Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Waupee Lake Swamp (No. 483)

Overview

Location

Within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Oconto County. T31N-R17E, Sections 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 22, 23. T32-R17E, Section 34, 35, 36. 2,886 acres.

Access

Access is by County Road W, Riverview Road, and an unimproved road. From Mountain, go east on County W 4.5 miles, then east on Riverview Road (FR 2107) 2.4 miles to a point where the road turns north. Turn south on an unimproved road and continue south for about 0.5 mile. Waupee Lake lies a short distance to the east.

Description

Description

The Waupee Lake complex is an arm of the much more extensive Peshtigo Brook Swamp to the south and east of the National Forest. The entire complex is within the basin of glacial Lake Oconto and is underlain by a nearly level bed of sand. Relief is provided by wind and water-worked sand dunes and occasional rock outcrops. Most of the swamp surrounding Waupee Lake is dominated by northern white cedar. Associated trees include tamarack, black spruce, balsam fir, black ash, red maple, paper birch, yellow birch, and eastern hemlock. A few scattered super-canopy white pine and red pine are present. Characteristic understory includes bunchberry, creeping snowberry, three-leaved goldthread, Labrador-tea, false Solomon’s seal, gaywings, and cinnamon fern. Contained within the SNA is the headwaters for Little Waupee Creek, which flows southwest into the North Branch of the Oconto River. Waupee Lake, a 34-acre wild lake, has a high concentration of rare plants in the conifer swamps that surround the lake. Around the lake are open wetlands dominated by sedges, bulrushes, blue-joint grass, and other grasses. Common species include marsh fern, marsh cinquefoil, blue flag, swamp betony, and poison sumac. Emergent and floating-leaved vegetation is present along the lake margins and across portions of its surface. Species include soft-stem bulrush, cat-tail, common reed, pond-lilies, and white water lily. Overall, the swamps of this area have moderate plant species richness except around Waupee Lake, which apparently benefits from calcareous groundwater inputs giving it an unusually high number of rare plant species. The surrounding uplands support sugar maple, quaking aspen, balsam fir, and eastern hemlock. East of the lake and swamp are slightly higher areas dominated by hemlock and white pine. Waupee Lake Swamp 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)