Cover Photographs Top: Dwarf Lake Iris (Iris lacustris) - Courtesy Gary Emmerlich Middle: Hines Emerald Dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana) - Courtesy Paul Burton Bottom: Mink River, on the Upper Peninsula, looking west. - Courtesy Mike Grimm Cover Design: Pat Robinson, UWEX Lakeshore Basin Educator for Natural Resources A Guide to Significant Wildlife Habitat and Natural Areas Of Door County, Wisconsin March, 2003 First Edition A Collaborative Community Project Copies of this document can be obtained from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Sturgeon Bay Service Center 110 S. Neenah Avenue Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 Illustrations © 1997 Chris Baird, Minneapolis, All Rights Reserved – Foreword – by Nina Leopold Bradley The Highest and Best Uses of Land History tells us that our native surroundings provide our fundamental identity and sense of place. They provide the foothold for understanding who we are as a people. Our natural heritage has helped to shape our cultural heritage. In Door County the splendor of its natural surrounding has played an important role in shaping and nurturing community values. Fifty years ago Aldo Leopold urged Americans to adopt a more caring attitude toward the land. He wrote, “Quit thinking about decent land use as solely an economic problem … examine each question in terms of what is ethically and esthetically right, as well as what is economically expedient.” This guidebook on natural areas allows us to examine the maps and descriptions of the uncommon natural wonders that are the precious heritage of Door County. Leopold’s thoughts lead us to think about what is esthetically right as well as economically expedient. To achieve a balanced economy, in harmony with the natural environment and its preservation, will require strong leadership and a broad ethical vision. It has been written that the future of our public lands will be determined by the strength of our leadership on environmental issues. Our own Wisconsin environmental ecologists have articulated such a commitment over the last century. From Sig Olson to Aldo Leopold to John Muir, we have abundant inspiration to protect our wildest places, balancing the increasing demand for development. Conservation, as Aldo Leopold understood it, is a matter not just of technical skills, but of social development, which in turn is a matter of changing mores, customs, laws, incentives and community standards. As we care for this special part of Wisconsin we may be able to implement an elevation of community standards, a fresh understanding of the dynamic interrelationship between public and private interests, and public and private lands. Leopold wrote: “Now we face the question whether a still higher standard of living is worth its cost in things natural, wild and free.” – Foreward – 3 This volume indicates that Door County still retains some of these “things natural, wild and free”. Let us value them as we study these carefully constructed maps and descriptions, and consider the highest and best use of the unspoiled lands. With all of its appeal, Door County is going to attract growth whether we actively seek it or not. The future of the county’s remaining undeveloped landscape is contingent upon how we determine their highest and best use. This guide will facilitate our learning about the county’s remaining natural areas as we contemplate their future. Nina Leopold Bradley September, 2002 Aldo Leopold’s eldest daughter Nina Leopold Bradley lives in Baraboo, Wisconsin where she continues to deepen her father’s legacy through her work in supporting the mission of the Aldo Leopold Foundation. The Foundation promotes the care of natural resources by fostering an ethical relationship between people and land. Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic “When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect. That land is a community is the basic concept of ecology, but that land is to be loved and respected is an extension of ethics”. 4 – Forward – — Preface — This publication represents the collective efforts of a group of individuals whose intent is to help preserve Door County’s communities of plants and animals and their habitats. Many people acknowledge that most of the remaining natural landscapes and open space are seriously threatened by continued commercial and residential development. Concerned about the problem, this initiative was organized to examine this threat and formulate a strategy to help minimize the consequences. One could conclude that the way of life we experience in Door County is in many respects dependent upon its open spaces and undeveloped natural landscapes. Considered a special place, Door County can be characterized by its numerous and diverse natural areas. These places are home to a variety of plant and animal species and geographical features, the likes of which are found nowhere else. The fact that some of these natural areas are already protected as state parks, nature preserves and wildlife areas is a testament to the high quality of natural ecosystems to be found in Door County. Door County has a total of 22 designated State Natural Areas, which is more than any other county. Five state parks encompassing over 9000 acres are found here, which is also more than in any other county, and two state wildlife areas contain an additional 3000 acres. The Ridges Sanctuary, The Nature Conservancy, The Door County Land Trust and the University of Wisconsin collectively own or manage more than 5000 acres for purposes of natural area protection. Seventeen county parks and numerous town and municipal parks provide varying levels of protection for other sites. Although significant areas of Door County have been set aside for conservation and recreation, large expanses of undeveloped natural ecosystems remain unprotected. The rush of daily life makes it easy to take these unprotected areas, and the benefits we derive from them, for granted. Yet many of these natural landscapes will eventually be lost or degraded if preventive action isn't taken. Losing these special areas would have a significant and noticeable adverse affect on adjacent properties. Even those areas that are preserved are threatened by over use or invasive species. Our purpose has This guide is designed for people at all levels of government. Hopefully, others will find it useful, including natural resource been to provide professionals and interested citizens. Our purpose has been to provide practical information practical information that might assist citizens and civic and political that might assist leaders in supporting natural area preservation and protection activities in citizens and civic and and around their communities. political leaders in Seventeen areas have been identified as the most critical in supporting natural maintaining the ecological integrity of Door County’s natural environment, area preservation and and hence one of the keys to the county’s way of life. While this list of protection activities in areas is certainly not exhaustive and could be debated, it does represent the best identification effort of a very diverse group of interested parties with and around their knowledge of Door County and its natural areas. Each area holds communities. significant value for recreation, aesthetics, clean air and water, and local biodiversity. Even though efforts were made to gather information about available land preservation and protection programs, it has not been included as part of this publication. Future editions will explore and catalogue the variety of programs and strategies that can be used to preserve and protect wildlife habitat and natural areas. – Preface – 5 — Acknowledgement — This publication has been an evolving and collaborative effort since its early beginning in July of 1997. The result represents many generously given volunteer hours, numerous regularly scheduled meetings and considerable give and take by everyone involved. No one individual or organization was in control, rather the process can best be characterized in the spirit of shared leadership and shared responsibility. Many of those participating have affiliations with local, state and federal agencies and conservation organizations but have given of their energies and time as individuals concerned about the future of wildlife habitat and natural landscapes on the Door Peninsula. Their professional association should not be perceived as an endorsement by those agencies or organizations of the work presented here. Roy Aiken Roy Lukes Dan Burke Patrick Robinson Jaime Corbiser Bill Ruff Ron Fassbender Carl Scholz Coleen Feucht William Schuster Robert Florence Mary Standish Terry Gardon Ron Stieglitz Mike Grimm Joel Trick Robert Howe Jerry Viste Others who have occasionally participated to offer timely information and advice are recognized and appreciated for their contribution: Guenevere Abernathy Charlotte Lukes David Allen Paul Mahlberg Jim Bunning Robert Merline Laddie Chapman Pat Miller Ray Drake Paul Regnier George Evenson Jon Renner Mariah Goode Bob Ryan Vinnie Hancock Phil Saperstein Bill Laatsch Larry Smith Arnie Lindauer Mike Toneys 6 – Acknowledgements -- Special Recognition Since its early beginnings these individuals have given many hours to this project. Their agencies, institutions and organizations are each recognized for having allowed them to work on this important project: Bay Lake Regional Planning Commission The Door County Land Use Forum Door County Environment Council The Nature Conservancy Door Property Owners, Inc. United