[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]


















                                         Mink River Estuary: A Landscape Approach to Protection




                                                                  1995






















                                        This project was made possible by a grant provided by the
                                        Wisconsin Coastal Management Program in partnership with
                                                                         C)
                                        the Wisconsin Chapter of The Nature Conservancy.






               Investigators:

                               Michael Grimm, Laura Hewitt, Brian Hotz, Kathy Kirk and Kimberlee Wright








                 GC
                 97
                 .M56
                 1995











           Project Background

           The Mink River is unique freshwater estuary opening into Lake
           Michigan and located at the tip of Wisconsin's Door Peninsula.
           The near pristine integrity of the plant communities and the lack
           of human disturbance in the wetland complex makes the Mink River
           Estuary Reserve a natural area of regional significance. In the
           early 1970's the Coastal Zone Management Program considered the
           Mink to be one of the highest quality estuaries in the upper
           Great Lakes.

           The National Estuarine Sanctuary program explored conservation
           actions and protections to apply to the Mink River Estuary and
           for a variety of reasons was unable to pursue long term
           conservation goals for the area. The Nature Conservancy was then
           asked to assess the area for potential protection activities.
           The Conservancy had a long history of private land protection in
           Door County and was familiar to many local conservationists.
           This history enabled the Conservancy to work cooperatively with
           area landowners to find protection solutions'for the estuary.

           The Coastal Zone Management Program's initial investment in the
           area included funding a study by Forest Stearns and Janet Keough.
           This report proved invaluable in helping the Conservancy
           formulate early protection goals. [Stearns and Keough, 19821 The
           Conservancy's land acquisition efforts began in the early 19701s.
           The Conservancy currently owns and manages over 1600 acres in the
           river corridor and surrounding uplands.

           In the early 1970's the Conservancy's conservation goals for the
           Mink River Estuary were largely concerned with water quality.
           The largest threat to continued high water quality was potential
           runoff from logging, agriculture and recreational development.
           Today some of the threats to the wetland corridor that were of
           concern in the early 1970's have been alleviated by Wisconsin's
           exemplary wetland protection rules and regulations. In the early
           days of the Mink River project, the permanent protection of the
           lowland forest in the river corridor was a top protection
           priority.

          .The effort to protect the lowland forest has been successful with
           a majority of the sensitive riparian areas owned and managed by
           the Conservancy, with an additional 400 acres covered by
           cooperative agreements with private landowners. Private
           landowners in the watershed of the Mink River include many local
           families with two or more generations of ties to the land. These
           families have been the hallmark of,the Conservancy's protection
           efforts in the Mink River Estuary.

           Many long-standing families in the corridor sold land to the
           Conservancy early on in the project to insure perpetual
           protection of lands so carefully stewarded by their parents and
           grandparents. The Conservancy was able to stabilize traditional








          land use patterns in the corridor in light of rising taxes and
          the increasing pressures associated with population growth and
          in-migration.

          According to Wisconsin Department of Administration population
          projections for the Town of Liberty Grove, which includes most of
          the watershed of the Mink River Estuary, the number of people in
          the Town will increase by 50*-. by the early 21st Century. This
          projected growth represents a potential threat  of further
          fragmentation of the landscape and significant  changes in the
          traditional land use patterns of the area. It   is this
          anticipated population growth that spurred the  Conservancy into
          considering the need for a broader look at the  landscape
          supporting the Mink River Estuary Reserve.

          The abundant richness of the Mink River Estuary has coexisted
          with the human community since European settlement in the mid-
          18001s. The Conservancy's efforts have served to stabilize the
          river corridor in light of a change in human patterns on the
          landscape. This study, funded by the Wisconsin Coastal
          Management Program, allowed the Conservancy to assess the larger
          landscape which supports the biotic richness of the Mink River
          Estuary and assess threats to supportive natural processes and to
          develop strategies to cope with undesirable conversions in
          traditional land use patterns.

          Natural Area Protection - A Bl@ndinq of Theory and Practice

          The Nature Conservancy owns and manages the largest system of
          privately held nature reserves in the world. The Conservancy was
          founded by scientists and has remained committed to designing
          conservation action plans based on the best available
          information. The Wisconsin Coastal Management Program shares
          this approach as evidenced by its early sponsorship of the
          Stearns and Keough report--the first study to systematically
          observe and record the ecological processes supporting the biotic
          diversity of the Mink River Estuary. The Conservancy's
          conservation actions have been largely driven by the Stearns and
          Keough study for over two decades.

          In the past ten years a new discipline has emerged from the many
          strands of science concerned with the understanding of ecological
          processes and functions. The science of Landscape Ecology blends
          scientific theory and practical, on-the-ground applications in an
          effort to use the best available information to protect
          biological diversity, while at the same time monitoring our
          actions and measuring our effects on the landscape. The Nature
          Conservancy is a leader world-wide in applying science-based,
          direct action conservation strategies to protect the best
          examples of natural diversity.

          The Wisconsin Chapter's efforts in Door County are informed by
          the Conservancy's systematic assessment of the biological
                                          -2-









          diversity of the Great Lakes Basin. In 1994, The Nature
          Conservancy developed a database of the rare, threatened and
          endangered species and natural communities in the Basin. The
          information was then entered into a Geographic Information System
          which allowed the mapping of "hot spots" of biological diversity
          in the Great Lakes. The Door Peninsula stood out as an area high
          in concentrations of species of concern, including globally rare
          species found only in the Basin. [The Nature Conservancy, 19941

          The Wisconsin Chapter systematically reviews existing
          conservation plans for its statewide network of privately-owned
          natural areas in an effort to stay current with the best
          available information regarding ecosystem-based conservation and
          management. Mink River was deemed to be a high priority for
          careful review based on the biological richness of the site and
          the increasing threats from changing land use patterns. The
          Wisconsin Chapter's approach to conservation is rooted in a rich
          legacy of natural resource scholars and practitioners.

          Wisconsin has long been a leader in practical applications of
          ecosystem-based thinking. Aldo Leopold encouraged us to liken
          ecosystem management to watch repair when he warned us not to
          "throw away the parts." John Curtis furthered this legacy with
          his classification of natural communities in  The Vegetation of
          Wisconsin. In defining the landscape in terms of the
          associations based on soils, underlying substrate, climate and
          vegetative cover, Curtis supplied a solid foundation for the
          Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources State Natural Areas
          program. The goal of the State Natural Areas program is to
          protect representative examples of Wisconsin's native diversity
          associated with the six distinct eco-regions of Wisconsin (Hole
          and Germain, 19941 .

          It is in this Wisconsin conservation tradition that the Wisconsin
          Coastal Management and The Nature Conservancy have rooted their
          conservation efforts. The Wisconsin Coastal Management Program's
          support of the study of the natural and human communities that
          make up the Mink River Estuary has allowed the Conservancy to
          assess land use in the area and develop strategies to encourage
          the continuation of those patterns that support the biotic and
          cultural richness of the area.


          Prolect Design
          It is on the foundation of a dynamic, inter-disciplinary approach
          that the Conservancy's ecosystem protection and management
          strategies are formulated. By utilizing an inter-disciplinary
          team, the Conservancy blends the best available scientific
          theories with practical knowledge based in hands-on management of
          natural areas. This approach is particularly suited to the Mink
          River Estuary. The goal of the project was to carefully review
          past protection efforts in light of the best available science
          and make revisions in strategies that will best insure long-term
          viability of critical natural features of the watershed.
                                          -3-









         The first step in building a functional ecological model of the
         Mink River Estuary was to review existing information and
         identify gaps in that knowledge base. The. Mink River study team
         collected information via a variety of avenues including review
         of WI-DNR Bureau of Endangered Species records, individual
         studies associated with the Mink, interviews with local
         professional and amateur naturalists, literature searches on key
         species and systems and field assessments of areas where existing
         information was inadequate.

         The study team then compiled and presented this data in a threats
         analysis workshop. The list of key features gleaned from this
         research formed the framework for the discussions of the
         workshop.

         The team incorporated the findings of the workshop into the
         overall project, with particular emphasis on refining the
         ecological boundaries of the study area. The threats analysis
         was instrumental in determining conservation strategies and
         priorities.

         Another crucial element of the study was to include the community
         in the process. Successful ecosystem protection efforts must
         include the human community that depends on the landscape for
         economic and cultural survival. The main activity in this regard
         was a "neighbors" meeting held in the Liberty Grove Town Hall in
         July 1995. All the landowners in the study area were invited, by
         mail, to the forum to discuss the new approach to protecting the
         Mink River Estuary watershed. This was a most valuable
         interchange of information and concerns about the study area.
         The Conservancy's actions in the area have long been informed by
         the compelling conservation ethic of the local population. The
         neighbors meeting was a continuation of this fruitful
         partnership.

         Finally, the team incorporated the scientific and sociological
         findings into a final report including a map of ecological
         boundaries, conservation strategies and a list of future needs.
         The Threats Analysis Workshop was the key framework on which the
         study results were based. A summary of that process is listed
         below. A list-of sources relied upon throughout the study
         follows the report.

         Mink River Estuarv Threats Analysis Workshop
         A workshop was held in July of 199S to review the ecological
         boundary proposed by the Mink River study team and to assess the
         level of threat(s) to the natural features of concern within that
         boundary. The workshop was attended by a wide range of natural
         resource professionals, including professors from the University
         of Wisconsin system, Wisconsin Department of Natural
         Resources(WI-DNR) researchers, local conservation organization
         representatives and others with specialized knowledge of the Mink
         River Estuary.
                                         -4-









           The workshop followed a model the Conservancy has developed to
           assess conservation objectives in key project areas. That model
           applies a systematic approach to landscape-scale conservation
           which considers five distinct avenues of inquiry including: the
           natural systems and processes that support the natural feature(s)
           of interest; the stresses to those systems; the sources of
           stress, or threats; strategies to address protection of natural
           systems by eliminating or mitigating sources of stress and
           measures of success which monitor conservation actions and their
           long term effectiveness for the protection of natural features of
           concern.



           Natural Systems The key natural systems were those identified as
           integral to the viability of the natural features of concern
           within the Mink River Estuary study area. The natural key
           natural processes that tie the Mink River Estuary and the
           surrounding landscape together are based in water.

           The estuary itself is dependent on the fluctuation of water
           levels that result from the seiche effect driven by the tidal
           action of Lake Michigan. The changing water levels maintain the
           diverse array of natural communities in a stable but ever-
           changing pattern throughout the river corridor. The periodic
           inundation of the expansive marshes in times of high water sets
           back the successional displacement by woody shrubs. The varied
           and expansive mix of natural communities provides habitat for
           many different plants and animals.

           The changing water levels are also integral to the mixing of the
           nutrient-rich groundwater entering the system via a series of
           discharge areas throughout the corridor and the water of Lake
           Michigan. It is this mixing of waters that provides the
           conditions necessary to maintain the productivity of the estuary.

           Water may also be a key contributing factor supplying critical
           nutrition to the vast stream of neo-tropical migrant birds
           utilizing the Door Peninsula each spring and fall. Preliminary
           results from a Nature Conservancy study in Michigan's Great Lakes
           coastal areas suggests the warm, near-shore waters in spring
           supply an abundant source of invertebrates to migrating birds.
           The warm, near-shore waters provide an excellent habitat for many
           species of insects which hatch out in consort with migrating
           birds such as the many species of warblers to pass through Door
           County each spring.

           The coastal ribbon of boreal-like forest is also dependent on the
           climatic conditions created by Lake Michigan. The mix of plant
           species making up these coastal forests is similar to conditions
           not found elsewhere in Wisconsin, with the exception of the Lake
           Superior coastal area. Further studies are expected to confirm
           anecdotal accounts of northern bird species, such as the Canada
           warbler and others not common elsewhere in Wisconsin, utilizing
                                          -5-










          the boreal-like forests which frost much of the shoreline.
          Additionally, the coniferous strip of forest in the coastal areas
          is believed to play a critical role for many species in spring
          and fall migration when other food sources area scarce.

          The gradient of natural communities from the bluffs of Ellison
          Bay to the cobble beaches of Lake Michigan captures
          representative examples of most of the features of the northern
          Door Peninsula. The land gradually slopes fromthe northwest to
          the east following the tilt of the Niagara escarpment. Cold air
          drains from the uplands to the wetland areas moving moisture
          across the landscape. A gradient of forest communities extends
          from the lowland forest edging the wetland complex, through
          northern mesic forest to the north and east, and then into the
          northern dry--mesic forest at the northwestern corner of the Door
          Peninsula. This continuum creates a variety of habitats for
          plants and animals and allows for the opportunity to preserve
          biodiversity and the natural processes necessary to maintain
          viable populations of species. A corridor of contiguous forest
          from the northern coast to the riverine wetlands allows for
          better dispersal and seasonal movements of the inhabitants as
          well as minimizing the risks of predation and competition from
          edge species encouraged by a more fragmented landscape. The
           pportunity to protect such a rich continuum of Great Lakes-
          dependent natural communities is unavailable elsewhere on the
          0

          peninsula and no similar presentation is known elsewhere in the
          Great Lakes.

          The identification of these natural processes was instrument'al in
          determining the adequacy of the initial ecological boundaries
          proposed by the study team. Once the boundaries were agreed
          upon, the next step was to assess the threats to the natural
          processes and the sources of potential stresses to these systems.

          Stresses and Sources of Stress The threats to the key natural
          features used to define the study area boundaries are varied in
          their sources. The section below will identify the most
          significant stresses and their sources for each natural process
          or*system considered critical to the viability of species and
          natural communities of concern in the study area.

          Hydrologic regimes, or the inputs and patterns of water movement
          throughout the study area are susceptible to stress from a
          variety of sources. Stabilization of water levels in Lake
          Michigan would have a devastating effect on the diverse wetland
          complex in the study area. Without the periodic flooding to keep
          shrub invasion and other successional patterns in a dynamic
          balance the system would become less diverse, or monotypical over
          time. The fluctuating water levels result in a rich mosaic of
          natural communities with an abundance of habitat niches to
          support numerous species.

          The protection of water quality in the system has been an
                                          -6-









          important objective from the beginning. The introduction of
          toxins into the system would effect the integrity of species
          throughout the trophic chain. A federally endangered dragonfly,
          the Hines Emerald or Somatochlorai hineana, has been documented
          in the Mink River-corridor and would be greatly compromised by
          reduced water quality.

          Another threat to water quality is through increased
          sedimentation. Sedimentation reduces water clarity and thus
          reduces light available to aquatic vegetation and it loads an
          excess of nutrients into the system. The early reserve design
          sought to protect the lowland forest in the Mink River corridor
          to act as a filter to trap toxics and sediments and keep them
          from entering the estuary. The early design has proved to be
          effective with regard to reducing the threats from increased
          sedimentation and to a lesser extent, the introduction of toxins.

          The quantity of water entering the system in the form of
          groundwater is essential to the viability of the estuarine system
          and the fen-like plant communities dependent on the nutrient-rich
          discharge. The early reserve design did not adequately address
          the protection of groundwater discharge by the omission of
          protection aimed at critical recharge areas in the uplands
          surrounding the Mink River Estuary. Although there has been no
          formal groundwater mapping in the watershed, the topography and
          location of discharge areas suggest key upland features in need
          of protection. The most significant threat to water quantity in
          the system is dense development in the uplands. Poorly placed
          development may affect groundwater quantity in two ways. Removal
          of vegetation and creation of impermeable surfaces in recharge
          areas interferes with the system's capacity to capture surface
          waters. Dense development may also pose a threat through the
          mining of groundwater to supply well water to residential and
          commercial developments. There are areas in southeast Wisconsin
          where densely developed subdivisions have experienced decreased
          quantities as additional wells are mining the aquifer.

          Neo-tropical migrant birds are a key natural feature of the Door
          Peninsula with from 500 to 1000 species documented in the Mink
          River corridor in a given season. The largest threat to these
          migrants lies in the fragmentation of habitat. The expansive
          marshes of the Mink River and the continuous ribbons of forest
          cover along the Green Bay shoreline in the northern part of the
          study area Currently provide critical habitat for migratory
          birds. Fragmentation of habitat due to increased subdivision and
          development is a very real threat in light of the population
          growth projected for the Town of Liberty Grove. Forestry
          practices also may contribute to fragmentation of key areas.
          Much of the forested shoreline in the study area is currently
          supporting migratory bird habitat. Changes to these current land
          use patterns are likely as the population grows and properties
          change hands and are potentially subdivided and cleared for
          development.
                                          -7-









         The gradient of communities in the study area supports the entire
         range of biological diversity that characterizes this ecosystem.
         The areas of gradual blending or grading from one community type
         to the next have been determined to be "hotspots" of diversity.
         The gradually changing characteristics such a's moisture and
         aspect provide opportunities for species survival in extreme
         conditions such as times of drought. Fragmentation is the
         largest threat to the biotic richness found along these landscape
         gradients. The main source of fragmentation in the study area is
         subdivision and development. Land conversion for agricultural
         production, while historically a source of fragmentation, is not
         a major threat in the study area. The trend appears to be moving
         way from agricultural land uses toward residential subdivision
         and development. The expected population growth will likely
         accelerate fragmentation and reduce future options to maintain
         connective corridors of gradually changing habitat types.

         Strategies The boundary revision recommendations within this
         report are founded on a blend of the best available science and a
         realistic assessment of the likelihood for success of on-the-
         ground conservation actions. The human community within the Mink
         River ecosystem has coexisted in a largely compatible manner with
         the elements of biological diversity. The challenge of this
         project is to encourage the continuance of land use patterns that
         protect and enhance important natural features while continuing
         to provide the cultural and economic opportunities essential to
         the well-being of the human community.

         The Nature Conservancy has worked cooperatively with the people
         of Liberty Grove throughout the history of this project to
         protect important'natural features in a manner that also
         facilitates the continuance of traditional land use patterns.
         The Conservancy has utilized a variety of conservation tools to
         achieve the goals of the project. Most familiar in the toolbox
         is land acquisition. Acquisition remains an effective tool for
         protecting core natural areas that area best left undisturbed,
         but owning and managing all the land in the ecological boundary
         is neither practical or necessary.

         The application of particular strategies must be determined by
         assessing the appropriate level of protection for the
         conservation target and the needs of the people associated with
         the land that supports the features of concern.

         The strategies listed below are accompanied by examples of how
         they might be employed. The individual strategies may have many
         applications and aren't.limited to these examples.

         Communication and Education The Town of Liberty Grove has a
         tradition of valuing and protecting the natural resource base of
         the community. The conservation ethic of the community is long-
         standing. The Conservancy's success in this project is rooted in
         the acceptance and support the community has for natural resource
         conservation.









           Historic land use patterns have been largely compatible with the
           biological richness of the area. The Conservancy may be in a
           position to provide linkages between local traditions and new
           members of the community. Many new residents of the area have a
           deep appreciation of the natural beauty of the area, but don't
           have the benefit of the kind of knowledge and intuition developed
           over generations of association with the land. The Conservancy
           can "bridge the gap" by learning from the long-time residents and
           providing information and local history to new members of the
           community.

           Migratory bird habitat along the shoreline of Green Bay in the
           northern part of the study area is currently well provided for.
           Although the area has a high degree of residential development,
           the residents maintain the natural vegetation which supports
           migratory birds. Although current land use is compatible with
           the habitat requirements of migratory birds, there is no
           assurance that this pattern will remain stable over time.

           A series of materials and presentations designed to provide
           information to landowners regarding the habitat requirements of
           migratory birds may help to stabilize current conditions. The
           assumption being that most people will make good decisions if
           they have good information.

           Conservation restrictions recorded with the deed of a given tract
           of land can provide perpetual, legally binding protection
           measures for land which is privately owned and managed. This
           tool is suited to a wide range of conservation objectives but
           works particularly well for families who would like to insure the
           present condition of their land even after transfer of ownership
           by sale or bequeath.

           Conservation restrictions or easements can stabilize current land
           use patterns and densities by limiting the subdivision of a given
           parcel of land. There are several key properties within the
           project area that area in close proximity with core natural
           areas. The current densities may be compatible with the
           conservation objectives for the natural areas nearby, but ten
           dwellings on the same forty acre tract may not be. The
           Conservancy has already purchased one property in the project
           area and placed permanent restrictions on the deed which prohibit
           further subdivision and resold the land. The new owner may
           improve the existing dwelling but is prohibited from subdividing
           the land. This same owner may sell or bequeath the property and
           the restrictions, which are recorded with the deed, will apply to
           all subsequent owners of the property.

           The use of conservation easements and restrictions provides for'
           private ownership and use of important land while also limiting
           the density of development to current patterns.


                                          -9-









          Voluntary cooperative agreements between private landowners and
          The Nature Conservancy facilitate the sharing of information and
          management advice for sensitive natural features. when a
          landowner elects to become a member of the Conservancy's Registry
          program they are entered into a computerized, conservation
          database which allows the Conservancy to offer the latest
          information regarding a particular species or natural feature.
          For example, if a Registry participant has a population of rare
          orchids on her land, the Conservancy can provide the landowner
          with the most current information regarding the orchid. The
          landowner has access to the best available information and at the
          same time maintains complete control over her property. The
          Conservancy does not hold a legal interest in the property and
          does not have physical access without prior permission from the
          landowner.

          Success, how do we measure our progress in protecting biological
          diversity? The Conservancy used to be able to measure success in
          terms of dollars spent and acres acquired. Working at the
          landscape scale renders this measure inadequate. The Mink River
          Estuary Reserve is part of a working landscape that provides
          spiritual and economic sustenance for a community. We can't own
          it, so how do we measure success?

          The ecological boundaries developed in this project are based on
          a set of assumptions grounded in the latest and best scientific
          theories. The science of ecosystem management and protection is
          relatively new and many of the assumptions remain untested. The
          challenges presented by accelerating development and the
          resultant habitat loss will not take a day off while conservation
          organizations conduct "further studies."

          If we are to preserve the opportunties that currently exist on
          the landscape to protect the natural processes and functions we
          must often act quickly. The great challenge of ecosystem
          analysis and protection is to build in research and monitoring
          protocols that will test our assumptions and measure our success.

          The Conservancy has worked in the Mink River Estuary for over two
          decades. We discovered in the course of this study that we have
          many more questions than answers with regard to the biota of the
          study area. while we have a  "fair amount of information regarding
          the rarest of species within the project, we have very little
          baseline data on the more common natural features.

          One of the unexpected conservation objectives to come of this
          study is the goal of developing scientifically valid protocols
          for monitoring the biological diversity of the study area over
          time. Projects such as these are the living laboratories where
          ecosystem management principles will be applied and refined. It
          is our responsibility to develop research and monitoring programs
          that will measure our success against our stated conservation
          objectives.
                                         -10-











          Conclusion
          The Wisconsin Coastal Management's support of this project
          provided The Nature Conservancy with the resources necessary to
          systematically assess the protection strategies for the Mink
          River Estuary Reserve'and refine those strategies in keeping with
          the best available conservation planning information.

          Conservancy staff have been concerned about the accelerating rate
          of change in local land use patterns for several years, but until
          this time did not have the resources necessary to conduct a
          thorough investigation incorporating the principles of landscape
          ecology and ecosystem management.

          The increasing pressures on the natural system.s supporting the
          biological diversity found within the study area, we believe,
          will continue to grow. The information collection and analysis
          made possible by the support of the Wisconsin Coastal Management
          Program will allow the Conservancy to preserve landscape
          protection opportunities through the efficient application of
          resources in the areas most threatened with irrevocable change.








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                                                        13








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                                                          -13-
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                                                           14








             Zovnik, A.W. 1990. In the Mink River Advisory Committee Report, December, 1990.
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                                                        15











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