Mccarthy Lake And Cedars

State Natural Area (No. 293)

Location: Within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Ashland County. T43N-R3W, Sections 7, 18. T43N-R4W, Section 12, 13. Ashland County. 472 acres.

Access: From the intersection of State Highways 13 and 77 (east) in Mellen, go south on 77 3.9 miles, then west on FR 184 (Conley Road) 6.2 miles, then south on FR 183 about 3.0 miles, then head southwest on an unimproved hunter-walking trail along Iron Creek (FR 353) to the lake. To access the cedar swamp, continue on FR 183 another 4.3 miles, then go west on FR 182 3.1 miles, then north on unimproved FR 1333 about 0.7 mile. Walk west into the site. A compass and map are recommended to navigate this site.

Description: McCarthy Lake features undisturbed headwater wetlands, streams and McCarthy Lake, a 42-acre shallow, soft water drainage lake in wilderness condition. Surrounding the lake are open wetlands dominated by ericaceous bog and northern sedge meadow while the northeast quarter is forested with old-growth white pine. The wetlands are drained by 2 slow, soft water streams, which flow into McCarthy Lake. The stream outlets are overgrown with alders and flow over a field of large boulders. As such, they have been spared impoundment by beaver and lake water levels are apparently stable. Blunt-leaved pondweed is common with ribbon-leaved pondweed, common pondweed, coon's-tail, and bull-head pond-lily also present. The cedar swamp is primarily old second growth, dominated by white cedar with lesser amounts of yellow birch, paper birch, white spruce, and red maple. The swamp has recovered well from past disturbance although the numerous regenerating cedar seedlings are unlikely to reach sapling size because of the high white-tailed deer population. Characteristic herbaceous species include Canada mayflower, bluebead lily, goldthread, and bunchberry. Migratory waterfowl use is high with nesting black ducks, blue-winged teal, and wood ducks. Raptors include bald eagle, sharp-shinned hawk, and the state-threatened red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus). Other rare birds include black-backed woodpecker (Picoides arcticus), yellow-bellied flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) and gray jay (Pesisoreus canadensis). Mollusks present include the floater and fingernail clams while mink and green frogs are among the amphibians known to inhabit the area. McCarthy Lake is owned by the USDA Forest Service and was designated a SNA in 1996.