Lodi Marsh

State Natural Area (No. 374)

Location: Within Lodi Marsh Wildlife Area, Dane County. T9N-R8E, Section 4, 5, 8, 9. 545 acres.

Access: From the junction of Highways 60 and 113 in Lodi, go west on 60 0.6 mile, then south on Riddle Road 1.5 miles to a DNR parking area east of the road. Walk west across the road into the natural area.

Description: Located in a narrow valley filled with glacial till, Lodi Marsh is a large wetland complex with numerous springs and spring runs, southern sedge meadow, and cat-tail marsh. The large, mostly open wetland borders the headwaters and upper two miles of Spring Creek, which runs through the natural area. Cat-tails, bulrushes, and sedges comprise most of the vegetation. Shrubs include pussy-willow, red-osier dogwood, and bog birch. On the south side of the marsh is a knob hill rising 240 feet from the marsh bottom. Its north slope supports a dry-mesic forest of red oak, sugar maple and basswood while a small dry prairie is located on the south slope. Along the base of the hill is an extensive seepage area with an abundance of skunk cabbage, marsh marigold, marsh fern, northern bedstraw, swamp loosestrife, spring-cress, wild iris, and mountain mint. Two large springs, one on each hill, provide a steady water flow. Of interest is the presence of 14 species of Papaipema moths, which are regarded as indicators of high-quality prairie and wetland habitat. In addition, many significant wetland-restricted moths are also found here. Breeding birds include great-blue heron, Sandhill crane, common snipe, willow and alder flycatcher, sedge wren, marsh wren, yellow warbler, blue-winged warbler, and a large number of red-winged blackbirds. Rare species include the silphium borer moth (Papaipema silphii), Newman’s brocade (Meropleon ambifuscum), and ottoe skipper (Hesperia ottoe). Lodi Marsh is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2002.