Guide to Significant Wildlife Habitat - Door County Web Map

BRUSSELS HILL / KAYES CREEK
GARDNER SWAMP COMPLEX
LOCATION:
This site is located in southwestern Door County between Brussels Hill and Little Sturgeon Bay
(T26-27N, R24E) in the Towns of Brussels and Gardner. As this report represents general areas of
concern, exact locations of boundary lines have not been designated.
GENERAL SITE DESCRIPTION:
The "Heritage Areas of Door County" publication recognizes Brussels Hill as a scenic and
recreational area (Emmerich 1978). The area's caves also have historic importance (Zimmerman 1989).
Brussels Hill is listed as a scenic vista because it offers a panoramic view from the Niagara Escarpment.
Shale, shaley dolostone and limestone of the Upper Ordovician Maquoketa Formation underlie the
Silurian dolostone that form the escarpment. That formation is relatively weak, easily deformed and
erodible (Kasprzak and Walter 2001). Sinkholes, caves, and dry valleys make the area unsuitable for
development. The complex and its associated wetland areas (i.e., Kayes Creek and Gardner Swamp)
contain a number of rare plants, animals and invertebrates (See Appendix B). Fish spawning, bird
nesting, and amphibian habitat are all important ecological functions of the area. The Town of Brussels
has recently adopted a town-zoning ordinance and is currently in the public hearing phase for
implementing a comprehensive land use plan. The plan is expected to be complete early in 2003. The
Town of Gardner has conducted preliminary discussions about land use planning and has decided not to
take any action at this time. However, state-mandated zoning regulations apply to shorelines and
navigable streams.
ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
The Brussels Hill/ Kayes Creek/ Gardner Swamp Complex covers approximately 7,125 acres.
This region has large contiguous tracts of forests, wetlands, and dolostone karst features. Brussels Hill is
the largest of several dolostone hills in southern Door County and it is located immediately adjacent to the
Gardner Swamp. A large, contiguous block of hardwood forest dominated by sugar maple (Acer
saccharum), basswood (Tilia americana), red oak (Quercus rubra), hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), aspen
(Populus tremuloides), beech (Fagus grandifolia), paper birch (Betula papyrifera), and white cedar (Thuja
occidentalis) characterizes the tree species at Brussels Hill (Clark 1999). One of the primary reasons that
the hill is considered to be ecologically important to the area is the unique assemblage of animals
supported by the dolostone rock formations. Two rare plant species, state threatened handsome sedge
(Carex formosa) and the Wisconsin special concern species long-spurred violet (Viola rostrata), are
found on Brussels Hill (Clark 1999). Three globally rare snails, including Succinea bakeri, Catinella
gelida, and Vertigo hubrichtii (Kirk 1999), and the state threatened Red-shoulder Hawk are also found
here (Clark 1999). The Gardner Swamp Area encompasses over 5 square miles, and contains a variety of
ecologically important habitats including wetlands, sugar maple dominated forests, Kayes Creek, upland
islands, and lowland forests.
A Wisconsin special concern species, long-spurred violet (Viola rostrata) has been found at
Gardner Swamp (Clark 1999). The swamp also provides an important function as a filter for local
groundwater and surface water resources. Kayes Creek flows through Gardner Swamp and empties into
Little Sturgeon Bay, which is one of the most important shallow aquatic habitats in the Green Bay
ecosystem. Gardner Swamp helps to protect the water quality of Kayes Creek, and subsequently the
health of the Green Bay ecosystem.
Brussels Hill / Kayes Creek / Gardner Swamp Complex 51