Washburn Marsh

State Natural Area (No. 192)

Location: Within Black River State Forest, Jackson County. T20N-R2W, Sections 4 NW¼, 5 NE¼. 297 acres.

Access: From the junction of I-90 and County O in Millston, go east on O 0.3 mile, then north on North Settlement Road 0.6 mile, then southwest and north on Stanton Creek Road 3.3 miles, then north about 1 mile on an access road. Walk east into the natural area. Or from I-90 and O, go northeast on North Settlement Road 2.65 miles, then northwest on a snowmobile trail about 1.5 miles to the east side of the natural area. Or access the north side via a snowmobile trail just east of Wildcat Flowage off Kling Road.

Description: Situated in a large wetland basin, Washburn Marsh is an undisturbed wetland that includes expanses dominated by sedges and sphagnum moss, black spruce-tamarack swamp and some white and red pine in the surrounding area. The southern and central parts are dominated by sphagnum moss and wire-leaved sedges with Massachusetts fern (Thelypteris simulata) found in shady, wet peaty ground. Also important are cranberry, blue-joint grass, and steeplebush. pitcher plant, sundew, and lance-leaved violet. Bog birch is the predominant shrub. Towards the northeast the dominance shifts to broad-leaved sedges, Labrador-tea, and cotton-grass, with associated black chokeberry, three-way sedge, rose pogonia, and some uncommon sedges including long sedge (Carex folliculata). Swamp conifers are encroaching on open areas with scattered conifer islands of Jack pine, white pine, black spruce, and tamarack. The northwest portion of the site contains an acid conifer swamp of black spruce and tamarack. Black chokeberry and huckleberry dominate the tall, dense shrub layer with common winterberry, mountain holly, and alders. Other species include swamp dewberry, cinnamon fern, and few-seeded sedge. The marsh edge is entirely forested by red maple, oak, and white pine and red pine. Sandhill cranes have been seen here. Resident bird species include Nashville warbler, verry, alder flycatcher, and white-throated sparrow. Some mossing has occurred along the marsh edges, but the disturbed area is not extensive. Washburn Marsh is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1983.