Mecan Springs

State Natural Area (No. 370)

Location: Within Mecan River System Fishery Area, Waushara County. T18N-R8E, Section 1. T18N-R9E Sections 6, 7. 111 acres.

Access: From the junction of Highways 39/51 and 21 in Coloma, go east on 21 2.6 miles, then north on GG 2.0 miles, then west on Chicago Road 0.3 mile to an access lane and parking area on the left side of the road. The natural area lies west of the parking area.The natural area lies west of the parking area. The area is a "Waterfowl closed area: disturbance prohibited". No person may hunt or trap any species of wild animal or disturb waterfowl during open waterfowl season through December 31st. For more information see Wisconsin Administrative code(exit DNR).

Description: Situated in the bottom of a moraine depression, Mecan Springs protects the large clearwater springs which are the headwaters to the Mecan River. The river is a hardwater stream that flows southeasterly through Marquette County and into Green Lake County where it joins the Upper Fox River. A Class I trout stream, the Mecan River system contains some of the finest trout streams in central Wisconsin and supports excellent natural trout reproduction in the small, upstream gravel bottom pools and long-run riffle areas. Fen vegetation is present in the saturated soils of the Mecan Springs area. Sandhill cranes, northern bobwhite quail, and two rare birds - the state threatened red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus) and federally threatened bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) use the area. Mecan Springs is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2002.