Wind Lake Habitat Area
Wind Lake Habitat Area is a 332-acre property located in northwest Racine County. The property consists of two parcels found south and east of Wind Lake. The southern parcel is located in the Windermere Subdivision, south of South Wind Lake Road. Access to the property is off of Palmer Drive and parking is on the subdivision road. (There is no designated parking area for this parcel.) The eastern parcel is located off of Wind Lake Road (Highway S), on a long gravel road passing in front of 7525 East Wind Lake Road. A parking area is located 1/4 mile east of Wind Lake Road.
Habitat on the southern parcel includes a wet meadow, lowland shrub-carr, lowland woodland and a riparian area along the Wind Lake Canal. Habitat on the eastern parcel includes wet meadow, lowland shrub-carr, lowland forest and wetland scrapes adjacent to the canal. A tributary to the Wind Lake Canal borders the property on three sides. Recreational opportunities exist for wildlife viewing and hunting for deer, small game and waterfowl.
The Natural Heritage Conservation Program has identified a vulnerable community of southern tamarack swamp forest on the eastern parcel. The forest community is part of a 218-acre forested area on the state parcel. This community has been converting to lowland hardwood due to hydrologic changes resulting from the artificial drainage of surrounding agricultural lands. The woods remain a refugium for many species with more northerly affinities, such as starflower, goldthread, winterberry, dwarf raspberry, yellow birch, bunchberry and blueberry. The Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission has also identified the southern rich tamarack swamp as a natural area of county-wide or regional significance.
Management Objectives
The habitat area is managed to provide opportunities for public hunting and other outdoor recreation. The wet meadow community is managed through mowing and spot herbicide use to limit brush encroachment and encourage the wet meadow community. Invasive species populations are controlled or eliminated by cutting, pulling, herbicide treatment and/or bio-control.
For more information on master planning for this and other wildlife areas around the state, visit the property planning page.
Recreation
The Wind Lake Habitat Area offers many recreational opportunities:
- Birding;
- Hiking (no designated trail);
- Hunting;
- Fishing; and
- Wildlife viewing.
Maps
Download a map of this property.
If you are interested in exploring this property further, you can access an interactive map.
