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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• The wettest portion of the fen contains hardstem bulrush (Scripus acutus). Pitcher plant (Sarracenia<br />
purpurea) is abundant and widespread. The aggressive exotic tree glossy buckthorn (Rhamnus<br />
frangula) bounds the fen on the west. This species is typical of wet soils and is prominent in and<br />
around adjacent swamps reaching maximum density in the area between fen and swamp (Fewless<br />
1999).<br />
• Migra<strong>to</strong>ry birds, especially waterfowl use the fen for nesting. Reptiles and amphibians are likely<br />
inhabitants of this wet habitat.<br />
• <strong>Significant</strong> species known <strong>to</strong> Kellner Fen include two Wisconsin special concern species, white bog<br />
orchid (Platanthera dilatata), and extensive concentrations of brown beak sedge (Cyperaceae<br />
phynchospora fuaca). Tussock bulrush (Scirpus cespi<strong>to</strong>sus) is a Wisconsin threatened species found<br />
at the outer edge of Kellner Fen (Fewless 1999).<br />
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal<br />
This unit of the Southern Lake Michigan Shoreline site lies north and south of the Sturgeon Bay<br />
Ship Canal, extending west from Lake Michigan <strong>to</strong> near the urban edge of the city of Sturgeon Bay. The<br />
ship canal, which bisects this unit, was built in the 1870’s through an extensive ridge and swale<br />
landscape, the remnants of which still exist north and south of the canal. The land here is primarily<br />
forested with a mix of pine, hemlock and birch on the drier sites and cedar, green ash, and alder in the<br />
lowlands between the ridges and in extensive poorly drained wetlands west of the ridge and swale system.<br />
These poorly drained wetlands are similar in composition <strong>to</strong> the forested wetlands in the previously<br />
mentioned units of this site. This landscape requires a biological inven<strong>to</strong>ry <strong>to</strong> access its contribution <strong>to</strong><br />
the overall significance of the site.<br />
• Land use in the vicinity of the ship canal itself is largely recreational. Both north and south of the<br />
canal, extensive forested areas occur near the shore, with land use largely agricultural away from the<br />
shore. A balance between wildlife habitat and <strong>to</strong>urist needs is required <strong>to</strong> maintain the intrinsic value<br />
of the area.<br />
• Soils are of two types. The first soil type found near the Lake Michigan shoreline is deep, well <strong>to</strong><br />
moderately well drained and gently sloping <strong>to</strong> sloping. The second type is found further inland.<br />
These are deep, poorly drained, organic, nearly level soils underlain by fine sand outwash or outwash<br />
with silt loam subsoil over stratified lake sediments (USDA SCS 1978).<br />
• Surface water resources in this area are restricted <strong>to</strong> the flooded interdunal wetlands within the beach<br />
complex along the shore.<br />
• Limited shore and dune communities occur along Lake Michigan, with plant species typical of this<br />
type of habitat. Forested vegetation is similar <strong>to</strong> that found north of the canal.<br />
• The area south of the canal extending <strong>to</strong> Clay Banks consists of a series of upland forest ridges and<br />
lowland forest swales. The dunes provide a protective barrier <strong>to</strong> nearby wetlands (i.e., swamps, small<br />
lakes, interdunal permanent and ephemeral ponds).<br />
• Vegetation consists of white cedar, white birch (Betula papyrifera), red maple (Acer rubrum), and<br />
balsam fir (Abies balsamea) on the upland sand ridges, and a mix of white cedar, black ash (Fraxinus<br />
nigra) and alder (Alnus incana) in wetter sites.<br />
Southern Lake Michigan Shoreline 65