Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Milwaukee River And Swamp (No. 93)

Overview

Location

Within the Northern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, Fond du Lac County. T13N-R19E, Sections 11-14, 23, 24. 828 acres.

Access

From the intersection of State Highway 67 and County Highway G in Dundee, go south on G 2.9 miles, then east on the Forest Headquarters access road 0.4 miles to a parking area. Get a State Forest map showing trail locations. To access the eastern portion, exit the headquarters and go north on G 0.85 miles, then east on SS 0.9 mile, then south on GGG 1.6 miles, then west on the access road to Mauthe Lake 0.8 miles to a boat landing and parking area. A trail leads west from the lot. The heart of the area can be reached by canoe via the Milwaukee River.

Description

Description

Milwaukee River and Swamp features an unusual combination of southern and northern wet-mesic forests situated along 0.75 mile of a slow, meandering warm water stream with accompanying shrubs zones and communities including lowland hardwood forest, conifer swamp, and a small bog lake. The river bottom is mucky with sand and gravel and there are good populations of northern pike, black crappie, walleye, and several smaller forage species. Aquatic plants include water-lilies, water-milfoil, coon's-tail, waterweed, giant duckweed, water nymph, and several pondweeds. One large spring, 1000 feet long, feeds the river in the north portion of the site. Bordering the river is a dense shrub zone that changes abruptly to a yellow birch, white birch, American elm, black ash, and basswood lowland forest. East of the small lowland forest is a more dense conifer swamp of mainly white cedar but also tamarack and black spruce. A good representative understory is present. A small bog lake occurs in the eastern portion of the natural area. The diverse lowland forest types allow unusual bird associations such as the nesting of the northern swamp conifer-loving northern waterthrush and the southern hardwood forest-loving cerulean warbler (Dendroica cerulea). Milwaukee River and Swamp is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1971.

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, 53 KB]
• Detailed Map [PDF, 262 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)