Habitat Restoration and Protection Projects in the St. Louis River Area of Concern, Wisconsin March 2015 Documentation for Remedial Action Plan Management Actions 9.18 - Wisconsin Habitat Protection and Rehabilitation Projects, and 9.20 - Actions Taken to Control Invasive Species in Wisconsin and Minnesota Habitat Restoration and Protection Projects in the St. Louis River Area of Concern, Wisconsin i Compiled by: Molly Wick, Habitat Project Coordinator, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources With input and assistance from: Jane Anklam West Wisconsin Land Trust Jeremy Bates Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Nick Danz University of Wisconsin Superior Diane Desotelle Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Kristy DeVera AMI Consulting Engineers, P.A. (formerly City of Superior) Kris Eilers St. Louis River Alliance Amy Eliot Lake Superior Research Institute, University of Wisconsin, Superior Miles Falck Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Richard Gitar Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Joe Graham Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Cherie Hagen Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Jon Harris Douglas County Paul Hlina Lake Superior Research Institute, University of Wisconsin, Superior Joel Hoffman Environmental Protection Agency Mid-Continent Ecology Division Lab Doug Jensen Minnesota Sea Grant Greg Kessler Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Ted Koehler US Fish and Wildlife Service Steve LaValley Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Tracey Ledder Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve John Lindgren Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Dave Lindsley Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Ryan Magana Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Sumner Matteson Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Darienne McNamara City of Superior Martha Minchak Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Mary Morgan City of Superior Christian Nelson Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Diane Nelson City of Superior Sue O’Halloran Lake Superior Research Institute, University of Wisconsin, Superior Christine Ostern Douglas County Daryl Peterson Minnesota Land Trust Steve Rannenberg Douglas County Shon Schooler Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve Mike Schrage Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Matthew Steiger Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Dara Unglaube Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Habitat Restoration and Protection Projects in the St. Louis River Area of Concern, Wisconsin ii Executive Summary The St. Louis River Area of Concern (AOC) was listed in 1987 under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between the United States and Canada due to a history of contamination and habitat degradation caused by poor land use practices. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) are the state agencies responsible for implementing actions necessary to move the AOC towards de-listing. Two of nine Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs) listed for the St. Louis River AOC relate directly to fish and wildlife; BUI 2, Degraded Fish and Wildlife Populations, and BUI 9, Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat. This report contains a summary of work completed in Wisconsin to date (March, 2015) pertaining to these two BUIs, as well as invasive species control work completed to date in the AOC in both Wisconsin and Minnesota. The WDNR and many partnering agencies and organizations have made significant progress towards improving and restoring habitat opportunities and restoring healthy fish and wildlife populations in the AOC in Wisconsin. The efforts to date have included protection of 17,648 acres of habitat in the Area of Concern including Clough Island, St. Louis River and Red River Streambank Protection Area, Wisconsin Point, and Superior Municipal Forest, among several other properties. Additionally, a major sediment clean-up effort funded by Great Lakes Legacy Act removed over 60,000 tons of contaminated sediment from Newton Creek and Hog Island Inlet, and restored habitat. Additional habitat restoration efforts have included wetland restoration in Allouez Bay; conifer restoration and invasive species control on Clough Island; and invasive species control throughout the estuary. Restoration efforts in the Wisconsin portion of the Area of Concern total over 345 acres, with at least 50 acres of aquatic habitat restoration. The 2013 Remedial Action Plan Update contains the priority projects for Wisconsin to complete in order to remove the Degraded Fish and Wildlife Populations BUI and the Loss of Fish and Wildlife BUI. This list includes seven assessment or planning projects, two documentation projects, and seven habitat restoration projects to be implemented in Wisconsin between now and the AOC delisting goal of 2025. Habitat Restoration and Protection Projects in the St. Louis River Area of Concern, Wisconsin iii Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................................ iii Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures .......................................................................................................................................................................... v List of Tables ........................................................................................................................................................................... v List of Acronyms ...................................................................................................................................................................... v Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Purpose Statement ................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Completed Habitat Restoration and Protection Projects ....................................................................................................... 4 Habitat Protection ............................................................................................................................................................... 4 Habitat Restoration ........................................................................................................................................................... 10 Invasive Species Control ................................................................................................................................................... 16 Future Project Needs ............................................................................................................................................................ 29 Degraded Fish and Wildlife Populations (BUI 2) Priority Projects .................................................................................... 29 Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat (BUI 9) Priority Projects ................................................................................................ 32 Non-RAP Projects .............................................................................................................................................................. 35 Assessment of Progress ........................................................................................................................................................ 37 Degraded Fish and Wildlife Populations (BUI 2) ............................................................................................................... 37 Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat (BUI 9) ........................................................................................................................... 37 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................................................................... 40 References ............................................................................................................................................................................ 41 Appendix A: Invasive Species Plans....................................................................................................................................... 43 Area-Specific Invasive Species Plans ................................................................................................................................. 43 Associated Plans:............................................................................................................................................................... 45 Additional Resources ........................................................................................................................................................ 47 Habitat Restoration and Protection Projects in the St. Louis River Area of Concern, Wisconsin iv List of Figures Figure 1. Map of the St. Louis River Area of Concern ........................................................................ 2 Figure 2. Map of Past Land Protection Efforts ................................................................................... 6 Figure 3. Map of