Project Aims to Expand Population of Rare Species
Baileys Harbor, Wis. (July 24, 2023) – The Ridges Sanctuary has announced the awarding of federal funds for implementation of the Dwarf Lake Iris (Iris lacustris) Restoration Project through the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s Coastal Program. The grant advances efforts to expand Dwarf Lake Iris numbers, which have been decreasing at the Sanctuary over the past several decades due to forest encroachment, loss of dune habitat and the effects of climate change.
“Dwarf Lake Iris is relatively common on the Door Peninsula, however its habitat has been greatly reduced by a number of environmental threats,” said Ridges Land Manager Sam Hoffman. “By protecting its rare habitat, our hope is to increase the population of this threatened species and maximize genetic diversity over time.”
Dwarf Lake Iris is a small, rare iris species of the Upper Great Lakes region, where it grows primarily along the edges of shoreline forest and dune habitats often in close proximity to other rare coastal species. This attractive shoreline species is among the best known of all the endangered and threatened plants of the Great Lakes region, where it has become a symbol of plant rarity and conservation in both Michigan and Wisconsin.
“The US Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Program is happy to partner with The Ridges Sanctuary on the Program’s first voluntary habitat restoration and species conservation project to support Dwarf Lake Iris. Door County is just one of two Wisconsin counties hosting the federally threatened iris with The Ridges Sanctuary, the county’s resident expert in Dwarf Lake Iris conservation and research,” said Jade Arneson, biologist with US Fish and Wildlife Service. “The Ridges has identified opportunities to foster the persistence of viable populations of the small coastal plant across their properties through experimental land management techniques, research, monitoring, and education,” she added.
Coupled with tree removal required for maintenance of the Baileys Harbor Range Lights, The Ridges aims to study the current Dwarf Lake Iris populations, develop a long-term goal of expanding existing populations, and transplanting to other areas of the Sanctuary that already contain suitable habitat. Manipulation of forest conditions, including tree removal and canopy thinning, will be based on collected data to mimic disturbance that promotes ideal conditions for Dwarf Lake Iris and other rare plants, with the intended outcome of increased light availability. Through outreach opportunities and informational signage, this project will also educate the public about ongoing research and management of this species.
About The Ridges Sanctuary: The Ridges Sanctuary is a 1,600-acre private, non-profit nature preserve located in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin. It is listed as a National Natural Landmark, Important Bird Area, and Wisconsin State Natural Area. Founded in 1937, the Ridges was protected as Wisconsin’s first land trust to protect and preserve the sensitive habitat found in Baileys Harbor. Today, The Ridges continues to serve Baileys Harbor through its mission to promote positive environmental behaviors through impactful educational experiences, land protection and management, and ecological research.