Clam River Fish and Wildlife Area

The Clam River Fish and Wildlife Area is a 2,323 acre property in the southeast part of Burnett County, with portions of the property in Roosevelt, Dewey and Lafollette Townships, presently consisting of seven separate parcels. The North Fork of the Clam River originates as a small, intermittent stream in Washburn County. It rapidly enlarges in size as it is fed by a number of trout streams. A total of 5 miles of the North Branch and the entire 3.6 miles of the South Branch of the Clam River are Class I trout water. The Clam River Fishery and Wildlife Area encompasses all of the Class I and II trout waters in Burnett County. The premiere wetland habitat on this property is the excellent Clam River trout stream and associated marshes. The uplands consist of aspen, northern hardwood, swamp hardwoods, oak, pine and numerous old fields and forest openings. Best access points can be found off Hwy. H, EE or Heart Lake Road in Roosevelt Township, off Hwy. B or Town Hall Road in Dewey Township, and from Spencer Lake Road in Lafollette Township.

Management

Management Objective

The overall goal of the Clam River Fish and Wildlife Area is to protect and preserve the present habitat for trout, to improve habitat with proper management techniques where possible and to manage the North and South Forks of the Clam River and their springs for optimum trout production while providing access for fishing, hunting, trapping, forest management and other outdoor pursuits compatible with the primary goal. The major management emphasis within the property is on fish habitat protection and development. In addition to habitat protection and improvement activities, surveys and fish stocking are also important management activities within the project.

Timber sale activities will strive to improve the health and quality of the forest resource while maintaining and enhancing the property’s aesthetics and wildlife habitat values. Management activities include maintenance of the aspen and northern hardwood cover type through timber harvest. Quality red oak sites are managed through shelterwood harvests that are timed to coincide with good acorn crops. The swamp hardwood type is maintained on existing sites although the threat of emerald ash borer could threaten the black ash trees that dominate the type. Shrub-carr and grasslands are maintained and improved, where feasible, through mowing and prescribed fire. Populations of invasive species are controlled or eliminated by cutting, pulling, burning, herbicide treatment and/or bio-control.