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