Springvale Wet Prairie

State Natural Area (No. 547)

Location: Within Peter Helland Wildlife Area, Columbia County. T12N-R11E, Sections 1, 2. 271 acres.

Access: From the intersection of County P and Highway 142 in Cambria, go west on P 1.5 miles. The site lies south of the road.

Description: Situated along both banks of Duck Creek, Springvale Wet Prairie is an open wetland complex of wet prairie grading into sedge meadow and calcareous fen. The prairie contains a significant grass component including cordgrass, big bluestem, and bluejoint grass. A diversity of forbs is also present and includes species such as black-eyed susan, mountain mint, sawtooth sunflower, rosinweed, marsh pea, turtlehead, and cowbane. Tussock sedge dominates the sedge meadow with swamp milkweed, marsh, spotted Joe-pye weed, Michigan lily, and boneset. A mound located on the south creek bank supports many calcium-loving plants that are fen indicator species. They include grass-of-parnassus, marsh bellflower, northern bedstraw, valerian, tall meadow-rue, swamp lousewort, golden alexanders, swamp thistle, and shrubby cinquefoil. Also present are two undisturbed springs and spring runs. Preliminary field surveys indicate a diverse lepidopteran fauna is present, which includes the Dion skipper, and mulberry wing. Springvale Wet Meadow is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2007.