The North Shore of Minnesota is home to the highest concentration of rare vascular plants, lichens, and bryophytes in Minnesota. The unique climate influenced by Lake Superior provides ideal conditions for a group species known as arctic disjuncts, indicating these species are separated from their primary ranges in arctic and alpine regions.

The DNR directly contracted MNR to resample 19 relevé plots that were originally sampled 25 years ago in State Parks and Scientific and Natural Areas along the North Shore of Lake Superior between Judge CR Magney State Park and Gooseberry Falls State Park. The focus of the surveys was the lichens and bryophytes of the Lake Superior shoreline, as well as vascular plants. Relevé plots were sampled following the methods described in Handbook for Collection Vegetation Plot Data in Minnesota: the Relevé Method, 2^nd Edition.

In total, MNR documented 146 lichens and related fungi, including five species of lichens and seven species of lichenicolous fungi that were new to Minnesota, as well as 97 species of bryophytes (69 mosses and 14 liverworts). Additionally, a new record of Selaginella selaginoides, a state-endangered plant species, was documented in Lake County which extends the range of this rare species almost 100 miles down the Lake Superior shoreline.