Grandma Lake Wetlands State Natural Area
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]
Grandma Lake Wetlands State Natural Area | |
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![]() Grandma Lake Wetlands | |
![]() ![]() Location of Grandma Lake Wetlands State Natural Area in Wisconsin ![]() ![]() Grandma Lake Wetlands State Natural Area (the United States) | |
Location | Florence, Wisconsin, United States |
Coordinates | 45°49′1″N 88°36′47″W |
Area | 495 acres (200 ha) |
Established | 1996 |
Location and access
Grandma Lake Wetlands is located within the Nicolet National Forest, in southwest Florence County, approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) 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]
- Wide, open bog mat on the northeast side of Grandma Lake
- Black spruce and tamarack muskeg at the north end of Grandma Lake
- A close-up of the bog mat, near the northeast shore of Grandma Lake
References
- Fouse, Fred. "Establishment Record for Grandma Lake Wetlands Research Natural Area within the Nicolet National Forest, Florence County, Wisconsin" (PDF).
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. "Grandma Lake Wetlands State Natural Area". Retrieved 2013-11-29.
- Wisconsin Wetlands Association. "100 Wetland Gems". Retrieved 2013-11-29.
- Grandma Lake Wetlands State Natural Area (PDF) (Map). Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 2013-11-29.