5.1.11 Wildlife
The Project would result in significant changes to the current landscape and the
associated habitats used by wildlife. Some of the changes may have positive impacts to wildlife, while others may have adverse impacts. The Kohler Property is almost 100 percent contiguous forest and at least 50 percent of that would be retained as fragmented forest ensuring some habitat availability during songbird migration. Invasive species management and restoration of native trees and shrubs in invasive removal areas would help control exotic and invasive species in the retained forest. The forest edge along turfgrass and human use areas created from fragmentation of the forest would probably increase the challenge of exotic and invasive species management. The edge would likely provide some habitat for species that inhabit transitions between forest and openings. Habitat value would likely be diminished, however. Tree clearing would occur on the Property for each hole, the access road, the clubhouse/parking lot complex, the practice range, the maintenance facility, the restrooms, and the irrigation pond. Tree clearing may also occur in forested areas between tee and fairways to provide lines of sight. Interior forest bird nesting habitat is likely present within and adjacent to the Project boundary and would likely be eliminated. Wildlife species inhabiting these areas would be permanently impacted by the loss of habitat. However, impact to these species is not expected to create a significant effect on regional populations.
Following construction of the proposed golf course, forest cover within the Kohler Property would likely provide stopover habitat similar to that in the adjacent residential areas and Kohler-Andrae. However, reduction of the forest to 50 percent cover would likely result in a similar reduction of available stopover habitat on the Kohler Property. The department recognizes a 10-mile zone landward of the shoreline as potential stopover habitat. However, few forests of this size exist within that zone along this stretch of shoreline area.
The proposed amount of clearing would be considered a land use change. Forestry Best Management Practices for water quality should be followed to protect waterways and wetlands, and a county cutting notice would need to be filed with Sheboygan County.
An approximate 5 acre irrigation pond that would be constructed could provide new open water habitat for amphibians, reptiles, water birds, and aquatic organisms. In order to function as a viable wildlife pond, its design would need to include such features as natural substrate, varying depths, natural aquatic structure, submergent and emergent aquatic and shoreline vegetation, and the exclusion of surface water run-off to prevent entrance of nutrients and chemicals from surrounding turf areas. These natural features are usually omitted in irrigation ponds due to problems they cause with irrigation equipment. A pond lacking enough natural features would provide little benefit to wildlife, other than Canada geese (Branta canadensis). The resident “giant” Canada goose (Branta canadensis maxima) usually utilize this perfect mix of open water, surrounded by turfgrass in wide-open spaces that golf course irrigation ponds offer. Their numbers, feeding, and defecation often increase to the point that they become a nuisance to the operation of the course. A natural pond with a wide, natural shoreline buffer would help make the pond less appealing to them. However, a mix of population control methods and hunting are often needed.
The area south of Sheboygan, including the state park lands, has been recognized by others as an important resource for migratory birds. It's been identified as an Important Bird Area, or IBA, a world-wide program in which Wisconsin participates. This area was recognized as an IBA due to the extensive use by birds as on-shore migratory stopover habitat and off-shore wintering waterfowl habitat. This area has also been identified by the Wisconsin Stopover Initiative as a Tier 1 area, the highest level of significance for migratory bird stopover habitat (Grveles et al. 2011). This area was recognized as an IBA due to the extensive use by birds as on-shore migratory stopover habitat and off- shore wintering waterfowl habitat.
The additional traffic analysis would also promote further discussion and consideration of items including emergency response. In the event of an operational problem such as a spill, fire, or other hazard, access to the Kohler and/or Kohler-Andrae Properties may be limited especially during an event or a peak time of entry into Kohler-Andrae or the golf course. A delay in access to the site could magnify the effects of the hazards discussed above. As the project design moves forward, these hazards, in conjunction with emergency response and site access should be analyzed and presented in a document similar to an emergency response plan.
The specific locations of other features associated with the Project including but not necessarily limited to cart and drive paths, septic areas, biofiltration, and storm water treatment areas will need to be identified to ensure that all applicable rules and regulations are complied with. The location of these features will likely be identified and reviewed during the permitting process if Kohler decides to proceed with the Project.
The impacts to the groundwater aquifer and the wells that are supplied by the aquifer are not fully understood. The department has completed an analysis with the best information currently available and discusses the results above in Section 5.1.5, Groundwater Resources. There is significant uncertainty in the prediction of drawdown levels in fractured rock aquifers.
