Skunk and Foster Lakes

State Natural Area (No. 312)

Location: Waupaca County. T23N-R11E, Section 31. 266 acres.

Access: From the intersection of Highways 49 and B in Scandinavia, go south on 49 1.8 miles, then west on County Q 1 mile, then continue west on County V 2.25 miles, then south on North Foley Drive 0.6 mile to a parking area west of the road.

Description: Skunk and Foster Lakes State Natural Area features a cluster of five undeveloped glacial pothole lakes located in pitted outwash moraine topography surrounded by second-growth forest of paper birch, white pine, red maple, elm, white and red oak. A small amount of tamarack is also present along the lowland edges of the lakes, as well as a thin marsh edge of red osier dogwood, alder, and sedge-cat-tail community. Some open hilltop areas contain remnant prairie species. The 11-acre Skunk Lake is a deep, hard water marl lake with very clear water fed by seepages and springs. A wetland dominated by cat-tails and bulrush surrounds the lake and a navigable channel connects it to Foster Lake, a 7-acre shallow, hard water, muck-bottom lake. The lake is ringed with cat-tails and arrowhead with numerous submerged aquatics. Surrounding the lakes is second-growth northern dry-mesic forest with sugar maple, red oak, big-tooth aspen, paper birch, and white oak. The topography is uneven with numerous glacial erratics strewn about. Grenlie Lake is a small, clear, hard water lake fed by seepage and springs and a small inlet from an adjacent marsh. The south side of the lake has a shallow bay with a small island and a small bog is also present. Aquatic flora of the lakes includes common and Illinois pondweed, northern water-nymph, white water-lily, and common bladderwort. Aquatic fauna includes soft-shell turtle, bluegill, pumpkinseed, northern pike, perch, and largemouth bass. Skunk and Foster Lakes is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1996.