Thornapple Hemlocks

State Natural Area (No. 459)

Location: Within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.Sawyer County. T40N-R3W, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22. 455 acres.

Access: The site can be accessed from Forest Trail 209. From the intersection of Highway 70 and FR 162 just east of Draper, go north on FR 162 about 5.1 miles, then east on FR 161 0.8 miles, then south on Forest Trail 209 to the site.

Description: Thornapple Hemlocks is a medium sized complex that contains a good representation of most of the major community types found within this landtype (Flambeau Silt-capped Drumlins). Included within the site are good quality examples of rich, maple-basswood forest, hemlock-hardwood forest, lowland transitional hemlock forest, mixed hardwood swamp forest, and black spruce-tamarack bog. Of the above, the upland hemlock-hardwood forest is most noteworthy in that this forest type was historically the dominant land cover on this landtype. On level, somewhat poorly drained ground moraine is northern mesic to wet-mesic forest dominated by 10-12" and 20"+ hemlock with yellow birch, red maple, and super-canopy white pine and white spruce. Northern white cedar is occasionally present in localized areas. Yellow birch saplings on stumps and old tip-ups, and balsam fir and white spruce saplings in canopy gaps are the common understory species. The shrub layer is sparse and poorly developed with a predominantly open understory. Typical ground layer species include Canada mayflower, American starflower, yellow blue-bead lily, three-leaved goldthread, wood ferns, bunchberry, with sphagnum moss and cinnamon fern in the wettest areas. A narrow intermittent feeder stream of Log Creek drains an adjacent black spruce and tamarack bog as it flows south through the stand. It is closed canopied with a sand and gravel bottom. To the west, conditions become wetter and the community type changes to a mixed northern hardwood swamp. To the north lowland hemlock grades up into a mature, rich, mesic hardwood forest dominated by sugar maple and basswood with white ash and black ash. Ironwood saplings and poles are the predominant midstory species. Shrubs are sparse, consisting of widely scattered gooseberry. The ground layer is diverse and rich with spring ephemerals including wild leek, Dutchman's breeches, sweet cicely, blue cohosh, bloodroot, and lady fern. Breeding birds include scarlet tanager, eastern wood-pewee, yellow-bellied flycatcher, rose-breasted grosbeak, black-and-white warbler, and ovenbird. This stand, while significantly disturbed in the past, represents the best example left on the Forest. Thornapple Hemlocks is owned by the US Forest Service and was designated a State Natural Area in 2007.