Guide to Significant Wildlife Habitat - Door County Web Map

THREATS:
• As the quality of the groundwater that supplies a large portion of the water of the Mink River is
critical to the health of this wetland dominated system, any contamination of this groundwater would
degrade the quality of this site. Possible sources of contamination to this groundwater could include
leaking or failing septic systems in the watershed, or increased nutrient loading of the groundwater
from poor fertilizer management in the watershed.
• Surface water runoff also may contribute degrading influences to the system. Sources of
contaminants would likely be runoff from paved or impervious surfaces within the watershed. This
could be of particular concern where Highway 42 crosses the Mink River and further upstream.
• Another threat to the health of the Mink River landscape is the presence of a number of non-native
species of plants and animals. Carp in particular have invaded the shallow waters of the river
negatively affecting the water quality. Zebra mussels have also been found in nearby Rowley’s Bay,
although in low numbers.
• Invasive plant species also pose a threat to this site. Purple loosestrife has been seen occasionally in
the marsh, but has been controlled by pulling. Garlic mustard has recently been found along the shore
of Rowley’s Bay. Other species such as Vinca, bitter sweet nightshade, autumn olive, Japanese
knotweed and others are present in the landscape and if not controlled could prove damaging to the
integrity of the natural communities of the site.
• Dispersed home development in the woods of the Mink River landscape also pose a threat to the
integrity of the site. Impacts such as direct habitat loss, forest fragmentation, groundwater
contamination, and exotic species introduction often follow home development in intact forest
settings.
INFORMATION NEEDS / GAPS:
• Groundwater recharge areas for the springs of the Mink River.
• Location and abundance information on exotic species in the landscape.
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES:
Goodyear, C.D., T.A. Edsall, D.M. Ormsby Dempsey, G.D. Moss and P.E. Polanski
1982. Atlas of the Spawning and Nursery Areas of Great Lakes
Fishes, Vol.IV Lake Michigan, Great Lakes Fishery Laboratory, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Ann Arbor, MI.
Lukes, C. 1986. Mushrooms in Schoenbrun Woods. Unpublished report.
Moore, F.R., S.A. Gauthreaux, Jr., P. Kerlinger and T.R. Simons 1992. “Stopover Habitat:
Management Implications and Guidelines” in Status and Management of Neotropical Migratory
Birds, USDA Forest Service General Technical Report RM-229, pp.58-69.
Zovnik, A.W. 1990. In the Mink River Advisory Committee Report, December, 1990.
Unpublished report to The Nature Conservancy.
Zovnik, A.W. and R.W. Howe 1994. Breeding Birds of the Mink River Natural Area in Door
County. The Passenger Pigeon 57(1): 23-29.
Mink River / Rowley’s Bay System 119