Grandma Lake Wetlands State Natural Area Explained

Grandma Lake Wetlands State Natural Area
Map:USA Wisconsin#USA
Relief:1
Location:Florence, Wisconsin, United States
Coordinates:45.8169°N -88.6131°W
Area Acre:495
Established:1996

Grandma Lake Wetlands State Natural Area is a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources-designated State Natural Area featuring the undeveloped, pristine 44-acre Grandma Lake, which lies in a depression formed during the last glacial period. The lake is ringed by a large, open sphagnum bog mat. The bog mat is surrounded by a coniferous swamp of tamarack (Larix laricina) and black spruce (Picea mariana). The bog mat supports a plant community that is considered diverse and unusual, with several rare species present, including: bog arrow-grass (Triglochin maritima), dragon's mouth orchid (Arethusa bulbosa), livid sedge (Carex livida), small-headed bog sedge (Carex tenuiflora), as well as one of only a few known populations of bog rush (Juncus stygius) in the State of Wisconsin. In 1991, the US Forest Service designated the site as a Research Natural Area. Also, the site is listed as one of Wisconsin's Wetland Gems, by the Wisconsin Wetlands Association.[1] [2] [3]

Location and access

Grandma Lake Wetlands is located within the Nicolet National Forest, in southwest Florence County, approximately 3miles southeast of Long Lake. Access is via a walking trail that leads west from Grandma Lake Road, approximately 0.5 miles south of its intersection with Tie Mill Road. A small, brown breeding bird survey fencepost marks the trailhead.[4]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fouse, Fred . Establishment Record for Grandma Lake Wetlands Research Natural Area within the Nicolet National Forest, Florence County, Wisconsin. .
  2. Web site: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources . Grandma Lake Wetlands State Natural Area . 2013-11-29.
  3. Web site: Wisconsin Wetlands Association . 100 Wetland Gems . 2013-11-29.
  4. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources . Grandma Lake Wetlands State Natural Area . 2013-11-29.