Booklet of Natural History and Geology of the Superior Hiking Trail in Duluth, Minnesota (306-04-07)

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Minnesotas Lake Superior Coastal Program

Booklet of Natural History and Geology of theSuperior Hiking Trail in Duluth, Minnesota

Dr. John Green, Superior Hiking Trail Association

April, 2007

Project No. 306-04-07

Contract No. A78677

This project was funded in part under the Coastal Zone Management Act, by NOAAsOffice of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, in cooperation with Minnesotas

Lake Superior Coastal Program.


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Introduction

Until now, there has never been any sort of general or overall description, guide,or interpretation of the highly diverse natural history of the Duluth area especially one

aimed at the general public. Thanks largely to the foresight of its city fathers manyyears ago, the city contains a wealth of parks and other public land, and Duluthians haveconsistently expressed their desire to protect these areas and to maintain their enjoymentof their natural environment as a high priority for land-use planning.

In the last few years, the Superior Hiking Trail Association has constructed a 39mile footpath from one end of the city to the other, taking maximum advantage of thesepublic lands and providing new access to much of this fascinating and diverse naturalenvironment. This new trail was the inspiration for producing an illustrated synthesis, forthe interested layperson and recreationist, of the natural history (including geology andsome human history) of the city, focused on the route of the Superior Hiking Trail inDuluth, all of which is in the Lake Superior watershed. This was the basis for this

project, the booklet Natural History and Geology along the Superior Hiking Trailthrough Duluth, Minnesota. The booklet fills a major gap in available, lay-accessibleinformation and should prove to be a useful educational resource.

Work Completed

The author of the 48-page booklet, John C. Green, performed the following tasks:1. Researched previous published and non-published reports and maps on the geologyand natural history of the area.2. Researched historical documents on certain aspects of the human history relevant tothe trail route.

3. Consulted other citizens with knowledge of certain sites or historical incidents.4. Surveyed the entire length of the trail in at least two different seasons, taking notes andphotographs.5. Conceptually designed maps and consulted with the map contractor, Diane Desotelleof Desotelle Consulting, until the final product was agreed upon.6. Wrote the draft of the text, submitted it to readers, and revised it to the final version.7. Selected photographs from the authors own archives as well as from recent trailsurveys.8. Solicited certain photos from other sources.9. Developed captions for photos.10. Delivered text and photos to design/layout contractor, Sally Rauschenfels of Sally

Rauschenfels Creative, and arrived at final version/product through many reviews andconsultations.11. Delivered electronic text to printer and picked up printed booklets.12. With the assistance of Superior Hiking Trail Association staff, delivered 500 copiesof the booklet gratis to a wide variety of schools, colleges, libraries, non-profits, naturalresource-related agencies and commissions, etc.


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Results

The deliverables consist of a 48-page, 5 x 8 , full-color booklet, which isintended and designed as an educational resource for people interested in the diversenatural resources of the Duluth area. Along with public libraries, one major group of

recipients is local educational institutions such as public and private schools and collegesand natural-resource-based nonprofits. The booklet will be used as a resource forcurriculum and field activities focused on local natural history. It will enhance studentsawareness and appreciation, and positive attitudes toward conservation and preservation,of this natural environment in the Lake Superior watershed.

Another major group of recipients is city, county, and state commissions andagencies that have management and regulatory functions for public lands. The bookletwill underscore the value of preserving and protecting the special natural features of ourlocal public lands.

Another very important group of people who will use this product comprises thegeneral recreating public, who will be encouraged to use the special access that the

Superior Hiking Trail provides to the citys wilder environments. In drawing theirattention to the diverse natural features along the trail, their appreciation will be enhancedalong with their desire and commitment to protect and conserve them. The bookletssection on Duluths streams stresses the importance of keeping them clean and theirinfluence on the water quality of Lake Superior and the St. Louis River estuary.

Conclusions

Any description of the natural history/ecology of an area such as this mustconsider the continuously-evolving phenology during the year. Although surveys allalong the trail were done in this case at least twice at different seasons during more than ayear, more would have been better, in order to catch more of the bloomings, fruitings,and other natural phenomena in this highly diverse environment. However, for the 39mile distance involved in this case, this would add considerably to the time requirementsto complete the surveys.

Good working relationships between the Project Manager and the contractorsgreatly assisted in achieving a successful product.

In the initial grant proposal, a 36-page booklet was planned, but during executionof the project it became evident that, in order to include both adequate text and anattractive and well-illustrated booklet, the size should be increased to 48 pages (limitedby the printers binding options). A supplemental Star Grant was applied for andreceived, making this enhancement possible.

This projects success could be a model for others focused on various areas alongthe North Shore or elsewhere around the State.

AppendicesA. Photo of the Booklet, Natural History and Geology along the Superior Hiking Trail inDuluth, Minnesota (next page)


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B. Distribution Report (attached)C. Short Review by Sam Cook from the Duluth News Tribune (below)

DULUTH NEWS TRIBUNE Copyright (c) 2007, Duluth News Tribune

DATE: Sunday, April 15, 2007

RETIRED GEOLOGY PROFESSOR SHARES EXPERTISE IN HIKING BOOK

It seems appropriate that Duluth's John Green has written a guide to the natural historyand geology of the Superior Hiking Trail in Duluth. He also did much of the scouting todetermine the trail's 39-mile route through the city.

The new guide, "Natural History and Geology along the Superior Hiking Trail throughDuluth, Minnesota," was published jointly by Green, the Superior Hiking TrailAssociation and Minnesota's Lake Superior Coastal Program.

Green is a retired geology professor at the University of Minnesota Duluth as well as anaturalist and birder.

"I just thought this was a great opportunity, since the trail is opening up this nice part of wild Duluth to the public, to do a little education and let people in on some of thewonderful natural history in the area," Green said. "It'll make them enjoy the trail a littlemore."

The 45-page, full-color book includes geologic history of Duluth, plus information on theplants, wildlife and streams that hikers will encounter along the trail. The guide includes

a map and detailed descriptions of 12 hikes along segments of the trail. Color photos anddrawings accompany the descriptions. Historical notes accompany each hike'sdescription.

"I think readers are really going to enjoy it," said Bill Dryborough of Superior, a memberof the Superior Hiking Trail Association board of directors. "It's the type of thing you cantake with you when you go hiking and enjoy the plant life and the local geology, the birdsand everything else."

The book will be available from the Superior Hiking Trail Association, (218) 834-2700or www.shta.org , or, after May 1, at bookstores, state parks and other retailers. Suggested

retail price is $6.95.D. Correspondence from recipients of copies of the booklet:

1. Kristine Aho letter2. Barbara Coffin and Bill Dryborough e-mails3. Pete Gravett letter4. Bob Nesheim, Doug Stevens letters
http:///reader/full/www.shta.orghttp:///reader/full/www.shta.org


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1 Representative David Dill Room 571, State Office Building St. Paul 1 Representative Tom Huntley Room 585, State Office Building St. Paul 1 Representative Mike Jaros Room 583, State Office Building St. Paul 1 Representative Mary Murphy Room 343, State Office Building St. Paul 1 Senator Yvonne Prettner Solon Room 303, Capitol Building St. Paul 1 Senator Tom Bakk Room 226, Capitol Building St. Paul

1 Tim Larson 3816 West Fifth Street Duluth 1 Michael Furtman 502 Leicester Ave. Duluth

55 Lee Pfannmuller, DNR Ecological Services 500 Lafayette Road St. Paul M2 Eco Services, MN DNR Station 4805 Rice Lake Road Duluth 1 Steve Wilson, DNR SNA Program 2005 Highway 37 Eveleth 1 Shawn Perich, Northern Wilds Box 659 Hovland 1 Sam Cook, Duluth News Tribune 424 West First Street Duluth 3 Dan Engstrom, St. Croix Watershed Res. Station 16910 152nd Street North Marine on St MN3 Barbara Coffin, Bell Museum of Nat. History 10 Church Street Minneapolis

530Note: The project was for 500 copies but SHTAdistributed the print overrun copies as well.


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Booklet of Natural History and Geology of the Superior Hiking Trail in Duluth, Minnesota (306-04-07)

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