Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Headwater Lakes (No. 480)

Overview

Location

Within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Vilas County. T40N-R4E, Sections 4-9, 17, 18, 20. 2,893 acres.

Access

From Minoqua, go west on Highway 70 15 miles, then north on FR 509 (Chippewa Trail) to its junction with FR 142. The site lies west and northeast of the intersection.

Description

Description

Headwater Lakes features two unique soft-water lakes, Wabasso Lake and Cedar Lake. Wabasso Lake is a 49-acre deep, seepage lake with a diverse and unusual aquatic flora. The submerged aquatic plants are the principal features of interest, with several specialized sterile rosette species well represented. Lakes that support sterile rosette species are deep, land-locked, and have sandy bottoms. The clear, soft-water allows for the growth of this unique assemblage of plants. They include water lobelia, pipewort, spiney-spored quillwort, and waterwort. Associated submerged and floating-leaved aquatics include fragrant water lily, goldenpert, large-leaved pondweed, American eel grass, and water shield. Emergent aquatics along the shore include swamp loosestrife, pickerel weed, and water arum. A good population of the carniverous plant species, purple bladderwort also occurs here. The ericad bog is dominated by labrador tea, leatherleaf, and bog laurel along with scattered tamarack. The understory contains Sphagnum moss and typical bog plants such as pond sedge, swamp false Solomon’s seal, and round-leaved sundew. Uplands surrounding the lake contain patches of old-growth hemlock with yellow birch, white pine, red pine, and paper birch. In addition, fair to good quality stands of white cedar swamp and mixed pine forest adjoin the mesic forest. Fauna includes nesting common loons, and the state-threatened wood turtle. Cedar Lake is an undeveloped, shallow, drainage lake that still retains a wilderness aspect due to its remote location. Most of the lake margin is fringed with cattail marsh and sedge meadow. Associated wetlands include vast open peatlands dominated by bog ericads, tamarack swamp, and black spruce/tamarack bog. Uplands within the site are forested with fair to good quality stands of mixed pine forest of natural origin. Also present is a wet-mesic hemlock dominated forest and a mesic hardwood forest of diverse species composition. Of special interest are several groves of old growth red and white pines on the west side of Cedar Lake. Headwater Lakes 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)