Page Creek Marsh

State Natural Area (No. 330)

Location: Marquette County. T15N-R9E, Sections 21, 22, 25, 26. 643 acres.

Access: From the intersection of U.S. Highway 51/39 and County Highway D just west of Packwaukee, go east on County D 3.45 miles, then north on K 0.5 mile to a parking area on the east side of the road.

Description: Located in the central sands of Wisconsin, Page Creek Marsh is a large wetland preserve that supports a rich diversity of plants, rare meadow birds, and waterfowl. Dominant plant communities are northern and southern sedge meadow, and sandy oak savanna. Also present are fens, wet-mesic prairie, bog, and seepage lakes. Page Creek winds northwest near the west edge of the marsh through gently rolling farmland enhanced by remnants of native prairie and savanna. Broad sedge meadows, cat-tails, and areas of open water afford habitat to a variety of rare species including downy willow-herb (Epilobium strictum) and bog reed grass (Calamagrostis stricta spp). A portion of the sedge meadow is of boggy northern type with plant species including wiregrass, cotton grass, bog bean, and northern bog aster. The area is host to numerous other plant species including marsh marigold, lake sedge, turtlehead, water dock, sensitive fern, and wild rice. Page Creek Marsh is of particular value as a staging area for sandhill cranes during their fall migration. Luxuriant with emergent aquatic plants, the secure, deep-water habitat of the marsh provides cover for large numbers of birds every season. Page Creek Marsh is also important habitat for two rare animals the slender glass lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus) and blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii). Page Creek Marsh is owned by The Nature Conservatory and was designated a State Natural Area in 1996.