Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Wheeler Lake (No. 456)

Overview

Location

Within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Florence County. T38N-R16E, Sections 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 17. 769 acres.

Access

From the intersection of FR 2156 and Highway 139 in Long Lake, go south on 139 3.4 miles, then east on FR 2161 approximately 8.6 miles, then north on 2872 about 2.2 miles into the site.

Description

Description

Wheeler Lake contains a wetland complex with several scattered stands of older growth hemlock and fire origin red pine. The site is remote, poorly roaded, and adjacent to the Goodman tract. The pine is found on upland islands and peninsulas on the western end of the site. Scattered throughout are upland white cedar and black spruce with an occasional large diameter white spruce. Wheeler Lake is a shallow bog lake and contains a black tern colony, common loons, and gray jays. The higher quality stands of northern dry and dry-mesic forest are fire origin red pine. The oldest trees appear to be about 85 years old with the stand records indicating origin dates of 1920, 1922, 1929, and 1937. The understory is generally open with scattered bracken fern, bunchberry, spinulose wood fern, and wild sarsaparilla. There is little to no pine regeneration. Trembling aspen dominates sites with a more recent history of clear cutting. Hemlock and older-growth hardwoods including sugar maple and yellow birch dominate the northern mesic forest. Other communities include open bog dominated by sphagnum, leather-leaf, American woolly-fruit sedge, and few-seeded sedge; alder thicket; and northern sedge meadow dominated by tussock sedge and bluejoint grass. Wheeler Lake is a 44-acre shallow, medium hard-water drained lake surrounded by wetlands grading from open bog to emergent aquatic to northern wet forest. Bird life includes a black tern colony, common loon, and gray jay. Common plant species within and surrounding the lake include white water-lily, yellow water-lily, broad-leaved cat-tail, spotted joe-pye weed, northern blue flag iris, bladderworts, and pondweeds. Wheeler 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)