Central Sand Hills Ecological Landscape

Central Sand Hills ecological landscape

Attributes and Characteristics and include the state’s deepest natural lake (Green Lake at 236 feet) and one of the shallowest large This ecological landscape is located at the Key characteristics: lakes in Wisconsin (Puckaway at over 5,000 acres eastern edge of the old Glacial Lake Wisconsin » Rolling topography and and only 5 feet deep). Both Puckaway and Green and contains a series of glacial moraines that sandy soils of glacial origin Lake are very productive fishing lakes and between were later partially covered by glacial outwash. » Pine-oak and oak forests them contain nearly all species of game fish and Pre-settlement vegetation consisted of oak forest, » Oak savanna panfish found in Wisconsin. In addition, a series oak savanna, and a variety of prairie types in the » Numerous wetlands, of very high quality coldwater streams originate some very rare types uplands. Fens, wet prairies, and rare coastal plain from the moraines and generally flow southeasterly. » Coldwater springs, streams, marshes occurred in the lowlands. Soils throughout and glacial lakes the landscape have a significant sand component. A mixture of farmland, woodlots, and a variety Size: of wetlands now characterizes the area. Agricul- Legacy Places » 2,170 square miles » ture is successful in the sandy areas with the use Arlington Prairie 1,387,900 acres of center pivot irrigation but there is a considerable AP (3.9% of Wisconsin) amount of less productive and idle agricultural land. BA Badger Army Ammunition Plant Population: Numerous small kettle lakes are associated BO Baraboo River » 141,000 with the pitted glacial outwash. Several larger (2.7% of Wisconsin’s CM Comstock- Germania Marshes population) lakes occur along the eastern side of the landscape GL Grand River Marsh Notable species: and Lake Puckaway » Karner blue butterfly SHAWANO » Brook and brown trout PV HE Hartman & Emmons Creeks

eyer CLARK » Mottled sculpin M Stevens Point Green Bay LM Lewiston Marsh » WAUPACA Chorus and Wood frogs

Thomas WOOD LV BROWN OUTAGAMIE LV Little Plover River » Sandhill cranes PORTAGE Headwaters of the Mecan River Middle Wisconsin River » Fassett’s locoweed JACKSON HE MW Appleton » Virginia meadow-beauty MANITOWOC MP Montello Area Coastal » WINNEBAGO Long-beaked baldrush WAUSHARA Plain Marshes SC CALUMET Manitowoc Natural communities: Oshkosh JUNEAU NN Neenah Creek (See Appendix B for descriptions) MONROE ADAMS WM » MP CM OX Oxford Savanna Bog relict » Calcareous fen MARQUETTE GREEN LAKE OX Fond du Lac Sheboygan PV Plover River » NN Central Sands pine-oak forest GL FOND DU LAC SHEBOYGAN PB PB Portage to Buffalo » Coastal plain marsh VERNON LM Lake Corridor » Dry prairie

OZAUKEE » Emergent aquatic MW COLUMBIA BO SC Sand Country » DODGE Northern wet forest SAUK

Hills RICHLAND AP WASHINGTON Trout Streams » Shrub carr BA WM White River Marsh » Southern sedge meadow » Wet-mesic prairie DANE and Uplands Sand WAUKESHA Milwaukee IOWA Madison JEFFERSON

174 Legacy Places by Ecological Landscape Wisconsin Land Legacy Report Central Wisconsin L Wisconsin Observatory Hill in Marquette County Marquette in Hill Observatory Figure 106: 106: Figure Forest Forested Wetland 28% 5% a Wetland n Land cover of the Central Sand Hills Sand Central the of cover Land 9% d L d Shrubland 0% e g Open Water a c y Re y 4% p o r t

Urban 1% Grassland 19% Agriculture 34% in the Central Sand Hills Sand Central the in 107: Figure ( schools m private land i l i ta r y , cemetaries, lands, Other 96% Public conservation and other land ownership ownership land other and conservation Public , roads etc

. ) , County Forest 0% State 4% Federal 0%

Thomas Meyer important nesting, feeding, and habitat resting the in state.fishing provide lakes The also land- from thosesignificantly surrounding in the Centralthe Sand forests Plains, here differ throughout both the and Central Sand Hills characteristics of that soils predominant are very little landscape. this protected is in Central ecologicallandscape, Sand Plains Sands forest, pine-oak the protected is in community referred asthe type, to Central Although amount asignificant ofnatural this blueberry, bracken fern, and Pennsylvania sedge. very diverse and of consists huckleberry, primarily sites, red maple. understory The not typically is pine, white, and red, black and on oaks, more mesic scapes. dominant The species white are and red Given the sandy, nutrient-poor, and acid Opportunities and Needs Conservation entering these lakes, would help the sustain reduce effortsexpanding to existing pollutants and improving waterMaintaining quality, by on fish (eagles, osprey, cormorants, and others). diversity of aquatic and life provide some of the best and most lake popular inland waterfowl, shorebirds, and many birds that prey for resident particular in birds, and migratory they support. addition In the to lakes, many high biotic richness of these lakes and the recreation in the Central Sand Hills Sand Central the in Figure 108: 108: Figure harbor awide lakesThe ofarea this Open Wetland Forested Wetland 28% 1 7 % Land cover of public conservation lands lands conservation public of cover Land Urban 0% Agriculture 8%

Forest

Grassland %

20%

Shrubland 0%

depositsfrom glacial and support important meadow at and fen, calcareous places primarily important wetland communities, southern sedge opportunities protect and to manage two other significant sachusetts also There are Georgia. to from Mas- Atlantic plainranges, occurring coastal species rare that disjunctfrom their are primary Wisconsinand Glacial Lake supportextinct many Thesewetlandstype. found are and around in the of community plainmarshes,natural coastal arare important coldwater systems maintained. are groundwater would sources help that insure these hatches. of Protection the streams and their trout renowned and are fishing for their These streams harbor some of Wisconsin’s best aquatic invertebrate and coldwater fish populations. coldwaterquality streams and springs originate thesebirds within community types. ample opportunity manage for to wetland addition the to plant communities, there is for wet-mesic and prairie bogs. tamarack In management are of significance opportunities marshes, and along the Fox River corridor. Also River,such asWhite and Comstock Germania Autumn color with early season snow season early with color Autumn of landscape note this the is in Also presence Lega c y Pl y a ces ces b y Ecological Landscape Landscape Ecological y Hexagenia

175

Gary knowles, Wisconsin department of Tourism

Central Sand Hills Figure 109: Legacy Places and public conservation land of the Central Sand Hills Neenah Shawano Horicon 26 Oshkosh 110

10 Marshes 23 Creeks

44 New London 16

River Omro

45 Clintonville Coastal Juneau

Jefferson

Plant River

151 Marsh Beaver Dam Marsh Fort Atkinson

Waupun

Emmons Buffalo Ripon

Prairie Area

Puckaway Marsh &

River

Watertown to

Creek

Army

Savanna 22 Wisconsin

River River River

Streams Plover Country Marshes 21

Lake Mills

Corridor

Lake Uplands Fox Lake

7 Manawa lands 19 Sand Lewiston Plover Hartman Montello Portage Little Grand Comstock-Germania Middle Neenah Badger Arlington Oxford Baraboo Weyauwega White

Lake 16 94 33 Green Lake Plain Ammunition Places Legacy AP BA BO CM GL HE and LM LV MW MP NN OX PV PB SC WM Trout and Marion 49 Berlin 73 73 45 39 Waupaca Markesan Waterloo 29 r Princeton ve 90 Ri 12

x Columbus

o r

F e

i R 9 151 WM 49

x o 23 F 20 22 4 Sun 11 30 GL 6 Prairie Hills AP Monona 22

conservation 2

Wautoma HE 19 CM SC 22 28 5 24 25 Sand PB

51 26 Montello 10 18 1 public 12

MW Portage MP 14 39 Fitchburg Madison PV 1 10

LV r

OX n i

and s

21 n

o Middleton

s i

16 W Verona NN Lodi Central Schofield 15 Point 60 27 BO LM 19 Stevens Mosinee 18 3 Places

BA 17 Baraboo 12 73 Adams 13 33 Dells Miles 90 10 Rapids Wisconsin Legacy 94 t Wisconsin s e r 82 ion Lands 21 t 12 va Nekoosa y Fo t r 5 e Reedsburg Hills Coun Federal State

2.5 c Cons i l b 0 Pu Pittsville 80 10 Dodgeville New Lisbon Sand

Marshfield Mauston 176 Legacy Places by Ecological Landscape Wisconsin Land Legacy Report Central Figure 110: Legacy Places and land cover of the Central Sand Hills Shawano Horicon 26 Oshkosh 110 10 Miles 23 New London 44 10 16 Omro 45 Clintonville Juneau Jefferson 151 Beaver Dam Waupun Ripon 5 Watertown Forested Wetland Forested Open Wetland Open WATERSHED Shrubland Open Water Open Grassland Forest Agriculture Urban WOLF RIVER 21 WATERSHED 2.5 UPPER ROCK Lake Mills Fox Lake 22 0 Manawa Land Cover 19 Weyauwega 16 33 Green Lake 94 Marion 49 Berlin 73 73 45 Waupaca Markesan 39 Waterloo Princeton 12 90 Columbus cover

151 WM 49 Sun GL Prairie AP 22 Monona land Hills

HE Wautoma CM SC 22 and

PB 51 Sand Montello 10

UPPER FOX WATERSHED MW Portage MP 39 Madison Fitchburg PV WATERSHED LV LOWER ROCK 39 OX Middleton Places Verona

16 Lodi NN Schofield Central Point 60 BO LM 19 Stevens Mosinee 18 BA Legacy Baraboo 73 12 WATERSHED Adams 13 33 Dells UPPER WISCONSIN SOUTH 94 WATERSHED Wisconsin 90 Rapids Wisconsin 82 21 Nekoosa UPPER WISCONSIN CENTRAL 12 WATERSHED Reedsburg LOWER WISCONSIN Hills

80 Pittsville 10 New Lisbon Dodgeville Sand Marshfield

Mauston

Wisconsin Land Legacy Report Legacy Places by Ecological Landscape 177 Central Public Conservation Lands Recreation Uses and Opportunities This ecological landscape, especially due to the southern portion’s close proximity to Madison 1 Map# Property Name Size (acres) and the eastern portion’s close proximity to Oshkosh State and Neenah, has the potential to help meet grow- s 1 Caves Creek State Fishery Area 810 ing demand for a variety of recreational activities. s 2 Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area 630 Properties and trails that provide hiking, off road s 3 Devils Lake State Park2 460 s 4 Emmons Creek State Fishery Area2 1,120 biking, bird watching, horseback riding, cross-country s 5 French Creek State Wildlife Area 3,260 skiing, hunting and fishing are in high demand in s 6 Germania State Wildlife Area 2,410 this part of the state and could likely be established s 7 Glacial Habitat Restoration Area2 340 in several places here. The stretch of the Wisconsin s 8 Grand River Marsh State Wildlife Area 6,990 River from Wisconsin Dells to Sauk City provides s 9 Grassy Lake State Wildlife Area 690 many paddling, boating, and fishing opportunities. s10 Greenwood State Wildlife Area 1,440 s11 Hartman Creek State Park2 390 The northern portion of the ecological s12 Hinkson Creek State Fishery Area 230 landscape is less densely populated and is s13 Jennings Creek State Wildlife Area 530 fairly heavily used for hunting and fishing s14 John A Lawton State Fishery Area 280 as well as other outdoor recreation pursuits. s Lawrence Creek State Wildlife Area 940 15 The many coldwater streams draw anglers s16 Lodi Marsh State Wildlife Area 1,090 from throughout Wisconsin. The larger streams s17 Lower Wisconsin State Riverway2 250 s18 Mecan River State Fishery Area 6,390 and rivers receive some canoeing and kayaking s19 Mud Lake State Wildlife Area2 2,010 use and additional “water trail” opportunities -Columbia County here would likely be popular. Large wetlands s20 Peter Helland State Wildlife Area 3,070 like Grand River Marsh, Mud Lake, Lake s21 Pine Island State Wildlife Area 5,260 s Puckaway, and Grassy Lake provide excel- 22 Pine River System State Fishery Area 1,920 lent waterfowl hunting. Pine Island provides s23 Radley Creek State Fishery Area 1,420 upland game bird hunting in addition s24 Rocky Run Creek State Fishery Area 710 s25 Rowan Creek State Fishery Area 650 to deer and other types of hunting. s26 Swan Lake State Wildlife Area 2,290 s27 Upper Neenah State Fishery Area 380 s28 White River State Fishery Area 2,970 s29 White River Marsh State Wildlife Area2 840 s30 Willow Creek State Fishery Area2 1,840 Miscellaneous Lands3 4,260 Federal s 1 Fox River National Wildlife Refuge 800 Waterfowl Production Areas 3,050 County Forest 4 None Total 59,720

1 Actual acres owned in this Ecological Landscape. 2 This property also falls within adjacent Ecological Landscape(s). 3 Includes public access sites, fish hatcheries, fire towers, streambank and non-point easements, lands acquired under statewide wildlife, fishery, forestry, and natural area programs, small properties under 100 acres, and properties with fewer than 100 acres within this Ecological Landscape. 4 Locations and sizes of county owned parcels enrolled in the Forest Crop Law are presented here. eyer

Information on locations and sizes of other county and local parks in this Ecological Landscape M

Hills is not readily available and is not included here, except for some very large properties.

Thomas

Lawrence Creek in Marquette County Sand

178 Legacy Places by Ecological Landscape Wisconsin Land Legacy Report Central Central Sand Hills AP Arlington Prairie BO Baraboo River ecological landscape Size ...... Small Size ...... Large Protection Initiated...... Moderate Protection Initiated...... Limited Protection Remaining...... Moderate Protection Remaining...... Moderate Conservation Significance...... 0 0 Conservation Significance...... 0 0 0 0 Recreation Potential ...... 0 0 Recreation Potential ...... 0 0 0 0 Legacy Places Once encompassing a wide swath of northern Scenic sandstone cliffs occur along the upper Dane County and southern Columbia County, reaches of the Baraboo River and support hem- this former deep soil prairie is now intensively lock and pine relicts, forested seeps, and many edrelo N

farmed due to the highly productive soils in rare plants and animals. These hemlocks and an D the area. Several scattered high quality prairie pines are found in deep, moist ravines or on and prairie pothole remnants remain. Protected cool, north or east facing slopes. Groundlayers Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus) lands here include Grassy Lake, Mud Lake, contain species typically found much further Schoeneberg, and Otsego Waterfowl Production north, such as clubmoss, woodfern, and may- Areas and Audubon’s Goose Pond Sanctuary, flower. Some headwater creeks contain trout. GL Grand River Marsh and could form the foundation of further Until recently, the lower stretches of the and Lake Puckaway restoration efforts. If additional grasslands river had been impacted by a series of dams Size ...... Medium are restored and linked to existing protected that warmed and slowed the flow. The last of Protection Initiated...... Substantial lands, the area could support significant the dams was removed in 2001 and the aquatic Protection Remaining...... Moderate populations of area-sensitive grassland birds. diversity of the river system is already beginning Conservation Significance...... 0 0 0 to recover, setting the stage for the restoration Recreation Potential ...... 0 0 0 0 of a good warmwater fishery including small- BA Badger Army This wetland and lake complex lies in mouth bass and walleye. The Baraboo River the bed of Glacial Lake Oshkosh, which filled Ammunition Plant is now one of the longest free-flowing rivers with silt and decaying vegetation over thousands Size ...... Medium east of the Mississippi River. of years, eventually creating muck and peat soils Protection Initiated...... Substantial that range from 12 inches to 12 feet deep. Lake Protection Remaining...... Limited Puckaway is a natural widening of the Fox River Conservation Significance...... 0 0 0 0 CM Comstock - Germania that averages about 3 feet in depth and which Recreation Potential ...... 0 0 0 0 Marshes supports an excellent fishery of northern pike, The Badger Army Ammunition Plant (BAAP) Size ...... Small walleye, bass, some channel catfish, and a variety lies between the Baraboo Hills and the Wisconsin Protection Initiated...... Substantial of panfish. The Grand River Flowage, an equally River. Although used to produce munitions for Protection Remaining...... Limited shallow but man-made impoundment, has required the Army for over thirty years, BAAP’s 7,300 Conservation Significance...... 0 0 0 0 periodic treatment to control carp but currently acres contain a mix of native prairie, scattered Recreation Potential ...... 0 produces respectable numbers of northern oak woodlands, farm fields, and thousands of These adjacent wetland complexes have pike and yellow perch. idle buildings. It currently hosts some of the unusual combinations of nutrients and water The two bodies of water are surrounded largest populations of grassland birds in southern flow that enable unique combinations of plants by a complex of marshes and uplands that Wisconsin (103 bird species have been recorded and animals to thrive. These wetlands are provide habitat for large numbers of ducks and here, of which 21 have critical status in Wisconsin). sometimes referred to as “bog meadows” because geese, as well as a host of other wildlife including With the Baraboo Hills adjacent to the north, they contain a mix of plants more typically found muskrat, mink, otter, beaver, cranes, woodcock, BAAP provides a rare continuum of grassland in open bogs, sedge meadows and calcareous pheasants, and quail. There are large rookeries eyer M to oak forest. The Army is disposing of the fens. They also support nesting populations of of herons and cormorants here, bald eagles property and negotiations are underway both southern grassland birds (such as Henslow’s Thomas have recently begun nesting in the area, and to determine future uses. sparrow) and northern grassland birds (such as ospreys are occasional visitors. The area is Fassett’s Locoweed (Oxytropis campestris) La Conte’s sparrow). Comstock is also the southern- partially protected by the Grand River most known nesting location for the elusive yellow Marsh State Wildlife Area. rail. Recreation opportunities are mostly limited

to hunting and wildlife watching, given the Hills

wet nature of the area. Sand

Wisconsin Land Legacy Report Legacy Places by Ecological Landscape 179 Central Central Sand Hills 180 ecological landscape Central

Legacy Places by Ecological Landscape Ecological by Places Legacy

Sand

Hills

Don Blegen and AppletonMenasha, municipal water of waterthe source for Neenah, the Oshkosh, Conservation Significance the rawmay affect water of those quality Initiated Protection waters eventually Winnebago, flow Lake into State Park Creek and Emmons Hartman Potential Recreation Size HE these area, this from Although distant Remaining Protection waterarea aresult, this systems. from As municipal systems, which provide drinking and forests, would preserving in important be these public of farms properties, amix currently open space the existing surrounding Maintaining multipleopportunities including uses. trail and species provide additionalrare recreation could expand the populations federally of this here area alarger butterfly habitat. Protecting Blue provide prime Karner recreation areas, two heavily used Area, State Fishery Creek the area’s exceptional values. scenic water for approximately customers. 162,000 Io Moth ( Moth Io . Hartman &Emmons Creeks Automeris io Automeris )

. . . . Substantial 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 Limited

Small

Initiated Protection Remaining Protection Remaining Protection habitatriver contribute the corridor’s to wildlife Upland forests adjacent wildlife. migratory the to habitatimportant for of resident avariety and they marshes, provide associated with concert In found are along the river’shackberry lowlands. forests dominated by silver maple, and ash, green warmwater fishery. southern Extensive floodplain River continuesthe Wisconsin support to arobust use, and commercial Despite heavy industrial just one to bank. confined is watching. hunting and to wildlife limited likely recreation opportunities are of the area, Given and wetmigration. access nature the limited and spring the fall during area resting important provides habitat nesting for waterfowl an and is area The the marsh. within occur several streams and lakes meadows.sedge small quality high Two alder marshes, and thickets, southern cattail are and blackof spruce tamarack the with state. Along Conservation Significance Conservation Significance ship, segment although protected most of this Foundation,County owner- utility and alarge the private Sand Area, State Wildlife Island Pine 15 of the miles river’s by the shoreline protected is Approximatelyfor and boating fishing. recreational which heavily is used Wisconsin, impounds Lake du Sac provides power hydroelectric at and Prairie here. use land A dam forested characterizes land and of agricultural Amix Landscape. Ecological Sauk City, found the Hills are Sand Central in River corridor, and Dells between Wisconsin lower The of the miles Middle Wisconsin 40 Potential Recreation Size MW landscape. ecological Plains Central the Sand See LP part and black this sprucetamarack in bogs one harbors of the largest Marsh Lewiston Potential Recreation Size LM Initiated Protection . . Middle Wisconsin River Little Plover River Lewiston Marsh ......

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Moderate Moderate Medium 0 0 0 Limited Limited Large

Remaining Protection the plant in results assemblages forming shorelines provide habitat for several species Conservation Significance waterprecipitation. in variation levels This considerablywetlands vary based on annual such long-beaked umbrella sedge, as baldrush, Initiated Protection Countyare central Marquette in Located Potential Recreation Size MP recreation opportunities available. habitats of the public variety well as increase as along the river could provide for protection critical aesthetic value.corridor Aprotected significant values, water help quality, maintain and have that are nutrush—species and reticulated However,collect. the water levels these in depressions where and seepage water runoff other peat.as Like wetlands, these develop in conditions enable accumulate matter to organic decomposition. microbial These limited result in sandy, nutrient-poor, and slightly acidic and mostly are collectionof unusual plants.an Soils lowIn precipitation exposed large years, zonesconcentric rings. in distinct unique wetlands that several harbor small, Plain Marshes Coastal plain marsh along Plainfield Lake Plainfield along marsh plain Coastal . Montello Area Coastal . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 Moderate Limited

Small

forconditions right germination. are the hydrologic until the seedbank in years warmwater fishery. flows Creek Neenah volume, widens, slows, and supports agood considerable the gains creek Below Briggsville, commonly corridor. seen are along this wildlife for provides setting anglers ascenic Area Conservation Significance They persist for along the Ocean. Atlantic and open woodlands, scattered farmland, Remaining Protection of other and avariety songbirds, migrating when water cranes, levels higher. are Sandhill possible is and kayaking Canoeing occur. prairie its upper in fishery reaches. State Fishery The coldwater supports quality Creek agood Neenah Lake), water at (McGinnis its quality source Initiated Protection somewhatAlthough suffering poor from Potential Recreation Size NN found and only here, northwest in Indiana, Area. Wildlife extensive Southwest marshes. of Briggsville, meadow sedge quality of high and wetareas theinto Fox Creek River French near the through passes creek Below Oxford, watchers. bird draws local and also . Neenah Creek . . . Wisconsin Land Legacy Report Legacy Land Wisconsin .

Moderate

Limited

Small

0 0

Thomas Meyer Wisconsin L Wisconsin ecological landscape Central a n

d L d Sand e g a c y Re y

Hills p o was the anoteworthy Greatto Lakes, (albeit Initiated Protection Initiated Protection wide encompasses corridor this Lake, Buffalo the Mississippi Riverconnecting drainage the may affect waterarea aresult, this from As and AppletonMenasha, municipal water systems. of waterthe source for Neenah, the Oshkosh, Remaining Protection Remaining Protection Conservation Significance Portagerecreation Canal, features. The biological and many historical, important waters eventually Winnebago, flow Lake into Size OX these area, this from Although distant the from of City to Portage north Running Potential Recreation Size PB landscape. ecological Forest the Transition See PV extensive an block lies ofNortheast of Oxford Potential Recreation customers. 162,000 water for approximatelywhich provide drinking raw water of those municipal systems, quality opportunities could include of trails. avariety kettle add lakes Recreation diversity the area. to of groundlayer savanna plants. Steep-walled plantations acanopy forming over pockets scattered pinejack red with pine intermingled forests are habitat. savanna Now,significant younger and oaks onceold, that supported the indicating area some believedoaks, several be hundred years to ancient, black open-grown the are woods through moraine.forest Scattered recessional on arugged Conservation Significance Lake Corridor r t

. . Oxford Savanna toPortage Buffalo Plover River ......

. . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Substantial

Moderate

Medium Medium 0 0 0 0 0 0 Limited Limited

several many andin rivers, of these streams include watersOther important the area in its watershed. of in trout miles stream over fifty efforts. protection additional wouldrecreation potential require that these waters meet their conservation and Ensuring and lower unprotected. remain stretches headwatercases buffer areas, important springs, Conservation Significance meadows Lake flows and marshes, Buffalo into mesic wet through passing to prairies, stream quality CountyPark. ahigh PageMuir Creek, Portage and Waupaca from Running Counties Potential Recreation Size SC and John Area Wildlife Creek of French parts include to and east north further extend the trail to corridor aprotected secure to are plans range and follows of its for route. Long part the canal (along corridor Trail) this thethrough Marquette runs the across country. Trail IceAge The linkage atransportation chapter establishing in brief) River alone, although only 17 long, miles has Mecan The one another Wisconsin. unique is in Remaining Protection Initiated Protection Rivers and Lawrence, and Pine the White along occur Although state areas fishery general area. this pass through to planned is Trail IceAge recreation opportunities.The valuesprovide and enable ecological some upland nections between would corridors these stream uplandthroughout con- Establishing the area. most with of the and occur creeks associated housing. open Both and forested wetlands are and low-densityforest, active and idle farmland, of oak-pine uplands amix are surrounding The tributaries. their respective quality, to of the and close proximity streams meadowssedge number, The and wet prairies. fens, quality high many of theAlong are creeks and diverse. rich is populations. life Aquatic insect support healthy trout and rainbow brown, brook, fed, lowthese spring nutrient and rivers streams water, sandy with and bottoms soft glaciers. Often moraine left by therecessional advance last of the quality, coldwater the in that originate streams of aseries Countyis high northern Marquette to the corridor. to terminus and provides alogical and all Tagatz, Creeks and Willow . Sand Country Trout Streams . . . .

Substantial 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Moderate

Large

the may affect waterarea aresult, this from As and AppletonMenasha, municipal water systems. of waterthe source for Neenah, the Oshkosh, the may affect waterarea aresult, this from As and AppletonMenasha, municipal water systems. of waterthe source for Neenah, the Oshkosh, Conservation Significance sandhill especially birds, of migratory found outcrops are near bedrock resistant very meadows and oak-dominated upland forest. Afew ofportion the transition zone between the sedge Wetlandscape. covers mesic asignificant prairie relatively the this wetlandshigher than in flat waters eventually Winnebago, flow Lake into waters eventually Winnebago, flow Lake into meadows, emergent and wet marshes prairies sedge the quality many note high are particular slowly mostly through open wind wetlands. Of Rivers the join Fox rivers River three here and all and Puchyan White The of forest and farmland. diversity by surrounded uplands of wetland types County, vast wetland this complex a harbors muchOccupying of northwestern Green Lake Potential Recreation Size WM these area, this from Although distant customers. 162,000 water for approximatelywhich provide drinking raw water of those municipal systems, quality customers. 162,000 water for approximatelywhich provide drinking raw water of those municipal systems, quality Remaining Protection Initiated Protection uplands only slightly are surrounding The and thefall. spring during cranes, habitat and draw of hundreds thousands provide waterfowl important Marshes, nesting and Grand River thealong with nearby Germania throughout wetlands, system. These this that occur these area, this from Although distant live rock. on to bare specialized that plantsthe harbor and animals marsh Marsh and Uplands . White River . . .

. Substantial 0 0 0 0

Limited

Large

0 0

Long-tailed Weasel ( Weasel Long-tailed research. for further purchased been recently has of the lake has Lake Fish for apark. by County Dane with lake seepage a330-acre is Lake Fish ( Fish Lake Other Areas of Interest no outlet, Having on the lake. observed often ospreywaterfowl and eagles, are Bald well. as has and rising been level has of the lake the water years, recent In the lake. in trapped then and remain by runoff in carried that are found here are banded killifish and populations cisco inland Rare panfish. and pike northern some with for bass, largemouth fishery a good somewhat pollutants suffers from the lake potential good offer characteristics unusual its somewhat and extensively studied, been of shoreend on the east stretch A large development. lakeshore flooded Dane County Dane Lega c y Pl y Mustela frenata Mustela a ces ces ) b y Ecological Landscape Landscape Ecological y )

181

Greg Scott

Central Sand Hills