The Ridges Sanctuary » Preservation

Geology and Climatic Conditions

sleonard — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 07:54:34 +0000

Ridges Sanctuary

How Did the Ridges Form?

Beach ridge formation is an ongoing process that started about 1400 years ago. At that time, Lake Michigan extended about a mile further inland than it does today, and water covered much of what is now The Ridges Sanctuary.

A key ingredient in ridge formation is the sand deposited during the last advance of glaciers into Wisconsin. This sand is carried by longshore currents along the Lake Michigan shoreline into Baileys Harbor. These sand-laden currents are slowed by the shallow U-shaped harbor. The sand settles out of the slow moving water, creating one of Door County’s finest beaches – and continuing the process of ridge construction.

The other important factor in ridge formation is the natural cycle of high and low water levels of Lake Michigan. When lake levels are high, wave action pushes the sand into a low ridge along the shoreline. As lake levels drop, the ridge becomes exposed and is sometimes capped by wind-blown sand.

The new ridge is rapidly stabilized by plants. First in line are the sedges and grasses, followed by small shrubs and a few species of trees. These pioneers of the plant world stabilize the “new” land and provide conditions for other plant communities to form. Gradually other trees and plants move in, finally becoming the boreal forest community that we see today.

One by one, the ridges continue to form, reflecting the natural ups and downs of the lake level. Thus, over the past 1400 years, about 30 crescent-shaped ridges of sand and soil have formed parallel to the shore. The ridges closest to the shoreline are the youngest in terms of the plant communities found there. Since it takes, on average, 30 to 40 years for each ridge to form, older plant communities are found on each succeeding ridge to the north, therefore creating a living example of the concept of succession in plant communities. As Lake Michigan continues its cycle of highs and lows, ridges continue to form along the shoreline of Baileys Harbor.

Land Acquisition Since 1937

sleonard — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 07:24:55 +0000

The Lands We Protect

Overview

The Ridges Sanctuary is an unspoiled wild place that occupies just over 1,600 acres in two units along the eastern edge of the Door Peninsula, a rocky finger of land projecting northward into Lake Michigan. On the west side of the peninsula is the shallow water of Green bay, and on the east side is Lake Michigan, a deep and expansive inland sea.

The Peninsula itself is a ridge of dolomite limestone – part of the Niagara Escarpment that passes through east central Wisconsin, circles around the State of Michigan, and creates Niagara Falls in New York State.

The largest portion of The Ridges Sanctuary’s land, about 1,400 acres, is located on the north end of the bay of Baileys Harbor. Much of this area is made up of a series of low, sandy ridges, alternating with wet areas called swales. The ridges run parallel to the shoreline of Baileys Harbor, and extend inland about a mile. Cooling breezes from Lake Michigan help to sustain a boreal forest in The Ridges Sanctuary – a forest type that is more characteristic of most of Canada. This forest, in which white spruce and balsam fir predominate, continues around the northern rim of the Door Peninsula.

This aerial photo illustrates the close relationship between The Ridges and Lake Michigan. At the right is the bay of Baileys Harbor, while Moonlight bay is seen at the top merging with the expanse of Lake Michigan. Water-filled swales lie between ridges covered by fir, spruce, pine, tamarack, and cedars.

Many of the plants found in this portion of the Sanctuary are more typically found further north. However, they survive here because of the cooling effect of Lake Michigan.

The Ridges Sanctuary also manages the Logan Creek Property, a parcel of 170 acres located south of Jacksonport, on the north end of Clark Lake. This land is comprised of a variety of habitats, including upland hardwood forest, lowland cedar-hemlock forest, and frontage along Clark Lake and Logan Creek. Mature Beech, Hemlock and Sugar Maple trees are found throughout the property. Spring wildflowers are outstanding on this site, with Hepatica, Spring Beauty, Trilliums and Trout Lilies putting on a show from mid-April to the end of May. A trail system and parking lot have been developed on the site, at 5724 Loritz Road.

DCIST

cschuster — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 18:43:57 +0000

If you are interested in receiving updates about invasive species efforts in Door County. Click on the sign up button below.

New Land Acquisitions

knewbern — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:31:42 +0000

The Ridges Sanctuary recently closed on 3 additional parcels of land, totaling 53 acres. All are adjacent to property already owned by the Sanctuary, and will help to protect the watershed which feeds into the swales and Lake Michigan. Funding for these purchases was provided through the Wisconsin Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Wetland grant program. Ridges members, through their generous contributions to our Land Fund, also helped to make these acquisitions possible.

Blooming Months Chart

knewbern — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:28:53 +0000

Common Name	Scientific Name	Typical Blooming Dates
Arctic Primrose	Primula mistassinica	May 1 – June 19
Dwarf Lake Iris	Iris lacustris	May 10 – June 23
Indian Paintbrush	Castilleja coccinea	May 18 – August 30
Gaywings	Polygala paucifolia	May 18 – June 21
Bog Buckbean	Menyanthes trifoliata	May 24 – June 15
Pink Moccasin Flower	Cypripedium acaule	June 5 – June 30
Yellow Lady’s-slipper	Cypripedium calceolus var. pubescens	June 5 – July 1
Labrador Tea	Ledum groenlandicum	June 5 – June 30
Twinflower	Linnaea borealis	June 12 – July 12
Shrubby Potentilla	Potentilla fruticosa	June 12 – October 10
Pitcher Plant	Sarracenia purpurea	June 12 – July 5
Thimbleberry	Rubus parviflorus	June 15 – July 6
Lance-leaved Coreopsis	Coreopsis lanceolata	June 15 – August 9
Wild Rose	Rosa blanda	June 15 – August 10
Wood Lily	Lilium philadelphicum	June 23 – July 20
Grass Pink Orchid	Calopogon pulchellus	June 23 – July 18
Showy Lady’s-slipper	Cypripedium reginae	June 22 – July 14
Black-eyed Susan	Rudbeckia hirta	June 23 – September 14
Ohio Goldenrod	Solidago ohioensis	July 29 – September 1
Grass of Parnassus	Parnassia glauca	August 5 – September 14
Dune Goldenrod	Solidago simplex	August 21 – September 14
Fringed Gentian	Gentianopsis procera	August 24 – October 1

A more comprehensive blooming list, with 100 species of The Ridges, can be downloaded here.

Related Plant Links

University of Wisconsin Herbarium – the website features a searchable database of Wisconsin plants and lichens, including photos, habitat descriptions, distribution maps and more.

Orchids of Wisconsin – a somewhat technical site, with detailed descriptions and photos of all Wisconsin orchid species.

Wildflowers Gallery

admin — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:25:51 +0000

The photos shown above are just a few of the wildflowers and other plants found in the Sanctuary. They are arranged chronologically so that you can view an entire blooming season, from early spring through late fall.

Phragmites australis

knewbern — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:11:36 +0000

Phragmites australis is an aggressive, non-native grass which threatens the biological integrity of The Ridges. It spreads rapidly by underground rhizomes, very similar to species like quackgrass but much more extensive. Phragmites can form solid stands and crowd out native vegetation in large areas along shorelines and in wetlands.The Ridges has been using various measures to control the spread of this plant in the Sanctuary.

More information about Phragmites can be found here.

To learn more about control measures of Phragmites, download A Comparison of Phragmites australis Control Measures in Wisconsin Coastal Wetlands (448KB PDF) by Devany Plentovich of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Environmental Science and Policy Graduate Program.

Door County Invasive Species Team

knewbern — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:59:29 +0000

The Door County Invasive Species Team (DCIST) is a group of natural resource professionals and interested public members that are concerned with preserving Door County’s natural environment. DCIST seeks to halt the invasion of exotic non-native plants by empowering citizens with the education, the tools and the skills necessary to control invasive species. Currently DCIST offers advice, presentations, and training sessions on invasive species control, if you are interested in or have questions about invasive species on your land or on other properties in Door County.

The link to their website is http://map.co.door.wi.us/swcd/invasive/default.htm.

Invasive Species

knewbern — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:49:51 +0000

The spread of invasive species is now the second greatest threat, behind habitat destruction, to endangered plants and animals. Because they can out-compete native plants for water, nutrients and sunlight, increasing populations of non-native plants could have long-term effects on the biological integrity of the Sanctuary. For many years, volunteers have worked to control species such as Spotted Knapweed and European Helleborine Orchid by pulling individual plants. Recent research projects have focused on Phragmites (a tall, tough-stemmed grass) and its control using various herbicides.

The best way to control the spread of these invaders is to locate and control them early, before they can get a “roothold” in an area. Visitors to the Ridges are encouraged to watch for non-native plants, especially Garlic Mustard, Black Swallow-wort, Japanese Barberry, Common Teasel, Japanese Knotweed, and Glossy and Common Buckthorn. If you believe you have seen any of these plants during a visit to the Sanctuary, please contact the Ridges staff as soon as possible. Include a description of when and where the plants were found, and describe characteristics of the plant (leaf shape, flowers, fruit or seed pods, etc.) that will help in making a positive identification. Photos documenting the plants are also very helpful.

Wildflowers of The Sanctuary

knewbern — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:24:50 +0000

The Ridges Sanctuary is internationally recognized for the incredible diversity of plant life found here. Nearly 500 vascular plants find their home in this rich complex of boreal forest and wetlands. Some, like the delicate Twinflower, are typically found much further north, but can survive here because of the cooling effects of Lake Michigan. Others, like the insect-eating Pitcher Plant and Sundew, prefer the acidic waters of the swales. Twelve endangered or threatened plant species are protected within the Sanctuary.

Among all the plants found here, perhaps none are better known and sought after than the orchids. Over 25 native orchids bloom in The Ridges Sanctuary. These range in size from the tiny Heartleaf Twayblade to the tall, elegant Showy Lady’s-slipper. In order to protect these rare beauties from damage or theft, exact locations of most orchid species are usually not disclosed except to qualified researchers.