’s forest is largely quaking aspen. (2000-2010) 42.4 +2.7 Forestry is the most predominant land use, and significant portions of this area remain undeveloped. Natural erosion of the predominantly Current Land Use/Land Cover red clay soils by rivers, which deposit extensive clay sediments into Lake Superior, is a significant problem. Developed 0% Water Row crop 1% 11% SPECIES IN GREATEST CONSERVATION Pasture NEED 11% 55 Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are known or Wetland/ Forest Open predicted to occur within the Glacial Lake Superior Plain. These 67% SGCN include 10 species that are federal or state endangered, 10% threatened, or of special concern. The table, SGCN by Taxonomic Group, displays by taxonomic group the number of SGCN that occur in the subsection, as well as the percentage of the total SGCN set represented by each taxon. For example, 4 mammal SGCN are known or predicted to occur in the Glacial Lake Superior Plain, HIGHLIGHTS approximately 18% of all mammal SGCN in the state. • This subsection has a mixed representation of forest and riparian SGCN BY TAXONOMIC GROUP habitats that are home to wood Taxa # of Percentage Examples of SGCN turtles, gray wolves, bald eagles, SGCN of SGCN Set common ravens, and northern brook by Taxon lampreys. Amphibians 2 33.3 None documented since 1990 • In some winters there are significant Birds 44 45.4 Ovenbird numbers of boreal migrants in the Fish 1 2.1 Northern brook lamprey region including crossbills, pine Insects 0 0 NA siskins, redpolls, and great gray Mammals 4 18.2 None documented since 1990 Sources: MN DNR Natural Heritage database, MN DNR County Biological Survey (MCBS), MN DNR Statewide Mussel Survey, MN DNR owls. Fisheries Fish database. Areas with no MCBS animal surveys may have had mussel and fish surveys, as well as reports of other species Mollusks 2 5.1 Creek heelsplitter occurrences recorded in the MN DNR Natural Heritage database. Reptiles 2 11.8 Wood turtle • Areas important for SGCN include Spiders 0 0 NA Jay Cooke State Park and the SPECIES PROBLEM ANALYSIS Nemadji State Forest. The species problem analysis provides information on the factors influencing the vulnerability or decline of SGCN that are known or predicted to occur in the subsection. The table lists the nine problems, or factors, used in the analysis, and the SPECIES SPOTLIGHT percentage of SGCN in the subsection for which each factor influences species vulnerability or decline. The results of the Wood turtle (Clemmys insculpta) species problem analysis indicate that habitat loss and degradation in the subsection are the most significant challenges Distribution Have been documented in 15 counties in eastern facing SGCN populations. MN. Associated with midsize rivers flowing NOTE: The inverse of the percentages for each problem does not necessarily represent the percentage of SGCN for which the factor is not a problem, but through forested areas, with nesting habitat instead may indicate that there is not sufficient information available to determine the level of influence the factor has on SGCN in the subsection. (sandbars, riverbanks, open hillsides, railroad Problem Percentage of SGCN in the Subsection grades) nearby. for Which This Is a Problem Abundance Uncommon, even in suitable habitat. Habitat Loss in MN 84 Legal Status State list-Threatened. Habitat Degradation in MN 93 Comments The most terrestrial of MN turtles, but studies of Habitat Loss/Degradation Outside of MN 49 radioed turtles have shown that they generally stay Invasive Species and Competition 31 within 100 miles of river. Preservation of this Pollution 31 species depends on collaboration with private and Social Tolerance/Persecution/Exploitation 24 public landowners to protect riparian habitat and Disease 2 water quality.