Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Battle Creek Hemlocks (No. 497)

Overview

Location

Within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Oconto County. T33N-R16E, Sections 11, 14. 99 acres.

Access

The site is located 4.5 miles northeast of Lakewood, Wisconsin. From Lakewood, go east and north on County F about 4.5 miles to an un-named gravel road on the west side of the highway. Go west and travel less than 0.5 miles to a gated snowmobile trail. The trail leads into the site.

Description

Description

Situated on hilly terrain along the North Branch of the Oconto River, Battle Creek Hemlocks features a northern mesic forest of large hemlock and super-canopy white pine. Canopy associates include white cedar, yellow birch, sugar maple, red oak, and beech. Small maples are frequent and there is a diverse representation of size-age classes among the canopy trees. The community has a very sparse mid-story and shrub layer but a relatively diverse herbaceous layer including downy yellow violet, large-flowered trillium, baneberry, rosy twisted stalk, and intermediate wood fern. Understory shrubs include American fly honeysuckle and hazel. Canopy gaps, snags, den trees, and coarse woody debris are uncommon here despite the large diameter trees. At the base of a steep-sided esker is a small spring-fed trout stream bordered by a northern wet-mesic forest. Medium to large diameter white cedar (8-20 inches) and smaller black ash form a closed canopy over the stream. Large amounts of coarse woody debris are both in the stream and on its banks. The herbaceous layer includes mountain wood-sorrel, small white violet, small enchanter’s-nightshade, bunchberry, crested shield fern, common oak fern, northern tree club-moss, and abundant mosses. The North Branch of the Oconto River is a hard-water stream having slightly alkaline water. The entire stream is classed as trout water with brook, brown, and rainbow trout inhabiting the waters. Numerous warblers use the forest including blackburnian, black-throated green, black and white, ovenbird, and northern parula. Battle Creek Hemlocks is owned by the US Forest Service and was designated a State Natural Area in 2007.

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.

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)