Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Bass Lake Fen (No. 178)

Overview

Location

Waushara County. T18N-R10E, Sections 23, 26. 77 acres.

Access

From the intersection of State Highways 22 and 73 in Wautoma, go south on 22 4.4 miles, then east on County Highway YY 0.9 mile to a parking area south of the road. Walk south on the access lane 0.75 mile to the north shore of lake.

Description

Description

Bass Lake features a 20-acre calcareous fen located on the undeveloped shore of Bass Lake. The fen is exceptionally diverse with many small springs, openings, and ponds providing a calcium-rich habitat that supports 125 species of plants. Several rare species adapted to the alkaline conditions grow here including false asphodel (Tofieldia glutinosa), common bog arrow-grass (Triglochin maritima) and slender bog arrow-grass (T. palustris). Several scattered shallow, marl-bottom ponds are dominated by needle spike rush, small bladderwort, grass-leaved pondweed, and Smith’s bulrush. To the east, the fen grades into sedge meadow and the two communities are bordered on the north by tamarack swamp and on the south by shrub-carr. The five-acre Bass Lake is a clear fertile lake, some 27 feet deep, with a sandy marl bottom and a population of fern pondweed, a species not usually found in south or central Wisconsin. The lake’s outlet stream is a small tributary to Little Lunch Creek and the Fox River drainage. The lake has a good warm water fishery and is an important waterfowl area. Sandhill cranes, which nest nearby, use the area extensively. Bass Lake is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1983.

Maps

The WDNR'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. Therefore, while the majority of SNAs are open to the public, access may vary accordingly. 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 land owner 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.

• Guidebook Map [PDF, 37 KB]
• Detailed Map [PDF, 131 KB]
• Line Map [PDF, 23 KB]

Activities

Please come prepared for your visit. Amenities vary from site to site with most SNAs being primitive and without facilities. See Guidelines for Visitation for details.

Allowable Activities

Most DNR-owned SNAs allow:

• Hiking
• Hunting
• Fishing
• Trapping
• Skiing

Some exceptions apply. Properties closed to the public or closed to specific use, such as hunting, will be posted.

***For non-DNR-owned SNAs: Additional use guidelines may apply. Please verify any use restrictions with the landowner or contact the SNA Program. Landowners may require additional permits or restrict the number of hunters at a given SNA to provide a quality hunting experience. SNA landowners can be found at the bottom of each SNA description page.

Prohibited Activities

• Horseback riding
• Rock climbing
• Vehicles, including bicycles, ATVs, aircraft, and snowmobiles except on trails and roadways designated for their use
• Collecting of plants (including fruits, nuts, or edible plant parts), animals, fungi, rocks, minerals, fossils, archaeological artifacts, soil, downed wood, or any other natural material, alive or dead

Please note that a permit is required for scientific collection and research on State Natural Areas. For more information, contact Thomas Meyer, State Natural Areas Program Specialist.

For more information on rules governing state-owned SNAs and other state lands, please consult Wisconsin's Administrative Code Chapter NR 45 (exit DNR)