Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Blue Swamp (No. 285)

Overview

Location

Clark County. T27N-R4W, Sections 16, 20, 21, 27, 28, 33. 560 acres.

Access

From the intersection of State Highway 29, 73, and County Highway M in Thorp, go south on M 8.5 miles, then west on MM 3.5 miles, then south on a logging road 1 mile to the site. The natural area encompasses the open meadow.

Description

Description

Blue Swamp features a large acid peatland comprised of central poor fen and northern wet forest communities that drain in two directions, to the North and the South Fork of the Eau Claire River. The major plant communities present are a tamarack dominated conifer swamp and a brushy meadow dominated by sedges and bog birch. Beaked, American woolly-fruit, and few-seeded sedges with blue-joint grass, leather-leaf, marsh fern, steeplebush, and blue-flag iris dominate the sedge meadow. The large, acidic conifer swamp is dominated by tamarack and black spruce which rises abruptly in the eastern part of the wetland and a tall shrub zone of speckled alder, black chokeberry, Labrador-tea, huckleberry, and mountain holly occurs along the upland edges. Low shrubs include small cranberry, velvet-leaf blueberry, and creeping snowberry. Other characteristic species include three-seeded sedge, muck sedge, false mayflower, and tussock cotton-grass. Noteworthy birds include sedge wren (Cistothorus plantensis), Northern harrier (Circus cyaneus), and sandhill crane. Blue Swamp is owned by Clark County and was designated a State Natural Area in 1995.

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.

• Detailed Map [PDF, 172 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)