South Branch Beech Grove

State Natural Area (No. 498)

Location: Within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Oconto County. T31N-15E, Sections 26, 27, 34, 35, 36. 779 acres.

Access: Access is provided by County W from the north and west and FR 2856 (also known as Old Shingle Mill Road) located about 0.15 mile east of the bridge over Second South Branch Oconto River. Proceed south on FR 2856 about 1.7 miles, staying on the better travelled gravel road (rather than taking forks that appear less traveled) to the end of the graveled portion. Park and walk south along the road until the north boundary of the Menominee Indian Reservation is reached. The reservation boundary is marked with blazes, stakes, and signs. The site lies on the uplands to the east, adjacent to the north boundary of the reservation.

Description: The core of South Branch Beech Grove centers on a mature hardwood forest of beech and sugar maple bordering Menominee County and the Menominee Indian Reservation. This excellent quality stand contains large beech, basswood, sugar maple and butternut with the largest trees measuring 24-28 inches in diameter. Sugar maple and beech are reproducing successfully. The canopy is composed of roughly 50% sugar maple, 30% beech, with lesser amounts of hemlock, yellow birch, basswood, red oak, red maple, paper birch, big-tooth aspen, and bitternut hickory. The uncommon butternut (Juglans cinerea) is also present. The stand has a history of timber harvest and stand improvements although recent disturbance has been minimal. Structurally the stand includes pockets of mature timber characterized by large trees intermingled with nondescript areas that appear to be dominated by even-aged pole-size or small saw timber trees. The stands also have good old-growth characteristics including large coarse woody debris, snags, and good canopy gaps from the natural loss of mature trees. These gaps are filling in with beech seedlings and saplings. The shrub layer is patchy and generally poorly developed where the canopy is closed and little light penetrates to the forest floor. Common species include maple-leaved viburnum, beaked hazelnut, American fly honeysuckle, and mountain maple. The ground layer is characterized by herbs such as Canada mayflower, yellow blue-bead lily, wild sarsaparilla, rosy twisted stalk, blue cohosh, and hepaticas. Rare, uncommon, and notable plants include little goblin moonwort, blunt-lobed grape-fern, Indian cucumber-root, butternut, Canada yew, lesser purple fringed orchid, cut-leaved grape fern, least moonwort, and white bear sedge. This site is part of a larger area that supports the highest concentration of the state-threatened red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus) on the Forest.