SOUTHEAST - 10

SCUPPERNONG AREA TYPES Christina Isenring , low prairie, , sedge meadow, shrub carr, spring runs & seeps

ECOLOGY & SIGNIFICANCE by big bluestem, Indian grass, needle grass, prairie dropseed, Virginia mountain mint, cream wild indigo, The Scuppernong River Area comprises more than 2000 shooting star, leadplant, compass plant, prairie dock, acres within the Southern Unit of the Moraine State blue-eyed grass, prairie smoke and prairie blazing star. , including three State Natural Areas: Kettle Moraine The Ottawa Fen State Natural Area features two Low Prairie, Scuppernong Prairie and Ottawa Lake Fen. WAUKESHA COUNTY connected and surrounded by wetland habitats • This Wetland Gem supports high quality examples of a including marsh, sedge meadow, shrub carr, and marl variety of wetland types and hosts a great diversity of flats that support both alkaline and acid-loving plant both plant and animal species. It also is an excellent species. This Wetland Gem supports many uncommon demonstration of the value of wetland restoration. The and rare plants including beaked spikerush, few-flowered Scuppernong River basin once supported a vast low spikerush, common arrowgrass, Ohio goldenrod, prairie and sedge meadow complex, and WDNR has small fringed gentian, purple milkweed, prairie Indian successfully restored a matrix of wetland habitats around plantain and marsh blazing star. remnant areas of native wetland plant communities. Several rare plants now thrive at this site as a result of The site supports abundant and diverse wildlife including these restoration efforts. These contribute to the may rare species. Amphibians and reptiles include high water quality in the Scuppernong River and provide pickerel frog, bullfrog, the state threatened Blanding’s excellent recreational opportunities in close proximity to turtle, eastern hognose snake, and the state threatened several population centers in southern Wisconsin. Butler’s gartersnake. Birds include sandhill crane, green heron, blue-winged warbler, yellow warbler, willow FLORA & FAUNA flycatcher, northern harrier, and the state threatened This wetland complex is very flat though some areas Henslow’s sparrow. The site supports a number of rare feature a gently undulating land surface with low butterflies and moths, including silphium borer moth, spots that support low prairie and fen species such as liatris borer moth, and the state endangered poweshiek bluejoint grass, shrubby cinquefoil, valerian and grass- skipperling. Uncommon mammals using the site include of-Parnassus. Large areas of low prairie are characterized Franklin’s ground squirrel and badger. THREATS Agricultural runoff from surrounding lands may impact the health of these wetlands.

SCUPPERNONG RIVER Owner: WDNR Property WI Land Recognitions & Designations: WI State Natural Area, Site, The Nature Action Plan Reference Legacy Place, WI Wildlife Conservancy Priority Conservation Area Invasive species and impacts from recreational use are also of concern. Funding for this project provided by The McKnight Foundation, which seeks to improve the ACCESS quality of life for present and future generations through This Wetland Gem offers excellent access and grantmaking, coalition-building and encouragement of strategic recreational opportunities. For details, visit policy reform. WDNR’s Scuppernong River Area website: www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/wildlife/ wildlife_areas/scuppernong.htm.

Sources: Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program (WDNR) Wisconsin Land Legacy Report (WDNR) wisconsinwetlands.org Wisconsin’s Strategy for Wildlife Species of Greatest Conservation Need (WDNR) Sandhill crane courtship display — Dennis Malueg The Prairie-Forest Border: An Ecoregional Plan (TNC)