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Results and Discussion
 The results of the assessment contained
few surprises. Most of the priority areas identified through the
assessment process were known to the members of the Alliance and
their agency partners. Of the 18 priority areas identified, seven
had existing conservation efforts underway by one or more of the
Alliance members. Table
3 and Map A identify these 18 priority conservation project
areas within Wisconsin's Lake Michigan basin. The boundaries of
each area are rough approximations of the conservation area on the
landscape. In most cases the project areas identified do not reflect
a direct overlapping of priority areas taken from the plans and
assessments used for this plan. Rather, a more qualitative grouping
or "clustering" of priority areas was used. Subsequent
site conservation planning will delineate specific project boundaries
that will identify critical core areas, buffers, corridors, etc.,
based on the resource goals, values and needs represented within
the project area.
It is clear from the map representing
the priority project areas that nearly all sites are located within
Lake Michigan coastal regions. This is a result of the resource
focus of the plans and assessments the Alliance partners selected
to use in identification of regional priorities. However, it also
reflects the fact that Wisconsin's coastal ecosystems are extremely
threatened and therefore are priorities for conservation action.
Priority Conservation Project
Areas in Wisconsin's Lake Michigan basin:
1. Black Ash Swamp
2. Brussels Hill/Gardner Swamp/Kayes Creek
3. Chiwaukee Prairie/Kenosha Sand Dunes
4. Kohler-Andrae Area
5. Little Wolf River headwaters
6. Lower Green Bay
7. Milwaukee River mainstem
8. Northeast Coast Door Peninsula
9. Northern Kettle Moraine
10. Pensaukee River Wetland Complex
11. Peshtigo Harbor Marsh & Seagull Bar
12. Point Beach Area
13. Point Creek/Fischer Creek Area
14. Red Banks Glades
15. Root River Riverine Forest/associated Natural Areas
16. Shivering Sands Area
17. Upper Milwaukee River
18. Washington Island
The Alliance partners have selected specific sites within many of these priority areas for focused attention through site conservation planning. In many cases, these specific sites build on or overlap with existing conservation projects already undertaken by the organizations.
The site conservation planning process takes several steps:
● Selection of conservation targets
o
those natural elements found at the site for which the protection
of the site is
critical
to their viability and maintenance
o
can include: species, natural communities, historic features, scenic
viewsheds
● Identification of threats to those targets
o activities, elements, inaction which degrades or destroys the targets
● Setting conservation goals for the targets
o what is desired condition of the targets?
o e.g. how big a population is needed, how many acres required
● Developing most appropriate conservation actions to mitigate threats and achieve
conservation goals
This planning process is designed to be collaborative among those organizations and agencies working within the site, concerned with the resources found at the site, and/or potential funders of conservation activity at the site.
Read
the Landscapes of Opportunity report Recommendations and Considerations »
Please contact Liz Walsh at liz [at]
gatheringwaters.org or 608-251-9131 x12 with any questions about
Landscapes of Opportunity.
Photo provided
courtesy of Gill Gribb |
