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