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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Jackson Harbor Ridges State Natural Area<br />
Description: Situated on Washing<strong>to</strong>n Island off the tip of the <strong>Door</strong> Peninsula, Jackson Harbor Ridges is<br />
made up of 70-acres containing several coastal plant communities and an exceptionally rich flora of rare<br />
and uncommon plants. The <strong>to</strong>pography undulates with areas of dry <strong>to</strong> moist sand ridges and low, wet<br />
swales. Twelve ridges and swales are evident, the result of former Lake Michigan water levels. The<br />
swales contain an unusual plant community that prefers wet calcareous soils. Characteristic species here<br />
are brook lobelia, shrubby cinquefoil, bladderworts and several sedges. Bird’s-eye primrose (Primula<br />
mistassinica), low calamint (Calamintha arkansana), and slender bog arrow-grass (Triglochin palustris)<br />
are among the rare plants found here. The 9-acre beach gradually grades in<strong>to</strong> drier dunes, which are<br />
stabilized with drought <strong>to</strong>lerant species such as creeping juniper, bearberry, and sand coreopsis. The<br />
dunes harbor the federally-threatened dune thistle (Cirsium pitcheri) and the state-threatened dune<br />
goldenrod (Solidago simplex var. gillmanii) and sticky asphodel (Tofieldia glutinosa). Behind the dunes is<br />
a mixed conifer-hardwood forest of red and white pines, white cedar, balsam fir, and American beech.<br />
Patches of the federally-threatened dwarf lake iris (Iris lacustris) are scattered throughout. The point at<br />
the entrance <strong>to</strong> Jackson Harbor is a sand spit that attracts gulls, terns, shorebirds, and waterfowl. Jackson<br />
Harbor Ridges is owned by the Town of Washing<strong>to</strong>n and was designated a State Natural Area in 1973.<br />
Access: From the end of Highway 42 at Northport Pier, take the ferry <strong>to</strong> Washing<strong>to</strong>n Island. From the<br />
ferry landing, go north on Losdells Point Road (<strong>County</strong> W) 1.7 miles, then continue north on Main Road<br />
2.6 miles, then go east on Jackson Harbor Road 3.5 miles, then north on Indian Point Road 0.1 mile <strong>to</strong> a<br />
parking area on the right. The natural area lies <strong>to</strong> the east.<br />
Mud Lake State Natural Area<br />
Description: Mud Lake State Natural Area is located within the Mud Lake <strong>Wildlife</strong> Area and consists of<br />
a 155-acre shallow (maximum depth 5’) drainage lake surrounded by an extensive shrub and timber<br />
swamp. The lake has a truly wild character <strong>to</strong> it. The bot<strong>to</strong>m is predominantly marl, although dolos<strong>to</strong>ne<br />
bedrock is exposed in some areas. Many old snags along the shoreline attest <strong>to</strong> water levels that fluctuate<br />
with seasonal precipitation. Aquatic plants are most diverse in the outlet stream (Reibolts Creek) and<br />
include bur-reed, coon’s-tail, pondweed, and wild rice. In the lake, soft-stem bul-rush, yellow water-lily,<br />
common reed, and cat-tail is found. Immediately surrounding the open water is a narrow zone of shrubby<br />
northern sedge meadow dominated by sedges, willows, dogwoods, and sweet gale. The wetlands and lake<br />
provide habitat for the federally-endangered Hine’s emerald dragonfly (Soma<strong>to</strong>chlora hineana). The<br />
open zone grades in<strong>to</strong> second-growth wet-mesic forest of white cedar, white spruce, balsam fir, and black<br />
ash. Reibolts Creek, which runs from Mud Lake <strong>to</strong> Lake Michigan, has been s<strong>to</strong>cked with trout and<br />
supports a trout spawning run. Waterfowl use of the lake is occasionally heavy. Nesting birds include<br />
Pied-billed Grebe, American Bittern, Common Goldeneye, Mallard, Pintail, Blue-winged Teal, Wood<br />
Duck, and Virginia Rail. Mud Lake is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in<br />
1975.<br />
Access: From Baileys Harbor, go north on State Highway 57 0.75 miles, then east on <strong>County</strong> Highway Q<br />
2.5 miles <strong>to</strong> Sunset Drive, then north 1.2 miles <strong>to</strong> Birch Road, then west <strong>to</strong> Mud Lake.<br />
Appendix D – Natural Areas: A Definition &Status Report 187