Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Camp 3 Lake (No. 450)

Overview

Location

Within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Forest County. T36N-R15E, Sections 2, 3, 4, 10, 11. 1,214 acres.

Access

The site can be accessed from Highway 8 and Forest roads 2131, 2132, and 2128. From the intersection of Highways 8 and 32 in Laona, go north on 8 3.4 miles, then east on FR 2131 (Peshtigo River Road) about 4.4 miles to a canoe access and the Peshtigo River. The site lies northwest of the road.

Description

Description

Camp Three Lake features a unique silver maple floodplain forest along a meandering portion of the Peshtigo River, a 40-mile long tributary to Green Bay. Other natural communities present are northern mesic, wet-mesic, and wet forest. The floodplain forest is dominated by large, unbranched silver maple (up to 28 inches in diameter) with a characteristic floodplain understory including poison ivy, calico aster, Virginia wild-rye, gray-headed coneflower, blue skullcap, sensitive fern, and stinging nettle. The groundcover is often thick with grasses and sedges. Exposed drying mud with almost no vegetation, both with and without canopy cover, is frequently found. As one moves away from the river, the silver maple is replaced by black ash. The northern mesic forest contains an overstory of sugar maple, basswood, hemlock, and yellow birch. Other trees include paper birch, red maple, and balsam fir. Groundlayer species include northern tree club-moss, wild red raspberry, large-leaved aster, tall blue lettuce, and Pennsylvania sedge. White cedar, black spruce, and tamarack dominate the wet-mesic forest; black spruce and tamarack are common in the northern wet forest canopy. Understory species includes velvet-leaf blueberry, creeping snowberry, bunchberry, and yellow bluebead lily. Camp Three Lake is a deep, soft-water lake surrounded by open bog, hemlock slopes, hardwood forest, and white pine. The lake has sparse aquatic vegetation, although an emergent aquatic community occurs to the north. Two creeks draining into the Peshtigo River are included within the site. Haymeadow Creek features abundant northern sedge meadow community with some alder thicket. Whiting Creek passes through mixed conifer swamp before joining the Peshtigo. Breeding bird species include pileated woodpecker, least flycatcher, blue-headed vireo, winter wren, scarlet tanager, and cape may, mourning, magnolia, and black-throated blue warblers. Camp 3 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)