Chapter 16 Northwest Lowlands Ecological Landscape Where to Find the Publication The Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin publication is available online, in CD format, and in limited quantities as a hard copy. Individual chapters are available for download in PDF format through the Wisconsin DNR website (http://dnr.wi.gov/, keyword “landscapes”). The introductory chapters (Part 1) and supporting materials (Part 3) should be downloaded along with individual ecological landscape chapters in Part 2 to aid in understanding and using the ecological landscape chapters. In addition to containing the full chapter of each ecological landscape, the website highlights key information such as the ecological landscape at a glance, Species of Greatest Conservation Need, natural community management opportunities, general management opportunities, and ecological landscape and Landtype Association maps (Appendix K of each ecological landscape chapter). These web pages are meant to be dynamic and were designed to work in close association with materials from the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan as well as with information on Wisconsin’s natural communities from the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory Program. If you have a need for a CD or paper copy of this book, you may request one from Dreux Watermolen, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Photos (L to R): Red-shouldered Hawk, photo © Laurie Smaglick Johnson; arctic fritillary, photo by Ann Thering; Sedge Wren, photo © Laurie Smaglick Johnson; gray wolf, photo by Gary Cramer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Golden-winged Warbler, photo © Laurie Smaglick Johnson. Suggested Citation Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 2015. The ecological landscapes of Wisconsin: An assessment of ecological resources and a guide to planning sustainable management. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, PUB-SS-1131 2015, Madison. Suggested Citation for This Chapter Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 2015. The ecological landscapes of Wisconsin: An assessment of ecological resources and a guide to planning sustainable management. Chapter 16, Northwest Lowlands Ecological Landscape. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, PUB-SS- 1131R 2015, Madison. Cover Photos Top left: Extensive wetlands border the Black River. Communities includes Northern Sedge Meadow, Poor Fen, and in the distance, a black spruce Muskeg. Western Douglas County. Photo by Eric Epstein, Wisconsin DNR. Bottom left: The Golden-winged Warbler is a neotropical migrant songbird that finds important nesting habitat in the deciduous shrub swamps and extensive forests of the Northwest Lowlands. Photo © Laurie Smaglick Johnson. Top right: The St. Croix is the Northwest Lowland’s largest river. Biodiversity and recreational values are exceptional. A watershed that is mostly forested and minimal streamside development contribute to the maintenance of high water quality. Photo by Drew Feldkirchner, Wisconsin DNR. Center right: This undeveloped drainage lake occupies a forested watershed that is lightly populated and contains acid peatlands of bog, fen, and conifer swamp. Black Lake State Natural Area, Douglas County. Photo by Eric Epstein, Wisconsin DNR. Bottom right: After an absence of several decades, the gray wolf has recolonized parts of northern and central Wisconsin. With its vast forests, low road density, and proximity to a source population in adjacent Minnesota, the Northwest Lowlands played an important role. Photo by John and Karen Hollingsworth, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Contents June Dobberpuhl Northwest Lowlands Ecological Landscape at a Glance ......................................... vii Introduction ................................................................................. 1 General Description and Overview ............................................................ 3 Environment and Ecology .................................................................... 4 Physical Environment ........................................................................ 4 Size ..................................................................................... 4 Climate .................................................................................. 4 Bedrock Geology ........................................................................... 4 Landforms and Surficial Geology ............................................................... 5 Topography and Elevation .................................................................... 6 Soils .................................................................................... 6 Hydrology ................................................................................ 6 Biotic Environment .......................................................................... 9 Vegetation and Land Cover ................................................................... 9 Flora .................................................................................... 14 Fauna ................................................................................... 15 Natural and Human Disturbances .............................................................. 23 Management Opportunities for Important Ecological Features of the Northwest Lowlands ..... 25 Extensive Contiguous Forests ................................................................. 26 Upper St. Croix River Corridor ................................................................. 29 Large, Intact Acid Peatlands .................................................................. 30 Stream Headwaters ......................................................................... 30 Remote Areas: Large Public Land Base, Few Developments ........................................ 31 Miscellaneous Features ...................................................................... 31 Socioeconomic Characteristics ................................................................ 32 History of Human Settlement and Resource Use ................................................. 32 American Indian Settlement .................................................................. 32 Euro-American Contact and Settlement ......................................................... 32 Early Agriculture ........................................................................... 33 Early Mining .............................................................................. 33 Early Transportation and Access................................................................ 33 Early Logging Era .......................................................................... 34 Resource Characterization and Use ............................................................. 34 The Land ................................................................................. 34 Minerals ................................................................................. 34 R-iii Water (Ground and Surface) .................................................................. 34 Recreation ............................................................................... 35 Agriculture ............................................................................... 37 Timber .................................................................................. 37 Infrastructure ............................................................................. 38 Current Socioeconomic Conditions ............................................................. 40 Demography .............................................................................. 40 The Economy ............................................................................. 41 Integrated Opportunities for Management ................................................... 44 Appendices .................................................................................. 45 Appendix 16.A. Watershed Water Quality Summary for the Northwest Lowlands Ecological Landscape ............ 45 Appendix 16.B. Forest Habitat Types in the Northwest Lowlands Ecological Landscape ........................ 46 Appendix 16.C. The Natural Heritage Inventory (NHI) Table of Rare Species and Natural Community Occurrences (Plus a Few Miscellaneous Featured Tracked by the NHI Program) for the Northwest Lowlands Ecological Landscape in November 2009 ................................................................. 47 Appendix 16.D. Number of Species with Special Designations Documented within the Northwest Lowlands Ecological Landscape, 2009 ................................................................... 51 Appendix 16.E. Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) Found in the Northwest Lowlands Ecological Landscape ........................................................................ 52 Appendix 16.F. Natural Communities for Which There Are Management Opportunities in the Northwest Lowlands Ecological Landscape ................................................................ 54 Appendix 16.G. Public Conservation Lands in the Northwest Lowlands Ecological Landscape, 2005 ............... 55 Appendix 16.H. Land Legacy Places in the Northwest Lowlands Ecological Landscape and Their Ecological and Recreational Significance ................................................................. 56 Appendix 16.I. Importance of Economic Sectors within Douglas County Compared to the Rest of the State ......... 57 Appendix 16.J. Scientific Names of Species Mentioned in the Text ........................................ 58 Appendix 16.K. Maps