Regional Landscape Ecosystems of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin

SUB-SUBSECTION IV.3.1. Kickapoo-Wisconsin River Ravines

Steeply dissected topography on dolomite, sandstone, or shale; forest dominated by sugar maple-basswood.

DISCUSSION: This sub-subsection is designated on the basis of extensive sugar maple-basswood-dominated forests, concentrated in the steepest, most fire protected topography within the section.

ELEVATION: 630 to 1,450 feet (192 to 442 m).

AREA: 1,300 square miles (3,370 sq km).

STATES: Wisconsin.

CLIMATE: See section.

BEDROCK GEOLOGY: Underlying bedrock consists of Ordovician dolomite, with some sandstone and shale; and Cambrian sandstone, with some shale and dolomite (Morey 1981, Sims et al. 1966). Sandstone is exposed in some of the steep ravine walls (Hole and Germain 1994).

LANDFORMS: See section.

LAKES AND STREAMS: No natural lakes. Both the Kickapoo and Wisconsin Rivers form boundaries of the sub-subsection.

SOILS: Soils are primarily silt loams (loess) over residuum. The residuum is derived from underlying dolomite bedrock (Hole 1976, Hole and Germain 1994).

PRESETTLEMENT VEGETATION: The dominant vegetation was sugar maple-basswood forest.

NATURAL DISTURBANCE: Fire was probably less prevalent within the maple-basswood forest than in adjacent oak savanna or prairie. Two areas of windthrown forest were noted in the original GLO surveyor's notes (Canham and Loucks 1984).

PRESENT VEGETATION AND LAND USE: Most of the forest has been cleared for agriculture except on the steep valley walls.

RARE PLANT COMMUNITIES: Relict hemlock stands occur within the sub-subsection.

RARE PLANTS: Aconitum noveboracense (northern monkshood), Carex prasina (drooping sedge), Minuartia dawsonensis (northern rock sandwort), Rhododendron lapponicum (Lapland rosebay), Sullivantia renifolia (kidney-leaved sullivantia), Trillium nivale (snow trillium).

RARE ANIMALS: Helmitheros vermivorus (worm-eating warbler), Oporornis formosus (Kentucky warbler).

NATURAL AREAS: Wisconsin: State Natural Areas: Mt. Pisgah Hemlock-Hardwoods, Ableman's Gorge, Hub City Bog, Bear Creek Cave, Pewits Nest, Baxter's Hollow, McGilurais Woods, Pine Glen, Honey Creek, Koshawago Springs.

PUBLIC LAND MANAGERS:

CONSERVATION CONCERNS:

BOUNDARIES: Boundaries are based on interpretations by Hole and Germain (1994).

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