Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Ekdall Wetlands (No. 150)

Overview

Location

Within Governor Knowles State Forest and the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, Burnett County. T40N-R19W, Sections 25, 35, 36. 311 acres.

Access

From the junction of County Highways D and F in Grantsburg go north on County Hwy. F 6.9 miles, then north on Nelson Landing Road (when F turns east) 0.6 mile to a boat landing. Walk north along the river into the site.

Description

Description

Ekdall Wetlands lies in a low terrace, 0.25 to 0.75 mile wide, where the St. Croix River has meandered away from the steep escarpment. The site contains northern wet forest and alder thicket plus a southern wet-mesic forest, here at its northern range limit in Wisconsin. Flat uplands above the escarpment are about 80 feet above the swamp and consist of barrens openings and dense stands of young oaks and jack pine. The escarpment slope also exhibits a continuum from xeric oaks at the summit to more mesic species midslope to swamp species at the wet base. Numerous seeps near the base contribute water to an open swamp of white cedar, tamarack, black spruce, black ash, and alder with scattered balsam fir and yellow birch. Typical understory species are sphagnum moss, Labrador-tea, pitcher plant, cat-tail, and sedges. Closer to the river are shrub-dominated thickets and small marshy pockets. The soils include wet alluvial land near the river, Cathro muck in the swamp, and sandy soils on the terrace escarpment. Deer use in the area is heavy. Other disturbance includes a ground fire that burned 75 percent of the understory in 1980 and some windthrow in 1977. Ekdall Wetlands is owned by the DNR and National Park Service. It was designated a State Natural Area in 1979 and later expanded to include the St. Croix River.

Maps

The WDNR's State Natural Areas Program is comprised of lands owned by the state, private conservation organizations, municipalities, other governmental agencies, educational institutions, and private individuals. Therefore, while the majority of SNAs are open to the public, access may vary accordingly. Public use restrictions may apply due to public safety, or to protect endangered or threatened species or unique natural features. Lands may be temporarily closed due to specific management activities. Users are encouraged to contact the land owner for more specific details.

The data shown on these maps have been obtained from various sources, and are of varying age, reliability, and resolution. The data may contain errors or omissions and should not be interpreted as a legal representation of legal ownership boundaries.

• Detailed Map [PDF, 140 KB]
• Line Map [PDF, 34 KB]

Activities

Please come prepared for your visit. Amenities vary from site to site with most SNAs being primitive and without facilities. See Guidelines for Visitation for details.

Allowable Activities

Most DNR-owned SNAs allow:

• Hiking
• Hunting
• Fishing
• Trapping
• Skiing

Some exceptions apply. Properties closed to the public or closed to specific use, such as hunting, will be posted.

***For non-DNR-owned SNAs: Additional use guidelines may apply. Please verify any use restrictions with the landowner or contact the SNA Program. Landowners may require additional permits or restrict the number of hunters at a given SNA to provide a quality hunting experience. SNA landowners can be found at the bottom of each SNA description page.

Prohibited Activities

• Horseback riding
• Rock climbing
• Vehicles, including bicycles, ATVs, aircraft, and snowmobiles except on trails and roadways designated for their use
• Collecting of plants (including fruits, nuts, or edible plant parts), animals, fungi, rocks, minerals, fossils, archaeological artifacts, soil, downed wood, or any other natural material, alive or dead

Please note that a permit is required for scientific collection and research on State Natural Areas. For more information, contact Thomas Meyer, State Natural Areas Program Specialist.

For more information on rules governing state-owned SNAs and other state lands, please consult Wisconsin's Administrative Code Chapter NR 45 (exit DNR)