Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Bear Lake Sedge Meadow (No. 323)

Overview

Location

Barron County. T36N-R12W, Sections 11, 12, 14. 167 acres.

Access

From the intersection of County Highways SS and V (Bracklin St) in Haugen, go west on V 0.3 mile, then north and west on VV (Fleety Ave) 1.6 miles to a parking area south of the road.

Description

Description

Bear Lake Sedge Meadow occupies a large embayment on the southern shore of Bear Lake, a hard water drainage lake. The sedge meadow is quite open, with scattered islands of bog birch, alder, black spruce and tamarack close to the lake. Much of the meadow is dominated primarily by woolly fruit sedge intermixed with three-fruited sedge, marsh cinquefoil, cotton-grass, and blue-joint grass. The wetland has a distinctly bog-like character, with sphagnum moss, round-leaved sundew, pitcher plant, , rose pogonia, northern bog goldenrod, and the rare dragon’s-mouth orchid (Arethusa bulbosa). Several species of bog shrubs including leather-leaf, bog-laurel, bog-rosemary, and Labrador-tea are scattered throughout. A small northern wet forest of tamarack and black spruce borders the lake and a fringe of alder-willow thicket lies along the remainder of the shoreline. This area is important habitat for rare birds including LeConte’s sparrow (Ammodramus leconteii), American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus), and the yellow rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis). Bear Lake Sedge Meadow is owned by Barron County and the Village of Haugen and was designated a State Natural Area in 1997.

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.

• Guidebook Map [PDF, 48 KB]
• Detailed Map [PDF, 180 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)