Lower Wolf River Bottomlands Natural Resources Area

The Lower Wolf River Bottomlands Natural Resources Area, 214,000 acres, includes 14 existing Department projects in portions of Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, and Winnebago Counties. These separate Department projects, approximately 31,000 acres total, are mostly wildlife areas and some natural areas, a fishery area and other various remnant fishery areas. The Department properties are Deer Creek, Mack, Maine, Mukwa, Navarino, Outagamie, Rat River, Wolf River, and Wolf River Bottom - Herb Behnke and LaSage Units Wildlife Areas; Hortonville Bog and Shaky Lake State Natural Areas; and the Wolf River Fishery Area and fishery remnant areas.

Lower Wolf River Bottomlands Natural Resources Area
WDNR Photos

The Lower Wolf River Bottomlands Natural Resources Area was established in March 2002, provides an opportunity to collectively protect and manage regionally significant natural communities. This project area provides necessary habitat for various wildlife and aquatic communities. The area harbors some of the state's largest contiguous tracts of bottomland hardwood forest and numerous wetlands. These floodplain forests and wetlands are the most important and extensive example of these community types in eastern Wisconsin. Protection of this area contributes to the Lower Wolf and Embarrass River corridors overall biological health and diversity in addition to providing important downstream water quality benefits. The area's rich land and water resources support many plants and animals, including rare and endangered species like the wood turtle, bald eagle and red-shouldered hawk. The globally rare lake sturgeon uses these river corridors for annual spawning.

Visitors come to these properties seeking experiences such as hunting, fishing, wildlife watching, nature study, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, canoeing, and countless other pursuits.

Lower Wolf River Bottomlands Natural Resources Area Brochure [PDF 1199KB]

Lower Wolf River Bottomlands Natural Resources Area Map [PDF 740KB]