Barksdale Ponds

State Natural Area (No. 419)

Location: Within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Bayfield County. T47N-R7W, Section 6. T48N-R7W, Sections 29-32. 337 acres.

Access: The site is located six miles east of Iron River. Go north on Forest Road 241 3.5 miles, then west on Forest Road 242.

Description: Barksdale Ponds are a unique aquatic feature on the edge of dry, glacial outwash plain. Situated on hilly topography, the numerous soft water seepage lakes and ponds are surrounded by their associate emergent, submergent and shoreline communities, maturing red and white pine forest, and kettle bogs. The kettles range successionally from sandy shore, oligotrophic community ponds, through ericad bog ponds, open bog and closed canopy black spruce/tamarack forest. The kettle communities differ in context and content depending on the amount of water and nutrients in the system. Some are more sterile while others support a diversity of plant species. Located in pot holes of pitted outwash sands are treeless bogs. Dominant plants include Spirea, marsh cinquefoil, smartweed, and rattlesnake manna grass. The sphagnum bog mat supports leatherleaf, bog laurel, cotton grass, cranberries, and pitcher plant. Notable species include large round-leaved orchid (Platanthera orbiculata), and rusty cotton-grass (Eriophorum chamissonis), which is only known from several scattered sites in northern Wisconsin. The pine forest contains stands of older white and red pine from 16-18 inches in diameter with scattered large super-canopy pine. The moderate to sparse shrub layer is comprised of hazelnut and pine saplings. Ground flora includes big-leaf aster, bracken fern, wintergreen, blueberries, and bearberry. The area represents the historical vegetation continuum from dry pine barrens to more mesic forest and has excellent potential for the restoration of jack pine barrens, red pine savanna, and white and red pine forest. Barksdale Ponds is owned by the US Forest Service and was designated a State Natural Area in 2007.