THE NIAGARA ESCARPMENT INVENTORY FINDINGS 1999-2001 AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT FINAL REPORT MAY 1, 2002 NATURAL HERITAGE INVENTORY PROGRAM BUREAU OF ENDANGERED RESOURCES WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES P.O. BOX 7921, MADISON, WI 53707-7921 PUBL ER-801 2002 Cover Photo: Niagara Escarpment, Peninsula State Park Photographed by Gary Fewless, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay THE NIAGARA ESCARPMENT INVENTORY FINDINGS 1999-2001 AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT Authors Craig Anderson, Eric Epstein, William Smith, Nicole Merryfield Contributors Andy Clark, Mike Grimm, Gary Fewless, Emmett Judziewicz, Kathy Kirk, Kurt Schmude Natural Heritage Inventory Program Bureau of Endangered Resources Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources P.O. Box 7921 Madison WI 53707-7921 PUBL ER-801-02 Copies of this report can be obtained by writing to the Bureau of Endangered Resources at the above address. Cover Photo: Niagara Escarpment, Peninsula State Park Photographed by Gary Fewless, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Acknowledgments Funding for this project was provided by the Great Lakes Protection Fund through the WDNR’s Division of Water, Bureau of Watershed Management, and the Land Division’s Bureau of Endangered Resources. This support is gratefully acknowledged. Special thanks to Chuck Ledin for facilitating work with the Water Division. A number of individuals conducted inventory work and provided support and technical advice to complete this project. We would like to extend our thanks to those persons listed below for their assistance. We would also like to extend our appreciation to the many private landowners who granted us permission to work on or cross their properties. Data Management/GIS/Graphics Development: Julie Bleser, Natural Heritage Inventory Database Manager Terrell Hyde, Natural Heritage Inventory Assistant Zoologist Report Coordination/Administration: Nicole Merryfield, Contractor Betty Les, Chief, Natural Heritage Inventory Program Inventory Personnel: The following people conducted inventory work for this study. Andy Clark – botany, ecology, rare flora Eric Epstein – botany, ecology, rare flora Gary Fewless – botany, ecology, rare flora Mike Grimm – birds, TNC analysis of the Niagara Escarpment Dr. Emmet Judziewicz – botany, ecology, rare flora Kathy Kirk – terrestrial invertebrates, Hine’s emerald dragonfly Dr. Kurt Schmude and students – aquatic invertebrates Bill Smith – terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, rare fauna Julie Bleser – data management Reviewers/Advisors: The following individuals provided specific assistance in some phase of the project. We are grateful for their help and the help of many other people and organizations who contributed to the project. Roy Aiken; Tim Cashatt; Gary Casper; Matthew Christiansen; Steve Dutch; Ron Fassbender; Bob Hay; Randy Hoffman; Darcy Kind; Arnie Lindauer; Todd Miller; Dr. Jeff Nekola; Crystal Olson; Jeffrey Pritzl; Kathleen Regnier; Jim Reinartz; Maureen Rowe; Joseph Senulis; Dan Soluk; Ron Stieglitz; Elizabeth Spencer; Jim Theler; Gene Tiser; Joel Trick; Tim Vogt; Mark Walter; Curt Wilson; Kristin Westad; Mary Standish; Michelle Hefty. THE NIAGARA ESCARPMENT INVENTORY FINDINGS 1999-2001 AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT Authors Craig Anderson, Eric Epstein, William Smith, Nicole Merryfield Contributors Andy Clark, Mike Grimm, Gary Fewless, Emmet Judziewicz, Kathy Kirk, Kurt Schmude Natural Heritage Inventory Program Bureau of Endangered Resources Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources P.O. Box 7921 Madison WI 53707-7921 PUBL ER-801 2002 Copies of this report can be obtained by writing to the Bureau of Endangered Resources at the above address. 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. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction...............................................................................................1 Description of Study Area........................................................................1 Ecological Setting of Study Area.........................................................................................................................1 Geology of the Escarpment..................................................................................................................................2 Land Cover and Land Use...................................................................................................................................4 Inventory Methods....................................................................................5 Rare Plants and Natural Communities...............................................................................................................6 Aquatic Invertebrates ..........................................................................................................................................6 Rare Birds .............................................................................................................................................................7 Rare Terrestrial Invertebrates............................................................................................................................7 Analysis of Inventory Data.......................................................................8 Overall Results..........................................................................................8 Natural Communities and Natural Features......................................................................................................9 Plants ...................................................................................................................................................................10 Animals................................................................................................................................................................11 Inventory Results By County .................................................................13 Door County........................................................................................................................................................14 Kewaunee County...............................................................................................................................................19 Brown County.....................................................................................................................................................21 Manitowoc County .............................................................................................................................................23 Calumet County..................................................................................................................................................26 Fond du Lac County...........................................................................................................................................28 Dodge County .....................................................................................................................................................30 Threats and Management Considerations............................................32 Current Threats..................................................................................................................................................32 Management Considerations.............................................................................................................................34 Literature Cited .......................................................................................37 Appendix 1. Glossary of Terms Used in This Report..........................39 Appendix 2. Overview Of NHI Methodology.........................................43 Appendix 3. NHI Working List And Key................................................46 Appendix 4. Abreviated list of NHI Natural Communities Associated with the Niagara Escarpment ......................71 LIST OF MAPS Map 1. Niagara Escarpment study area Map 2. Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin, with the Niagara Escarpment study area shown Map 3. Escarpment location in relation to the United States and Canada Map 4. Example of exposed segments of the Niagara Escarpment, west side of northern Door Peninsula, Door County Map 5. Rare species and natural communities occurring in the study area categorized by their ecological relationship to the Escarpment. Map 6. Distribution of Class 1 natural community occurrences Map 7. Distribution of Class 1 and selected Class 2 and Class 3 plant occurrences Map 8. Distribution of Class 1 and selected Class 2 animal occurrences Map 9. Niagara Escarpment study area Door County Map 10. Niagara Escarpment study area Kewaunee County Map 11. Niagara Escarpment study area Brown County Map 12. Niagara Escarpment study area Manitowoc County Map 13. Niagara Escarpment study area Calumet County Map 14. Niagara Escarpment study area Fond du Lac County Map 15. Niagara Escarpment study area Dodge County INTRODUCTION The Niagara Escarpment has emerged as a statewide critical natural resource area in recent years due to its unique geology, the presence of rare plants and animals, and growing development