Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Spring Lake (No. 94)

Overview

Location

Within Northern Unit Kettle Moraine State Forest, Fond du Lac County. T13N-R19E, Sections 14, 15. 47 acres.

Access

From the intersection of State Highway 67 and County G just west of Dundee, go south on G about 3.4 miles, then west on East Lake Road 0.3 mile (disregard “private road” signs, if present). Walk south into the natural area. Visitors should be aware of abundant poison sumac.

Description

Description

Spring Lake is a clear, alkaline lake surrounded by fen and northern wet forest with an unusual flora and fauna. Aquatic vegetation is sparse and consists of yellow water-lily, bladderworts, pondweeds, and chara. The shoreline is an undercut bog shelf under which fish find refuge. Northern pike, large mouth bass, perch, bullhead, and green sunfish are found in spite of a maximum water depth of 1.5 feet. An open mat of vegetation dominated by narrow-leaved cat-tails and bulrushes surrounds the lake, and many sedges and forbs characteristic of both acid bogs and calcareous fens occur together. The narrow mat gives way to a tamarack forest on the east; to the south the swamp forest is composed of elm, red maple, yellow birch, and tamarack. Along the northwestern shore is a shrubby region of bog birch, willows, dogwood, and elder. Poison sumac is abundant throughout the site. Breeding bird surveys have shown an abundance of warbler species including blue-winged, golden-winged, black and white, Nashville, mourning, and yellow. Spring Lake 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.

• Detailed Map [PDF, 195 KB]
• Line Map [PDF, 41 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)