State Natural Areas_Content Page_LakeAlvaBirchHemlock_509

Lake Alva Birch-Hemlock

No. 509

509_LakeAlva.jpeg

Photo by Josh Mayer

 

Lake Alva-Birch Hemlock features a mature northern mesic forest on the rolling topography south of Lake Alva. The old-growth forest is composed of hemlock, yellow birch, and sugar maple with basswood, red oak, and white pine. Very large, old trees are present including scattered super-canopy white pine. In minimally disturbed areas the hemlock comprises 50% of the canopy with trees averaging between 9-15 inches in diameter and the largest trees up to 25 inches.

Although hemlock reproduction is minimal here, there are lush beds of hemlock saplings in the stand adjacent to the wetland southeast of the lake. The ground layer includes Canada mayflower, shining club-moss, American starflower, bunchberry, three-leaved goldthread, winterberry, trailing arbutus, twinflower, and twisted stalk.

On more level terrain further south and east is a second-growth hardwood forest of medium-sized sugar maple, red oak, and paper birch. A few small stands of medium to large hemlock occur within this hardwood matrix. The undeveloped 24-acre Lake Alva is a seepage lake with low fertility and a sand/gravel bottom. Surrounding the lake is a conifer swamp dominated by black spruce and tamarack with white cedar, balsam fir, and white spruce.

Understory species include blueberry, leather-leaf, pond sedge, creeping snowberry, Labrador tea, bog rosemary, cinnamon fern, pitcher plant, and American starflower. Lake Alva-Birch Hemlock is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2007.

Very few State Natural Areas have public facilities, but nearly all are open for a variety of recreational activities as indicated below. Generally, there are no picnic areas, restrooms, or other developments. Parking lots or designated parking areas are noted on individual SNA pages and maps. If a developed trail is present, it will normally be noted on the SNA map and/or under the Maps tab. A compass and topographic map or a GPS unit are useful tools for exploring larger, isolated SNAs.

The good majority of SNAs are isolated and have few or no facilities. Some SNAs have vehicle access lanes or parking lots, but their accessibility may vary depending on weather conditions. Parking lots and lanes are not plowed during winter. Hiking trails may be nonexistent or consist of undeveloped footpaths. A GPS unit or compass and a detailed topographic map are useful tools for exploring larger SNAs.

Entrance fees: Except for Parfrey's Glen, the Cambrian Outlook in the Dells of the Wisconsin River, SNAs within State Parks and some within State Forests, all other DNR-owned SNAs do not have any admission fees. For more information, see Wis. Admin. Code NR 45 [exit DNR]. For non-DNR-owned SNAs, we are unaware of any vehicle or admission fees. However, please contact the landowner for more information.

Allowable activities: DNR-owned land

The activities listed below are generally allowed on all DNR-owned SNA lands. Exceptions to this list of public uses, such as SNAs closed to hunting, are noted above and posted with signs on the property site.

Prohibited activities: all SNAs

Although a handful of sites allow activities like primitive camping (e.g. Lower Chippewa River on sand bars) or horseback riding (e.g. S. Kettle Moraine), the activities listed below are generally prohibited on DNR-owned SNAs.

  • Camping and campfires
  • Collecting of animals (other than legally harvested species), non-edible fungi, rocks, minerals, fossils, archaeological artifacts, soil, downed wood, or any other natural material, alive or dead.
  • Collecting for scientific research requires a permit issued by the DNR
  • Collecting of plants including seeds, roots or other non-edible parts of herbaceous plants such as wildflowers or grasses
  • Drones: Flying-related activities, including the use of drones, hang-gliders and model airplanes, are prohibited. Permission may be issued by the SNA Program for the use of drones for educational or research purposes
  • Geocaching
  • Horseback riding
  • Rock climbing
  • Vehicles, including bicycles, ATVs, aircraft, and snowmobiles except on trails and roadways designated for their use.

For rules governing state-owned SNAs and other state lands, please consult Chapter NR 45 Wis. Admin. Code [exit DNR].

Location

Within the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, Vilas County. T42N-R8E, Section 27, 28, 33. 314 acres.

Driving directions

From Boulder Junction, Go south and east on County K for 5.7 miles, then north and east on Nixon Lake Road for 6.2 miles, then south on Camp No 2 Road for 2.1 miles to an old logging road north of the road. Park and walk north into the site.

The DNR's state natural areas program is comprised of lands owned by the state, private conservation organizations, municipalities, other governmental agencies, educational institutions and private individuals. While the majority of SNAs are open to the public, access may vary according to individual ownership policies. Public use restrictions may apply due to public safety, or to protect endangered or threatened species or unique natural features. Lands may be temporarily closed due to specific management activities.

Users are encouraged to contact the landowner for more specific details. The data shown on these maps have been obtained from various sources, and are of varying age, reliability, and resolution. The data may contain errors or omissions and should not be interpreted as a legal representation of legal ownership boundaries. To create your custom map where you can zoom to a specific location, please use the DNR's Mapping Application.

Property Map [PDF]

Lake Alva Birch-Hemlock is owned by: Wisconsin DNR