Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Haymeadow Creek (No. 479)

Overview

Location

Within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Vilas County. T42N-R11E, Sections 16, 18, 19, 20. 957 acres.

Access

From the intersection of Highway 32 and County B in Land O’Lakes, go south on 32 2.25 miles, then east on County E 2.7 miles, then south on Blong Road 1.2 miles. The site lies north and southeast of the road.

Description

Description

Haymeadow Creek features a large, wet meadow interspersed with elevated islands forested with jack pine, red pine, and white pine. Wet areas contain a thin sphagnum carpet with a ground layer of few-seeded sedge and northern blue-flag iris. The northeastern portion of the site contains a dry mossy opening that supports the rare Canada mountain rice-grass (Oryzopsis canadensis). Surrounding the meadow is northern wet forest with a mix of black spruce, tamarack, and northern white cedar. The understory includes species such as bracken fern, Labrador-tea, bunchberry, trailing arbutus, Canada mayflower, wintergreen, and blueberry. The entire complex is important habitat for a number of bird species including gray jay, boreal chickadee, Connecticut warbler, Lincoln’s sparrow, and yellow-bellied flycatcher. Other species include yellow-rumped warbler, Nashville warbler, olive-sided flycatcher, Northern parula, white-throated sparrow, and winter wren. Osprey and bald eagle are also known to use the area. Haymeadow 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)