Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Kelly Lake Hemlocks (No. 560)

Overview

Location

Oconto County. T30N-R19E, Section 31. 210 acres.

Access

Except for areas open to hunting as per MFL contract, this site is currently closed to public access.

Description

Description

Kelly Lake Hemlocks contains an extensive northern mesic forest situated on rolling glacial deposits north and west of Long Lake. Medium-sized sugar maple, beech, red oak, and paper birch comprise the forest although scattered patches of older hemlock, beech, and yellow birch are also present. Both hemlock and beech are reproducing well. The ground flora is well represented with spotted coral root, wintergreen, big-leaved aster, rattlesnake plantain, and partridgeberry. Several patches of the uncommon Indian cucumber root (Medeola virginiana) also occur here. Several small conifer swamps are found within the mesic forest matrix. Tree species include tamarack, black spruce, white cedar, balsam fir, hemlock, and white pine. An undisturbed kettle bog complex is found in the northeast corner of the site and supports species such as bluejoint grass, tussock sedge, and leatherleaf. Long Lake is a 38-acre seepage lake with a maximum depth of 22 feet. Along the undeveloped north and west shoreline is a forest of mature white pine with sugar maple and beech. Birds using the lake area include bald eagle, great blue heron, belted kingfisher, ring-necked duck, hooded merganser, and wood duck. To the northeast the soils become sandier and there is a transition from mesic to a dry-mesic forest dominated by white pine with paper birch, red oak, and big-tooth aspen. Forest birds include pileated woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, red-breasted nuthatch, white-breasted nuthatch, hermit thrush, raven, and golden-crowned kinglet. Kelly Lake Hemlocks is privately owned. A conservation easement was donated to the Department and the site was designated a State Natural Area in 2008.