Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Woods Creek (No. 457)

Overview

Location

Within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Florence County. T39N-R15E, Sections 25, 26, 27, 34, 35. 420 acres.

Access

From the intersection of Highway 139 and FR 2156 (Halsey Lake Road) in Long Lake, go east on FR 2156 approximately 5.3 miles. Walk south into the site.

Description

Description

Woods Creek features northern mesic, wet-mesic, and wet forest within a wetland mosaic of numerous ephemeral ponds and small bogs and swamps in a hummocky landscape. A tributary of Woods Creek breaches a well-developed moraine ridge. One-quarter mile of the ridge lies within the site boundary. Along the southern edge of the moraine ridge there appears to be terracing. The origin of the terracing and breach is not found in any literature, but it appears that the terracing arose from lake waters that were dammed by the morainal ridge to the south. The tributary appears to be the remnant of the waters that once breached the moraine. The northern dry-mesic forest features super-canopy white pine, large hemlock, and a surprising amount of upland northern white cedar. Relict white pine are commonly 30 inches or more in diameter and estimated at 200 years old, predating the earliest logging episodes. The hemlock grades into the swamps below and into northern mesic forest where it increases in abundance. Large sugar maples are also present. Stumps of white pine and other species were common, some apparently harvested within the past few decades. However, the canopy is still intact. Snags, den trees, and coarse woody debris are present although not common. The understory includes bunchberry, black cherry, early low blueberry, beaked hazelnut, yellow bluebead lily, American starflower, and wild sarsaparilla. Along the moraine and in the western portions, the forest has been more recently and frequently cut resulting in a stand with more pole-sized sugar maple. Hemlock with yellow birch, white cedar, and occasional super-canopy white pine dominate the northern mesic forest. In areas with a 70% closed canopy, the understory was thick with red raspberry, sugar maple seedlings, lycopods, and beaked hazelnut. Black spruce, white cedar, tamarack, and sphagnum moss dominate the northern wet forest. Understory species include leather-leaf, labrador tea, and sedges. The rare northern black currant (Ribes hudsonianum) is also present here. Documented breeding birds include winter wren, magnolia warbler, chestnut-sided warbler, black and white warbler, ovenbird, rose-breasted grosbeak, red-eyed vireo, and white-throated sparrow. Woods Creek 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)