Guide to Significant Wildlife Habitat - Door County Web Map

SAWYER HARBOR / LOST CREEK
& LARSON CREEK WATERSHEDS COMPLEX
LOCATION:
Sawyer Harbor/ Lost Creek & Larson Creek Watersheds Complex is approximately 4,590 acres
located in west central Door County south of Sturgeon Bay (T27N, R25E) in the Town of Nasewaupee.
As this report represents general areas of concern, exact locations of boundary lines have not been
designated.
GENERAL SITE DESCRIPTION:
The Sawyer Harbor/ Lost Creek & Larson Creek Watershed Complex forms the northern portion
of a contiguous corridor extending southeast through the Stony Creek Wetlands Complex and into Stony
Creek which empties into Lake Michigan at a point south of the Door & Kewaunee County line. Sawyer
Harbor has long been recognized for its recreational, historic, and scenic features, and the Larson Creek
Watershed is considered an important wetland resource (Emmerich 1978).
The Town of Nasewaupee does not currently utilize land use regulation or zoning, except for
state-mandated zoning of shorelines and navigable streams. However, a planning initiative started in the
summer of 1997 has spawned numerous public meetings, surveys, informational forums and professional
land use planning services that are being used to develop a comprehensive land use plan. Considerable
information has been gathered, all leading toward a land use framework that reflects the public's wishes
and intentions. Many community members are volunteering substantial time and energy at various levels
to develop the town's comprehensive land use plan, which is scheduled for completion in the summer of
2003.
ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
The Sawyer Harbor/ Lost Creek & Larson Creek Watershed Complex creates a contiguous
corridor from the Bay of Green Bay inland to other important watersheds. The area is large enough to
provide important habitat corridors and aid in protecting surface and groundwater quality and quantity.
Sawyer Harbor is an ecologically important fish spawning area for Green Bay and provides important
shallow water habitat. This complex also contains unique, large lowland cedar and ash swamps (i.e., May
and Cunningham Swamps) that provide important terrestrial habitat. Preliminary natural heritage
inventories in the area have documented rare species of animals, invertebrates and plants, such as the
federally threatened dwarf lake iris and state-threatened long-eared sunfish. See the Natural Community
Cross Reference, Appendix "A" and Wisconsin's Natural Heritage Inventory Listing, Appendix "B" for
more additional information.
NOTEWORTHY CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL FEATURES:
Peter Sherwood was among the early residents, in this part of the county, building his cabin in
1838. The first summer hotel in Door County was built on the north shore of Sawyer Harbor, now
commonly referred to as Idlewild. The hotel was constructed in 1879 by J. T. Wright and was about 125
feet long, could accommodate about 40 guests and was generally filled to capacity (Holand 1917).
Although much of the southern portion of the county was affected by the great fires of 1871 (Peshtigo
Fire) the area around Sawyer Harbor escaped.
SITE FEATURES:
Sawyer Harbor
• Sawyer Harbor is a heavily used recreational area with three access points. Boaters, skiers, and
fisherman use this harbor because of its sheltered nature and proximity to Potawatomi State Park.
The harbor opens to the east into Sturgeon Bay’s outer channel.
Sawyer Harbor / Lost Creek & Larson Creek Watersheds Complex 71