Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Devine Lake & Mishonagon Creek (No. 507)

Overview

Location

Within the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, Vilas County. T40N-R6E, Sections 3, 4, 9, 10, 15, 16. T41N-R6E, Sections 33, 34. 1,186 acres.

Access

From Woodruff, go north on Highway 51 about 4 miles, then west on N. Farming Road 1.2 miles miles, then north on Rux Road 1.6 miles, then go northwest on an unnamed road 0.15 miles and veer north at the Y 0.5 miles to the west edge of the site. Walk west through the conifer swamp and to Devine Lake.

Description

Description

Devine Lake and Mishonagon Creek contains an extensive wetland complex including a large sedge meadow, mixed conifer swamp, shrub-carr, and northern wet forest bordering Devine Lake. Of note, is the exceptional floristic diversity within this complex. The meadow is dominated by blue-joint grass, sedges, and rushes with marsh fern, marsh bellflower, turtlehead, marsh marigold, flat-top aster, and northern bog goldenrod. The tamarack-dominated wet forest occupies the wetland within the Devine Lake basin between the open sedge meadow and a tall shrub community at the upland edge. Understory dominants are sphagnum mosses, and few-seeded sedge. Other characteristic species include large cranberry, round-leaved sundew, northern blue-flag iris, marsh skullcap, rose pogonia, white bog orchid, three-leaved goldthread, and crested shield fern. Shrubs include marsh cinquefoil, leather-leaf, mountain maple, velvet-leaf blueberry, mountain holly, and willows. The 95-acre Devine Lake is a spring-fed, drained lake which occupies a depression in extensive sandy, pitted glacial outwash. Several large springs and seepages feed the lake and surrounding wetlands from the north. The lake harbors numerous aquatic macrophytes including wild rice, which occupies 30-40% of the lake basin in some years. Many rare animals and plants are found here, some of them represented by large populations. Rare animals include American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus), American black duck (Anas rubripes), Leconte’s sparrow (Ammodramus leconteii), evening grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus), yellow-bellied flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris), bog copper butterfly (Lycaena exipanthe), and zebra clubtail dragonfly (Stylurus scudderi). Rare plants include leafy white orchis (Platanthera dilatata), marsh willow-herb (Epilobium palustre), sparse-flowered sedge (Carex tenuiflora), sheathed sedge (C. vaginata), and dragon's mouth (Arethusa bulbosa). Devine Lake and Mishonagon Creek is owned by the DNR 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.

• Detailed Map [PDF, 262 KB]

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)