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- For information on Wisconsin's Ecological Landscapes, contact:
- Andy Stoltman
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Northern Highland Ecological Landscape
Landscape at a Glance
Physical & Biotic Environment | Socioeconomic Conditions | Considerations for Planning & Management
| Physical & Biotic Environment | |
|---|---|
|
Size |
2,081 square miles (1,331,970 acres), representing 3.7% of the total land area of the State of Wisconsin. |
|
Climate |
Typical of northern Wisconsin, with a mean growing season of 122 days. The mean annual temperature is 39.5 deg. F, the lowest of any Ecological Landscape in the state and almost 2 degrees lower than other northern ecological landscapes. The mean annual precipitation is 31.6 inches, similar to other northern ecological landscapes. The mean annual snowfall is 68.1 inches, the second largest amount of snowfall in the state. Only the Superior Coastal Plain receives more snowfall (87.4 inches). Snowfall varies dramatically within the Northern Highland, with the northern part of the Ecological Landscape being within the outer edge of the lake effect "snowbelt" of Upper Michigan and northwestern Wisconsin. The cool temperatures, short growing season, and sandy soils are not adequate to support agricultural row crops, such as corn. Only about one percent of the Northern Highland is used for agricultural purposes. The climate is favorable for forests, which cover more than 76% of the Ecological Landscape. |
|
Bedrock |
Predominantly igneous and metamorphic rock, generally covered by deposits of glacial drift from 5 to over 100 feet in depth. |
|
Geology & Landforms |
Most of the Ecological Landscape is an undulating, gently rolling glacial outwash plain with many kettle lakes, wetlands, and bogs. Remnant moraines and drumlins occur often, with their lower slopes covered with outwash sands. |
|
Soils |
Most soils are sands and gravels, some with a loamy mantle. Soil productivity is low compared to glacial till but relatively high for outwash sands. Wetlands are numerous; most have organic soils of peat or muck. |
|
Hydrology |
There is a globally significant concentration of glacial lakes in the Northern Highland: 4,291 lakes; 1,543 miles of streams, including the headwaters of the Wisconsin and Manitowish-Flambeau-Chippewa river systems. Many lakes are connected by small streams. Rare aquatic species and extensive wetlands (see below) occur here. |
|
Current Landcover |
48% upland forest, 34% wetlands (both forested and non-forested), 13% open water, 5% grassland and open land, and 1% urban. |
|
Socioeconomic Conditions
(based on data from Iron, Oneida and Vilas counties) |
|
|---|---|
|
Population |
65,660, 1.2% of the state total |
|
Population Density |
23 persons/ sq. mile |
|
Per Capita Income |
$26,853 |
|
Important Economic Sectors |
Retail trade (16%); accommodation and food services (11%), construction (10%) and real estate, rental, and leasing (5%) sectors led in 2002, reflecting high recreation and rural development. Forestry, residential development, and recreation have the largest impacts on the Ecological Landscape's natural resources. |
|
Public Ownership |
30% of the land area and 43% of the forestland in the Ecological Landscape is in public ownership. Some of the larger properties are the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, Turtle-Flambeau Flowage, Willow Flowage, and the Iron, Vilas, and Oneida County Forests. A map showing public land ownership (county, state, and federal) and private lands enrolled in the Forest Tax Programs in this Ecological Landscape can be found in Appendix K at the end of this chapter. |
|
Other Notable Ownerships |
Tribal ownership is significant, as the large reservation of the Lac du Flambeau band of the Ojibwa Nation is here. The University of Wisconsin maintains research-oriented Field Stations at Trout Lake and Kemp Station, and also has stewardship responsibilities for several ecologically significant tracts. |
| Considerations for Planning & Management | |
|---|---|
There has been a steady increase in both seasonal and permanent residents, creating a pattern of dispersed urbanization. This has been especially evident along shorelines, where habitat loss has occurred in the littoral zone and on lands adjacent to the shore. Residential development is also increasing in the forests which surround many lakes. Population growth and associated development appear likely to limit some management options in the future, such as the ability to manage at large scales, maintaining ecosystem connectivity, protecting important spawning, nesting, and foraging habitats. Restoration of shoreline habitats and the processes that maintain them will become more difficult over time. Several large industrial forest holdings have changed ownership in recent years. In some cases these properties have been sold to public agencies, but they may also be sold to other industrial owners, real estate developers, or other private entities. When large contiguous ownerships are broken up habitat fragmentation is often one of the results, and this parcelization makes it difficult to meet the desires of all of the new landowners, potentially limiting management options. Development of seasonal and permanent homes, along with roads and other infrastructure to service the residents, has also increased habitat fragmentation and reduced the size of formerly connected habitats. Excessive deer herbivory can suppress or eliminate the regeneration of trees such as hemlock and white cedar, and reduce populations of sensitive understory plants, including native plants in the lily and orchid families. The winter feeding of deer can lead to increased overwinter deer survival, larger deer populations than habitats can sustain, and ultimately, serious habitat damage. Invasive species are present in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The "Clean Boats, Clean Waters" program and other educational efforts attempt to limit the introduction and spread of invasive species to aquatic habitats, but more awareness, persistence and follow-through are needed. In terrestrial ecosystems, some invasive species are present but most are not yet abundant enough to cause serious problems - making this the most effective time to initiate control measures. |
Species
Species of Greatest Conservation Need
The following species are listed according to their probability of occurring in the Northern Highland Ecological Landscape, based on the findings in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan.
| Birds | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| American Golden Plover | Pluvialis dominica | 3 |
| American Woodcock | Scolopax minor | 3 |
| Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | 3 |
| Black Tern | Chlidonias niger | 3 |
| Black-backed Woodpecker | Picoides arcticus | 3 |
| Black-throated Blue Warbler | Dendroica caerulescens | 3 |
| Boreal Chickadee | Poecile hudsonica | 3 |
| Brown Thrasher | Toxostoma rufum | 3 |
| Canada Warbler | Wilsonia canadensis | 3 |
| Connecticut Warbler | Oporornis agilis | 3 |
| Golden-winged Warbler | Vermivora chrysoptera | 3 |
| Least Flycatcher | Empidonax minimus | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup | Aythya affinis | 3 |
| Northern Goshawk | Accipiter gentilis | 3 |
| Olive-sided Flycatcher | Contopus cooperi | 3 |
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | 3 |
| Red Crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | 3 |
| Short-billed Dowitcher | Limnodromus griseus | 3 |
| Spruce Grouse | Falcipennis canadensis | 3 |
| Veery | Catharus fuscescens | 3 |
| Vesper Sparrow | Pooecetes gramineus | 3 |
| Whip-poor-will | Caprimulgus vociferus | 3 |
| American Bittern | Botaurus lentiginosus | 2 |
| Blue-winged Teal | Anas discors | 2 |
| Buff-breasted Sandpiper | Tryngites subruficollis | 2 |
| Canvasback | Aythya valisineria | 2 |
| Dunlin | Calidris alpina | 2 |
| Field Sparrow | Spizella pusilla | 2 |
| Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow | Ammodramus nelsoni | 2 |
| Northern Harrier | Circus cyaneus | 2 |
| Rusty Blackbird | Euphagus carolinus | 2 |
| Solitary Sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | 2 |
| Wood Thrush | Hylocichla mustelina | 2 |
| Yellow Rail | Coturnicops noveboracensis | 2 |
| American Black Duck | Anas rubripes | 1 |
| Black-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus erythropthalmus | 1 |
| Bobolink | Dolichonyx oryzivorus | 1 |
| Eastern Meadowlark | Sturnella magna | 1 |
| Grasshopper Sparrow | Ammodramus savannarum | 1 |
| Henslow's Sparrow | Ammodramus henslowii | 1 |
| Horned Grebe | Podiceps auritus | 1 |
| Hudsonian Godwit | Limosa haemastica | 1 |
| Kirtland's Warbler | Dendroica kirtlandii | 1 |
| Marbled Godwit | Limosa fedoa | 1 |
| Red-headed Woodpecker | Melanerpes erythrocephalus | 1 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | Buteo lineatus | 1 |
| Trumpeter Swan | Cygnus buccinator | 1 |
| Upland Sandpiper | Bartramia longicauda | 1 |
| Western Meadowlark | Sturnella neglecta | 1 |
| Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus | 1 |
| Willow Flycatcher | Empidonax traillii | 1 |
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus americanus | 1 |
| Fish | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Greater Redhorse | Moxostoma valenciennesi | 3 |
| Longear Sunfish | Lepomis megalotis | 3 |
| Pugnose Shiner | Notropis anogenus | 3 |
| Lake Sturgeon | Acipenser fulvescens | 2 |
| Least Darter | Etheostoma microperca | 2 |
| Banded Killifish | Fundulus diaphanus | 1 |
| Reptiles and Amphibians | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Four-toed Salamander | Hemidactylium scutatum | 3 |
| Mink Frog | Rana septentrionalis | 3 |
| Wood Turtle | Glyptemys insculpta | 3 |
| Mudpuppy | Necturus maculosus | 2 |
| Boreal Chorus Frog | Pseudacris maculata | 1 |
| Mammals | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Gray Wolf | Canis lupus | 3 |
| Northern Flying Squirrel | Glaucomys sabrinus | 3 |
| Water Shrew | Sorex palustris | 3 |
| Woodland Jumping Mouse | Napaeozapus insignis | 3 |
| Eastern Red Bat | Lasiurus borealis | 2 |
| Moose | Alces alces | 2 |
| American Marten | Martes americana | 1 |
| Hoary Bat | Lasiurus cinereus | 1 |
| Northern Long-eared Bat | Myotis septentrionalis | 1 |
| Silver-haired Bat | Lasionycteris noctivagans | 1 |
Community opportunities
Natural community management opportunities
The Northern Highland Ecological Landscape contains opportunities to manage for the following natural communities, based on the findings in the Wildlife Action Plan (originally presented by the Ecosystem Management Team).
| Natural Community Type | Opportunity |
|---|---|
| Coolwater streams | Major |
| Emergent Marsh | Major |
| Emergent Marsh - Wild Rice | Major |
| Emergent Marsh - Wild Rice | Major |
| Inland lakes | Major |
| Northern Dry-mesic Forest | Major |
| Northern Sedge Meadow | Major |
| Northern Wet Forest | Major |
| Open Bog | Major |
| Submergent Marsh | Major |
| Submergent Marsh - Oligotrophic | Major |
| Warmwater rivers | Major |
| Warmwater streams | Major |
| Alder Thicket | Important |
| Boreal Rich Fen | Important |
| Bracken Grassland | Important |
| Coldwater streams | Important |
| Ephemeral Pond | Important |
| Impoundments/Reservoirs | Important |
| Inland Beach | Important |
| Northern Dry Forest | Important |
| Northern Hardwood Swamp | Important |
| Northern Mesic Forest | Important |
| Northern Wet-mesic Forest | Important |
| Shrub Carr | Important |
| Bedrock Glade | Present |
| Boreal Forest | Present |
| Floodplain Forest | Present |
| Pine Barrens | Present |
Description of Terms Used to Define Opportunities for Protection, Restoration and/or Management of Natural Communities by Ecological Landscapes
Major
A major opportunity for sustaining the natural community in the Ecological Landscape exists, either because many significant occurrences of the natural community have been recorded in the landscape or major restoration activities are likely to be successful maintaining the community's composition, structure, and ecological function over a longer period of time.
Important
Although the natural community does not occur extensively or commonly in the Ecological Landscape, one to several occurrences do occur and are important in sustaining the community in the state. In some cases, important opportunities may exist because the natural community may be restricted to just one or a few Ecological Landscapes within the state and there may be a lack of opportunities elsewhere.
Present
The natural community occurs in the Ecological Landscape, but better management opportunities appear to exist in other parts of the state.
General opportunities
General management opportunities 1
The Northern Highland is especially rich in rare species associated with waters and wetlands, including some of the north's most iconic animals, such as the Bald Eagle, Osprey and Common Loon. There are major opportunities to protect aquatic ecosystems, including one of North America's highest concentrations of glacial lakes, some of which are rare lake types. Lakes connected by perennial streams are common here and support a diverse aquatic fauna which includes rare and uncommon species. Protecting undeveloped lakes, restoring disturbed shorelines and protecting the integrity of lake-stream complexes are all extremely important management opportunities. Maintaining forest cover around and between lakes and streams is also needed to maintain high water quality and provide habitat for numerous species.
The landscape's rivers and streams provide critical habitat and support many rare species. Significant protection and management opportunities include the headwaters region and upper stretches of the Wisconsin River, as well as the Manitowish, Tomahawk and Squirrel rivers. A concentration of springs and spring ponds in the northeastern part of the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest offers management opportunities for aquatic species associated with coldwater systems.
The extensive forests here present major opportunities and include the state's greatest acreage of dry-mesic white pine-red pine forests. These could be managed in the wide range of patch sizes, age classes, seral stages and environmental settings characteristic of the Northern Dry-mesic Forest community in this landscape. Other less abundant forest types providing good management opportunities include mesic hemlock-hardwood and northern hardwood forests; swamp conifers of black spruce, tamarack, or white cedar; dry jack pine forests; and hardwood swamps. Red oak, important for both ecological and economical reasons, is now a major forest component in some areas. Paper birch is declining, and regeneration has proven difficult on many sites in the absence of fire. Extensive public ownerships create opportunities to manage these forests at large scales within and across ownerships.
Old forests, a rare and declining resource in Wisconsin, present important opportunities for white pine, red pine, red oak, hemlock-hardwoods, northern hardwoods and swamp conifers. Working forests, both public and privately owned, could include areas with extended rotations, the development of old-growth forest characteristics and/or stands of "managed old-growth."
The Northern Highland historically consisted of a diverse mosaic of habitats, patch sizes, stand ages, ecotones and aquatic features. Although management is often conducted at the stand-level, there are major opportunities here to plan and coordinate management from a much broader perspective to accommodate all patch sizes and ages for forest communities. This would help maintain the full range of habitat diversity needed across the Ecological Landscape.
Abundant wetlands include several of the state's largest and least disturbed acid peatland ecosystems, as well as hardwood swamp, white cedar swamp, shrub communities, emergent marsh and wild rice marsh. These wetlands provide important habitats and are critical for maintaining water quality in the landscape's high-quality lakes and streams. Maintaining wetland hydrology and avoiding conversion to other wetland types is important and necessary to provide habitat for numerous wetland-dependent plants and animals.
1. The text presented here is a summarized version of a longer section developed for the Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin Handbook.
Maps
Northern Highland maps
Printable maps from the Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin Handbook. These maps are in PDF format and will open in a new window.
- Finley's Vegetation of the Mid-1800s
- Land Cover of the Mid-1800's
- Landtype Associations (LTAs)
- Public Land Ownership, Easements and Private Land Enrolled in Forest Tax Programs
- Ecologically Significant Places
- Exceptional and Outstanding Resource Waters and 303(d) Degraded Waters (2010 Update)
- Dams
- WISCLAND Land Cover (1992)
- Soil Regions
- Relative Tree Density in the Mid-1800s
- Population Density, Cities, and Transportation
Also see the statewide maps from the Ecological Landscapes Handbook.
LTAs
Northern Highland Landtype Associations
Landtype Associations (LTAs) are units of the National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units (NHFEU), a hierarchical ecological land classification system. LTAs are much smaller than Ecological Landscapes, ranging in size from 10,000 and 300,000 acres. In Wisconsin, they are usually based on glacial features like individual moraines or outwash plains. LTAs can be very useful for planning at finer scales within an Ecological Landscape.
The following are the LTAs associated with the Northern Highland Ecological Landscape. The Northern Highland LTA map [PDF] can be used to locate these LTAs. Clicking on an LTA in the list below will open a data table for that LTA in PDF format. Descriptions are included, where available.
