Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Peshtigo Brook Meadow & Woods (No. 564)

Overview

Location

Within Peshtigo Brook Wildlife Area, Oconto County. T30N-R18E, Sections 8, 9. 477 acres.

Access

rom the intersection of Highway 32 and Peshtigo Brook Road in Suring, go north on Peshtigo Brook Road 3.1 miles, then east on Sleeter Road 0.7 miles, then north on Pipeline Road 2.9 miles, then northeast on Hawthorn Road 0.5 miles to a small parking area. Walk northeast on the trail which loops through the site.

Description

Description

Situated on sandy outwash with scattered low sandy ridges, Peshtigo Brook Meadow and Woods features a series of northern sedge meadows in and around upland eskers and old beach dunes. The meadow is virtually undisturbed and supports the uncommon Le Conte’s sparrow. Herb cover is moderate to dense and dominated by lake sedge, tussock sedge and woolly-fruit sedge. Other plants include bluejoint grass, Buxbaum’s sedge, marsh fern, swamp loosestrife, marsh skullcap, water horsetail, and northern bog goldenrod. Shrub cover is sparse to moderate with bog birch, alder, white meadowsweet, and slender willow. The sandy upland ridges support patches of large diameter red oak and white pine up to 34 inches in diameter. Red pine, Hill’s oak, paper birch, red maple, and balsam fir are also present. Understory plants include pipsissewa, huckleberry, trailing arbutus, twinflower, partridgeberry, round-leaved shinleaf, American starflower, rosy twisted stalk, and sessile-leaved bellwort. In addition to the Le Conte’s sparrow, breeding birds include golden-winged warbler, Nashville warbler, pine warbler, ovenbird, scarlet tanager, veery, eastern wood pewee, sedge wren, black-billed cuckoo, sandhill crane, and common snipe. Peshtigo Brook Meadow and Woods is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2008.

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, 194 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)