Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Wabikon Lake (No. 447)

Overview

Location

Located within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Forest County. T35N-R14E, Sections 6, 18; T36N-R14E, Section 31. 1,105 acres.

Access

From the junction of Highways 8 and 32 in Laona, go west on 8-32 about 5.4 miles, then south on Potowatomi Road 0.8 miles to an unnamed forest road. Turn south and go 0.2 mile to a FS gate at the beginning of FS 2632. This is the north boundary of the site; FS 2632 runs along the west edge of the north half of the site.

Description

Description

Of primary significance at Wabikon Lake are the extensive high-quality forested wetlands with several rare plant populations. Along the shore of Wabikon Lake is an old-growth hemlock stand with occasional sugar maple, yellow birch, and white cedar present. The hemlock ranges from pole-size to at least 34 inches in diameter. The dense shade of the hemlock results in a very sparse, nearly absent, groundlayer. Extensive swamp forests in the northeast quarter occupy an area that was formerly part of Wabikon Lake and are partly underlain by lacustrine sands. These stands vary in quality and composition, ranging from the excellent old-growth white-cedar in the east-central part of the complex, to a large "hybrid" swamp containing both black spruce bog and white-cedar swamp components in the northeast quarter. Black ash is common to dominant in some stands, with red maple and yellow birch also common. The shallow waters along the shores of both Wabikon and Riley Lakes contain extensive high-quality emergent aquatic communities. The bulrushes, cattails, and large wild-rice patches attract numerous waterfowl. Water-willow is abundant in a floating sedge mat on Riley Lake as well as along the channel connecting the two lakes. In the western half of the complex are mixed northern hardwood forests on hummocky terrain dominated by sugar maple and basswood. White ash is prominent in some stands, while yellow birch is scattered throughout. Black cherry, butternut, red oak, and mature aspen are occasional to frequent. American elm was formerly an important component but now survives only as saplings due to the introduction of Dutch elm disease. The understory varies from open to dense, with thick stands of sugar maple and white ash saplings occurring in places. Eastern hop-hornbeam is fairly common. Common groundlayer species include maidenhair fern, large-flowered bellwort, plantain-leaved sedge, and American spikenard. A prominent esker running discontinuously north to south through the center of the complex supports a mix of CCC-planted white spruce, young aspen stands, fir, and mixed hardwoods. Soils here are rockier and appear less fertile than those to the west. Groundlayers are also not as rich and are quite sparse under the dense white spruce. A large recent blowdown caught the north edge of the complex and cut an approximately 1/8 mile-wide swath in the forest, reaching the shore of Wabikon Lake and perhaps beyond. The portion of the blowdown on FS land is unsalvaged and exhibits excellent hardwood regeneration, as compared to the salvaged private land to the north. Wabikon Lake is owned by the US Forest Service and was designated a State Natural Area in 2007.

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.

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)