Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Crandon Ribbed Fen (No. 590)

Overview

Location

Forest County. T36N-R13E, Sections 7, 18. 96 acres.

Access

There is no direct public access at this time. Please contact the State Natural Areas Program for more information: 608.266.0394

Description

Description

Crandon Ribbed Fen features a patterned peatland community – a unique wetland type that contains a series of peat ridges (strings) and hollows (flarks) oriented parallel to the slope of the landform and perpendicular to the flow of groundwater. The strings vary in height, width, and spacing, but are generally less than one meter tall, resulting in a faint wave-like pattern that may be discernable only from aerial photographs. The flarks are saturated to inundated open lawns of sphagnum mosses, sedges, and rushes, while the strings are dominated by sedges, shrubs, and scattered, stunted trees. Within a patterned peatland the peat “landforms” differ significantly in nutrient availability and pH, which influences the assemblage of plant species. The fen itself is surrounded by a narrow band of open black spruce swamp and embedded in a large area of black spruce swamp. The northern portion is a very wet, floating mat with springs and creeks. The southern end features distinctive patterning and varies from wet floating to firm with water-filled pools and strings, and wet to dry and crunchy flarks. Characteristic ribbed fen species include muck sedge, few-seeded sedge, white beak rush, sundews, horned bladderwort, and yellow-eyed grass. Patterned peatlands are only found at higher temperate and near-boreal latitudes of the northeastern and north-central United States and adjacent Canada. Crandon Ribbed Fen 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, 472 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)