Regional Landscape Ecosystems of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin

DISCUSSION: The subsection consists primarily of end and ground moraines. Northern hardwood forests characterize most of the uplands, but differences in landform and soil texture among the sub-subsections cause differences in overstory and groundcover vegetation and differences in land management. The sub-subsections also support different wetland types.

Sub-subsections: Brule and Paint Rivers sub-subsection (IX.3.1); Winegar Moraine sub-subsection (IX.3.2); Central Wisconsin Loess Plains sub-subsection (IX.3.3); Chippewa-Green Bay Lobes sub-subsection (IX.3.4). (See figures 4 and 6.)

ELEVATION: 600 to 1,952 feet (183 to 595 m).

AREA: 14,295 square miles (37,024 sq km).

STATES: Michigan and Wisconsin.

CLIMATE: Climate of Sub-subsection IX.3 is less modified by the Great Lakes than any other subsection in Michigan (Albert et al. 1986). Growing season is short, 87 days in Michigan (Albert et al. 1986) and 100 to 128 days in Wisconsin (Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics Service 1987). The chance of late spring frosts is greater here than in any other subsection in Michigan. Winters are cold; extreme minimum temperature ranges from -45½F to -50½F (Wisconsin Statistical Reporting Service 1967, Eichenlaub et al. 1990). Annual snowfall ranges from 40 to 140 inches (Eichenlaub et al. 1990, Wisconsin Statistical Reporting Service 1967); snowfall amounts are greatest in the northern part of the subsection but less than along the Lake Superior shoreline (Albert et al. 1986). Severe winds associated with squall lines and thunderstorms may have a strong impact on forests.

BEDROCK GEOLOGY: Precambrian bedrock within this large subsection is quite diverse and includes granite, gabbro, basalt, gneiss, amphibolite, felsic and mafic metavolcanic rock, quartzite, slate, and iron formations (Morey et al. 1982). Bedrock is generally overlain by glacial drift, but is locally exposed throughout the subsection. Glacial drift is up to 300 feet thick.

LANDFORMS: End and ground moraine. Kettle depressions and steep ridges make up the irregular end-moraine lobes of the northern part of the subsection. See sub-subsections.

LAKES AND STREAMS: See sub-subsections.

SOILS: Rocky, red, sandy loams and sands make up the subsoil. A reddish silt cap of loess is common in Sub-subsections IX.3.1, IX.3.3, and IX.3.4. Fragipans are often present. Soils are Spodosols. Peat deposits can be several feet thick.

PRESETTLEMENT VEGETATION: Northern hardwoods dominated all sub-subsections. Hemlock was common, both within the hardwood stands and as pure stands.

NATURAL DISTURBANCE: Windthrow is probably most important. Large windthrows were common in Sub-subsections IX.3.1 and IX.3.3 due to the relatively flat topography. Smaller windthrows characterized the irregular topography of Sub-subsection IX.3.2. Fire was an important factor along more droughty lake margins.

PRESENT VEGETATION AND LAND USE: Forest management for timber and pulp is the primary land use. Some agriculture, primarily pasture, is in the south in Sub-subsection IX.3.3.

RARE PLANT COMMUNITIES: See sub-subsections.

RARE PLANTS: See sub-subsections.

RARE ANIMALS: See sub-subsections.

NATURAL AREAS: See sub-subsections.

PUBLIC LAND MANAGERS: See sub-subsections.

CONSERVATION CONCERNS: The entire subsection is important for timber and pulp production. It provides very important habitat for large mammals and migratory song birds. Present land management is generally compatible with these habitat needs. Parts of this subsection have been considered for wolf management.

BOUNDARIES: Subsection IX.3 includes lands of the Ottawa, Nicolet, and Chequamegon National Forests, which have been mapped in detail by ECS teams.