Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Lower Chippewa River (No. 342)

Overview

Location

Buffalo, Dunn, and Pepin Counties. T24N-R12W, Sections 1, 2. T25N-R13W, Sections 7, 30, 31. T26N-R10W, Sections 3-6. T26N-R11W, Sections 1, 2, 5, 11. T26N-R13W, Sections 11, 14. 2,184 acres.

Access

From Durand, the site lies north and south along the Chippewa River. The project encompasses 15,000 acres with many scattered sites. Look for State Natural Area signs or contact any DNR office and request the present locations of sites accessible to the public.

Description

Description

The Lower Chippewa River State Natural Area features the largest concentration of remaining prairies and savannas in the state. At the time of European settlement Wisconsin had over 7.7 million acres of native prairie but today only about 8,000 acres remain. This extensive project contains over 2,000 acres of prairie, which equals 25% of all known remaining prairie in the entire state. Lying along and interspersed within the river channels are islands of floodplain savanna and forest while the surrounding hillsides contain prairie and savanna. The largest contiguous floodplain forest in the Midwest is located just south of Durand within this natural area. A large diversity of bird species thrive in these extensive forests including six state-threatened species - red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus), Acadian flycatcher (Empidonax virescens), cerulean warbler (Dendroica cerulea), hooded warbler (Wilsonia citrina), Kentucky warbler (Oporornis formosus), and yellow-crowned night heron (Nyctanassia violacea). Additionally, seventy percent of all the fish species in the state find suitable habitat in the Chippewa and Red Cedar Rivers including the rare paddlefish, blue sucker, crystal darter, and goldeye. The Chippewa River is one of three places in the world home to the endangered Pecatonica River mayfly (Acanthametropus pecatonica). Lower Chippewa River State Natural Area is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2002.

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, 480 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)