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Wetlands

Coastal Wetlands

Primary Coastal Wetlands

M-28.  

Little Tail Point

Back to Northern Lake Michigan

Counties: Brown

Photos:

Little Tail Point, 31 Aug. 2000. Emergent aquatic community with duck potato and water-plantain. Photograph, E.J. Judziewicz.

Site Description

Little Tail Point is a sandy peninsula which extends 2.5 miles into the western lower Green Bay along the Oconto/Brown county border. Little Tail Point is a sand spit and associated embayment, lying entirely on poorly drained sand lakeplain. The wetland vegetation is best developed along on the western side of the point adjacent to the Green Bay shoreline. Recent low water levels have exposed a narrow sandy beach on eastern site of the point.

The water table is at or near the surface throughout the whole point. A thicket of black willow and cottonwood occupies the highest ground, grading into a lower, wetter reed canary grass and slender willow thicket, and finally into an emergent marsh dominated by cattail, softstem bulrush, nodding beggar's ticks and duck potato. The emergent marsh occupies the protected bay where the point meets the mainland and stretches the entire length of the point.

Fluctuations in Green Bay's water levels, caused by seiches and long-term water level changes, considerably alter the size of the wetlands over time. A change of several inches in water level can drastically alter the amount of wetland present and influence the type of vegetation and wildlife habitat available. The area is important breeding and migratory stop over habitat for many songbirds, waterfowl, gulls and terns, including several rare species.

This site is owned by a private hunting club and is largely protected from development and heavy recreational use.


Additional Comments

Wetlands of lower Green Bay have been dramatically diminished and degraded by developments, wetland fills, hydrologic alterations, pollution, and the spread of aggressive invasive species. Remnants continue to provide significant habitat for migratory and resident birds and fish. This site is an important and integral component of the productive wetland remnants in lower Green Bay.
Last Revised: October 10, 2005