Dewey Marsh

State Natural Area (No. 182)

Location: Within Dewey Marsh Wildlife Area, Portage County. T25N-R8E, Sections 10, 11, 14, 15. 926 acres.

Access: From the intersection of I-39 and Business Highway 51 on the north end of Stevens Point, go north on I39 about 9.1 miles, then east on County DB 1.9 miles, then south on County Highway X 0.7 mile, then east on Oakwood Drive 2.7 miles, then south on Hay Meadow Drive 0.8 mile to the southwest corner of the site. Park along the road.

Description: Dewey Marsh contains a large expanse of relatively undisturbed northern sedge meadow including smaller islands of tamarack and black spruce swamp, paper birch and white pine woods, and ericaceous bog. The marsh is dominated by blue-joint grass, steeple bush and wire-leaved sedges, with cat-tails and bur-reed. It forms the headwaters of Hay Meadow Creek. Scattered throughout the area are islands of aspen, birch, and white pine. Tamarack and black spruce swamps are also present. The eastern arm of the marsh is relatively cold and acidic containing an ericaceous bog while the western and southern portions are more alkaline. Rocks are exposed in many areas and there is little peat formation under the sedge mat. Large areas of peat and several acres of tamarack-spruce swamp, shrub carr, and red oak-white pine forest were destroyed in a large fire in 1976. Wildlife use is extensive with a diversity of rare species including sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus), greater prairie chicken (Tympanuchus cupido), red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus), and northern harrier (Circus cyaneus). Dewey Marsh is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1976.