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Wetlands

Coastal Wetlands

Primary Coastal Wetlands

M-04.  

Warnimont Park Fens

Back to Southern Lake Michigan

Counties: Milwaukee

Photos:

Warnimont Park Fens, 21 Oct. 2000. White cedar on seeping, slumping clay bluffs of Lake Michigan. Photograph, E.J. Judziewicz.

Site Description

This site includes the Warnimont Bluff Fens State Natural Area.

Warnimont Park Fens is a county owned site located on the south-central coastline of Lake Michigan in Milwaukee County. This site consists of semi-open clay bluffs with calcareous spring seepages, a narrow sand beach, a spring run, and maple-beech forest. Vegetation on the bluffs ranges from local stands of cedar and white birch to brush, and open areas are dominated by wetland plants and shrubs including many calciphilic species. Many uncommon or rare plants and animals also occur at this site. This site is threatened by the spread of invasive plants, altered hydrology and bluff erosion. While small in extent, these communities provide important habitat for plants and animals in an otherwise urbanized landscape.


Additional Comments

Partially protected within a county park, this series of seeping clay bluffs and the surrounding forest provide habitat for many rare species. Maintaining or restoring site integrity will be challenging owing to heavy recreational use and the heavily developed urban setting.
Last Revised: October 10, 2005