Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Forbes Springs (No. 490)

Overview

Location

Within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Oconto County. T33N-R17E, Sections 20, 29. 20 acres.

Access

From Lakewood, go east on County Highway F 3.1 miles, then east on FR 2101 (Smyth Road) seven miles, then north on Holt Ranch Road 0.15 mile to a footpath on the west side marked with a brown "Tour Stop 15" sign. Park along the road and walk west on the footpath. A short boardwalk leads to the spring pond.

Description

Description

The centerpiece of this site is Forbes Springs, a spring pond. From this pond exits Forbes Creek, a fast, hard, cold waterway. Although outside the designated SNA, the adjacent federally designated Old-growth site also has some fine wetlands including a lengthy stretch of black ash and white cedar. A section of the cedar swamp houses a large number of rare plant populations including dragon’s-mouth (Arethusa bulbosa), adder’s-mouth (Malaxis brachypoda), and round-leaved orchid (Plantathera orbiculata). Other natural communities include northern mesic forest dominated by sugar maple and paper birch. Within the uplands there is some white pine regeneration. Early site surveys indicated the presence of super-canopy white pine, but a later survey only found 80 year old post logging trees, probably of fire origin. Some beech regeneration was encountered. Despite the ease of access to this site, protecting it affords the opportunity to preserve a collection of wetlands that supports viable populations of rare plants along with the spring source of the wetlands. Forbes Springs 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)