Pine Island Savanna

State Natural Area (No. 549)

Location: Within the Pine Island Wildlife Area, Columbia County. T12N-R7E, Section 1. T12N-R8E, Sections 5, 6. T13N-R7E, Sections 35, 36. 798 acres.

Access: From the intersection of Highways 16 and 33 in Portage, go west on 33 1 mile, then west on Levee Road 5.7 miles to a boat launch north of the road. Go across the river to the island savanna. Or continue west on Levee Road another 1.5 miles and park. Walk north into the site.

Description: Situated along the Wisconsin River, Pine Island Savanna features one of the largest floodplain savanna remnants along with several patches of sand prairie. An interior river island supports a floodplain savanna of scattered swamp white oak and an understory comprised of prairie grasses and forbs. Sandy ridges contain black oak and wet swales are vegetated with bottomland species such as silver maple, river birch, and green ash. Both red pine and white pine occur naturally on the island. Common savanna understory species include prairie milkweed, New England aster, white false indigo, prairie coreopsis, wild bergamot, black-eyed susan, Missouri goldenrod, and culver's-root. The site also contains small areas of sand prairie. Pine Island Savanna is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2007.