ICE AGE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL CORRIDOR PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR KEWAUNEE, MANITOWOC, AND SHEBOYGAN COUNTIES, WISCONSIN Prepared by: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Parks and Recreation National Park Service, Ice Age National Scenic Trail Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission December, 2006 PUB-PR-811 06 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Board Gerald M. O'Brien, Chair Christine L. Thomas, Vice Chair Jonathan P. Ela, Secretary David Clausen Howard D. Poulson John W. Welter Stephen D. Willett Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707-7921 This publication is available in alternative format (large print, Braille, audio tape, etc.) upon request. Please call 608-266-2181 for more information. You can also view this document on the Web at: http://www.dnr.wi.gov/master_planning/ PUB-PR-811 06 Acknowledgments Lake Michigan Corridor Ice Age Trail Planning Team Lake Michigan Corridor Ice Age Trail Core Planning Team Jean Potter Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation Jeffrey Prey WDNR - Bureau of Parks and Recreation Mark Walter Bay Lake Regional Planning Commission Pam Schuler National Park Service Mary Tano National Park Service Lake Michigan Corridor Ice Age Trail Guidance / Oversight Team Peter Biermeier WDNR - Bureau of Parks and Recreation Tom Gilbert National Park Service Andrew Hanson Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation Mapping and GIS Services Tony Bellovary Bay Lake Regional Planning Commission Ice Age National Scenic Trail Corridor Plan and Environmental Assessment For Kewaunee, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan Counties, Wisconsin December, 2006 Table of Contents Executive Summary – Ice Age National Scenic Trail Corridor Plan For Kewaunee, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan Counties, Wisconsin.............................................................................................. 1 Chapter One – Purpose, Significance, and Need for Action for the Ice Age National Scenic Trail through Kewaunee, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan Counties ............................................................ 5 Purpose Statement....................................................................................................................... 5 Significance Statement................................................................................................................5 Need Statement ........................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter Two – Background and History of Ice Age Trail Corridor Planning in Kewaunee, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan Counties............................................................................................. 9 Chapter Three – Description of Corridor Planning Alternatives and Preferred Action ............... 11 Alternative One: “No-Action” Alternative ............................................................................... 13 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated ................................................................................... 13 Alternative Two: “Preferred” Alternative................................................................................. 14 Location and Description of Lake Michigan Ice Age Trail Corridor in Kewaunee, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan Counties........................................................................................................... 15 Chapter Four – The Corridor’s Affected Environment................................................................. 27 A. Corridor’s Physical Resources............................................................................................. 27 Geology................................................................................................................................. 27 Soils....................................................................................................................................... 28 Water Resources ................................................................................................................... 28 Visual Resources................................................................................................................... 28 B. Corridor’s Biological Resources .......................................................................................... 29 Ecosystem ............................................................................................................................. 29 Wildlife ................................................................................................................................. 30 C. Corridor’s Cultural Resources.............................................................................................. 35 Historic/Cultural and Archeological Resources.................................................................... 35 Archeological Sites ............................................................................................................... 36 D. Corridor’s Socio-Economic Resources................................................................................ 38 Communities and Businesses................................................................................................ 38 Land Use and Land Ownership............................................................................................. 39 Recreation Resources............................................................................................................ 40 Chapter Five – Corridor Impact Analysis..................................................................................... 45 Impacts Common to Both Alternatives..................................................................................... 45 Differences Between Alternatives ............................................................................................ 45 Scenic and Recreational Values............................................................................................ 45 Efficient Use of Resources.................................................................................................... 46 Threatened/Endangered Species and Cultural Resources..................................................... 46 Issues Identified and Analyzed In This Corridor Assessment and Environmental Assessment46 A. Impacts to Physical Resources............................................................................................. 47 Geology................................................................................................................................. 47 Soils....................................................................................................................................... 47 Water Resources ................................................................................................................... 48 Ice Age National Scenic Trail Corridor Plan and Environmental Assessment For Kewaunee, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan Counties, Wisconsin December, 2006 Air Quality ............................................................................................................................ 49 Visual Resources................................................................................................................... 49 B. Impacts to Biological Resources.......................................................................................... 50 Ecosystem Impacts................................................................................................................ 50 Threatened and Endangered Species .................................................................................... 51 Invasive Species.................................................................................................................... 51 C. Impacts to Historic/Cultural and Archeological Resources ................................................. 52 D. Impacts to Socio-Economic Resources................................................................................ 53 Communities and Businesses................................................................................................ 53 Land Use and Land Ownership............................................................................................. 53 Recreation Resources............................................................................................................ 54 Impacts to Other Recreational Resources............................................................................. 55 Impacts to Public Health....................................................................................................... 56 Fiscal Impacts to Government .............................................................................................. 56 E. Summary of Cumulative Impacts......................................................................................... 60 Chapter Six – Public Involvement, Consultation, and Coordination............................................ 63 Public Involvement ................................................................................................................... 63 Consultation for Preparation of Environmental Assessment.................................................... 65 Agencies and Individuals Contacted:.................................................................................... 65 Ice Age National Scenic Trail Corridor Plan and Environmental Assessment for Kewaunee, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan Counties......................................................................................