Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
New Auburn Sedge Meadow (No. 397)

Overview

Location

Within New Auburn Wildlife Area, Barron County. T32N-R10W, Sections 23, 26. 325 acres.

Access

From New Auburn, go north on Highway SS 0.4 mile, then continue north on 29th Street about 1.8 miles to a parking area on the west side of the road.

Description

Description

Located at the headwaters of Beaver Creek, New Auburn Sedge Meadow is an extensive tract of northern sedge meadow with pockets of shallow marsh and alder thicket. Situated within pitted glacial outwash, the sedge meadow is dominated by tussock sedge and American woolly-fruit sedge with Canada blue-joint grass. There is an abundance of wetland asters including boneset, Joe-pye weed, northern bog goldenrod, grass-leaved goldenrod, and giant goldenrod. Many portions of the meadow contain abundant snags of white birch – evidence of a former wet forest type condition. In the past, ditches were constructed in an attempt to drain the wetland and today the meadow is noticeably drier than other similar sites. The surrounding uplands contain a mix of second-growth aspen and young-aged northern hardwoods. New Auburn Sedge Meadow is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2003.

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, 150 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)