Wind Pudding Lake

State Natural Area (No. 188)

Location: Within the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, Oneida County. T38N-R7E, Sections 21, 21, 28, 29. 340 acres.

Access: From intersection of County D and State Highway 47 south of Lake Tomahawk, go west on D 3.4 miles, then southeast on Bluebird Road 1.1 miles, then south on an access road 0.2 mile to a fork in the road. Take the right fork to the lake.

Description: Wind Pudding Lake is a large, soft water, seepage lake with separate shallow and deep basins both of which contain unusual flora. The shallow central and southwest portions comprise most of the lake area and are dominated by a floating mat of peat with yellow-eyed grass. Submerged peat in the shallow basin supports white water-lily, the uncommon purple bladderwort (Utricularia purpurea), and a large population of the rare Robbin's spike-rush (Eleocharis robbinsii). The 34-foot deep eastern basin has a sand and gravel bottom with a variety of sterile-rosette aquatics including the rare plantain shoreweed (Litorella uniflora). The shoreline is predominantly upland with a second-growth paper birch and white pine forest. Birds of interest include common loon (Gavia immer), great blue heron (Ardea herodias), and several species of ducks. Also present are bull frogs and green frogs. Wind Pudding Lake is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1983.