Fort McCoy Barrens

State Natural Area (No. 228)

Location: Within the Fort McCoy Military Installation, Monroe County. T17N-R2W, Sections 16, 17, 18. T17N-R3W, Sections 1, 2, 13. T18N-R3W, Sections 35, 36. T19N-R2W, Sections 6-9. 435 acres.

Access: From the intersection of Highways 21 and B in Sparta, go east on 21 8 miles, then south into Fort McCoy on S. J. Street (about 1/2 mile west of the main gate) 1.2 mile to 18th Lane and park along the road. The site lies south of road. Visitors must call in advance for permission to access the natural area (608) 388-5766 or 5374. Vehicles must display a 5x8 card in the passenger-side windshield with name, purpose of visit, and emergency contact number.

Description: Fort McCoy Barrens consists of three distinct sites: Silver Creek, Clear Creek and an Oak Barrens community. The Oak Barrens community is one of the least disturbed oak barrens remaining in Wisconsin. Much of the area is open prairie with scattered black and Hill's oaks with bur and white oak less common. The understory is highly diverse with species including little blue-stem, June grass, poverty oats grass, goat's-rue, bird's-foot violet, lance-leaved loosestrife, and wild lupine. Populations of at least four uncommon or rare plants occur in the area: prairie fame-flower (Talinum rugospermum), tall nut-grass (Scleria triglomerata), large-flowered penstemon, and prairie larkspur (Delphinium carolinianum). Animal life is also diverse within the Fort McCoy natural areas and includes several uncommon or declining species including upland sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda), grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), and Gorgone checkerspot (Cholsyne gorgone cariota). The federally endangered Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) is also present. Both Silver and Clear Creeks are spring-fed, headwater riparian communities in pristine condition. Silver Creek is a fast, cold, hard water stream fed by two major springs that emanate from sandstone caves and seepages along its length. Sedges dominate the open areas along the creek with speckled alder and winterberry. Rare plants include bog bluegrass (Poa paludigena), long sedge (Carex folliculata), tufted hair grass (Deschampsia cespitosa), and cliff goldenrod (Solidago sciaphila). Also of interest are pickerel frog (Rana palustris), and Cladonia dimorphoclada, a lichen previously unknown in this region. Clear Creek is a soft, alkaline stream with a sandy bottom. The narrow creek is fed by numerous seepages and numerous rare species occur within the area including an extensive population of Massachussets fern (Thelypteris simulata), and the osprey (Pandion haliaetus). Fort McCoy Barrens is owned by the U.S Department of Defense and was designated a State Natural Area in 1990 and 1991.