Powell Marsh Use and Experience

Recreational Use at Powell Marsh

Many people visit Powell Marsh Wildlife Area each year. These visitors include hunters, trappers, berry pickers, bird watchers, photographers and people who come for a nice place to hike. The most common hunting activity is for waterfowl. Deer hunters primarily use the upland edges of the marsh. The marsh also is an important resource for local trappers.

A scenic overlook is located at the north end of the marsh. There are three designated parking areas and four support buildings. There is a designated hike and ski trail directly adjacent to the western boundary of the marsh, on the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest. No designated trails have been established on the wildlife area itself.

This area does not lend itself well to motorized travel. Limiting factors for motorized recreational use on the wildlife area include:

• Statutory restrictions on motorized recreation on wildlife areas
• Potential to set a precedent for motorized vehicle use on wildlife areas statewide
• Unsafe travel conditions on the dikes
• Potential for permanent compression damage to the wetland from motorized vehicles
• Potential problems from motorized vehicles that do not stay on the trails
• Potential for disturbance to wildlife, including breeding birds, by motorized vehicles
• Potential for disturbance to hikers, bird watchers and other users
• Currently, snowmobiles illegally driving on the marsh make it extremely difficult to plow the packed snow and ice in spring when it is necessary to gain access to the water control structures
• Enforcement is highly unlikely due to the remoteness of the area and limited enforcement staff

Interpretive & Educational Opportunities

Each year DNR naturalists from the NHAL State Forest program and private naturalists offer 7 to 12 guided interpretive programs at Powell Marsh. The most common programs offered are birding/wildflower hikes, full moon night hikes and cranberry marsh tours.

Current interpretive facilities at Powell Marsh are very limited. The overlook and parking lot near the wildlife area sign on Powell Road is a popular place for visitors to enter the marsh. While no interpretive trails are within the property boundary, there is a designated hike and ski trail on NHAL state forest adjacent to the western boundary of the marsh. This trail has a small parking area and map signs of the trail.

Powell Marsh is a wonderful resource, but its remote location limits the opportunities for offering naturalist-led programs. The marsh may best lend itself to "non-personal" forms of interpretive and educational opportunities. Potential opportunities for development include:

1. a signed/guided hike on the dikes leading from the overlook
2. a detailed, accurate, easy-to-read map for those interested in hiking on the marsh
3. a brochure of birds commonly seen on the marsh

As more people have moved into the region in the past few years, recreational use on the marsh has increased significantly. Today's hunters and non-hunters alike have the opportunity to enjoy this area, thanks to those early sportsmen who had the foresight to preserve this beautiful wetland habitat.