Green Bay Approximate demarcation of Central Basin East and Central Basin West. Aurora 1 Napervtlle JoRet The Lake Micliigan Lakewide Action and Management Plan (LAMP) is a collaborative, adaptive management program where federal, state, tribal and local governments along with other partners work together to protect and restore Lake Micliigan. The LAMP shares responsibility for implementing many aspects of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA), which seeks to "restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Waters of the Great Lakes." One commitment under the GLWQA is to develop and implement lakewide habitat and species protection and restoration strategies. Lake- — Michigan Biodiversity: Central Basin West The Central Basin West is the area between the Northern Basin and the Mid- Lake Plateau that spans the Wisconsin shoreline and includes the Two Rivers Ridge and Door-Leelanau Ridge and Chippewa Basin. This area borders Door and Kewaunee Counties, and the northern portion of Manitowoc County. The shoreline and nearshore areas were sculpted by glaciers and are dominated by the Niagara limestone formation. which is visible throughout much of Door County. Central Basin West's blend of open land and water, combined with abundant recreational opportunities, are increasingly popular. This area lias some of the most diverse natural communities along Lake Michigan's shoreline, including forests, coastal wetlands, tributaries, and unique land formations. Tributaries and coastal wetlands provide spawning habitat for several native fish species, and forest and wetland areas support a diverse wildlife population that includes waterfowl, songbirds, diverse plant communities, and several threatened and endangered species unique to the area. Collaboration among partners in the Central Basin West region is needed to implement key actions that will maintain and increase the viability of biodiversity and abate identified threats to biodiversity. Threats to Biodiversity In an assessment of threats to biodiversity, numerous experts rated the current viability status of an array of targets using recognized Key Ecological Attributes and indicators of viability (Table 1). Critical threats to biodiversity in the entire Central Basin region include aquatic and terrestrial invasive species, climate cliange, and housing and urban development. Invasive species can alter ecosystem attributes, such as water clarity and nutrient levels, and present serious threats to native species. Climate changes contribute to a variety of effects on ecological processes that limit the suitability of lake habitats and increase the tlireat associated with current stressors, such as invasive species and algal blooms. Coastal development and shoreline alterations have negatively impacted coastal wetland and terrestrial systems, resulting in altered migration patterns for birds and fish. Table 1. Viability Assessment Summary for Central Basin TARGET CATEGORY ASSESSMENT THREAT STATUS Nearshore Zone Fair High Aerial Migrants Fair High Coastal Terrestrial Systems Fair High Coastal Wetlands Good Very High Islands Good Medium Native Migratory Fish Fair High Offshore Zone Fair Medium Source: Lake Michigan Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, 2013. Cave Point County Park, Door County, Wl Photo: James Jordan Lake Michigan Central Basin West Biodiversity Revised September 2014 ------- Strategies Needed to Conserve Biodiversity A number of actions can be taken by agencies, tribes, municipalities, planning commissions, and other partners concerned with biodiversity in the Central Basin West area. The following strategies are recommended. For additional details, see Chapter 6 of the Lake Michigan Biodiversity Conservation Strategy. • Align projects among states bordering Lake Michigan to implement common policies, risk assessments, and funding to minimize invasive species. • Use coordinated land use planning to align future development in coastal areas with biodiversity conservation and ecological processes. • Assess potential management actions across key partners to adapt to the changing climate and reduce impacts to the region. • Improve land use practices to minimize detrimental impacts: o Increase adoption of conservation practices to address the impacts of agricultural and urban water pollution, o Develop and implement collaborative land-use planning efforts that integrate green infrastructure principles into shoreline alterations. Dwarf Lake Iris (Iris lacustris, endangered species), Ridges Sanctuary, Door County, Wl. Photo: Joshua Mayer The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (www.glri.us/) has supported habitat and species protection and restoration efforts and will continue to serve as an important mechanism for implementing biodiversity conservation strategies in Central Basin West. Key Next Steps • Implement U.S. Fish and Wildlife identified opportunities to expand habitat for the endangered piping plover. • Continue efforts to manage public swimming beaches through sanitary surveys and beach restoration projects, which are currently being completed with GLR1 funds in Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc and Sheboygan Counties. • Protect and enhance public lands within the Door County Peninsula. • Leverage the 2010 Biodiversity and Conservation Atlas of the Great Lakes Islands Inventory for invasive species that have the potential to alter ecosystem dynamics and protected habitat that is essential for aerial migrants. www.conservationgatewav.org/ConservationBvGeograp hv/NortliAmerica/wholesvstems/greatlakes/basin/migrato rvbirds/Pages/Islands-of-Life.aspx • Support biodiversity information and educational efforts of the Lake Michigan Stakeholders group. • Continue to monitor any changes from annual fish assessments and partner with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to implement adaptive management recommendations. • Support protection and enhancement of natural areas and land that comiects or expands existing areas, as outlined in the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resource's Wisconsin Land Legacy Report (dnr.wi.gov/files/pdf/pubs/lf/lf0043.pdf). Continue efforts to reduce tributary phosphorus loading to Lake Michigan to reduce nuisance algae blooms, as outlined in Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and Wisconsin's phosphorus regulations. Promote widespread adoption of The Urban Conservation Treaty for Migratory Birds and continual implementation of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan in light of the added stress of climate change on species and habitats. Determine roles and responsibilities in the Central Basin West area in the education surveillance and standardization of procedures to aid in meeting the GLWQA Amiex 6 Aquatic Invasive Species Goal of development and implementation of an early detection and rapid response initiative by 2015. To preserve and restore wetlands from the dangers of the invasive common reed Phragmites, it is important to consult the current maps and management efforts at www, greatlakesphragmites net for an interactive forum for stakeholders working on control of this wetland problem. Continue and expand streamside rearing of Lake Sturgeon, for example in the Kewaunee River Continue and expand efforts to train and certify green practices for marinas and ports (www.miseagrant.umich.edu/greenmarina). For More Information www.epa.gov/greatlakes/lake-michigan LAMP Partners: Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources // Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality // The Nature Conservancy dnr.wi.gov www.michigan.gov/dea www.nature.ora U.S. EPA, Great Lakes National Program Office Elizabeth Hinchey Malloy Lake Michigan Manage Phone: (312) 886-3451 hinchey.elizabeth@epa.gov ------- |