State Natural Areas_Content Page_Milwaukee River And Swamp_93

Milwaukee River And Swamp

No. 93

93_MilwRiverSwamp.jpeg

Photo by Thomas A. Meyer/DNR

 

Milwaukee River and Swamp features an unusual combination of southern and northern wet-mesic forests situated along 0.75 miles of a slow, meandering warm water stream with accompanying shrubs zones and communities including lowland hardwood forest, conifer swamp, and a small bog lake. The river bottom is mucky with sand and gravel and there are good populations of northern pike, black crappie, walleye, and several smaller forage species.

Aquatic plants include water-lilies, water-milfoil, coon's-tail, waterweed, giant duckweed, water nymph, and several pondweeds. One large spring, 1000 feet long, feeds the river in the north portion of the site. Bordering the river is a dense shrub zone that changes abruptly to a yellow birch, white birch, American elm, black ash, and basswood lowland forest.

East of the small lowland forest is a more dense conifer swamp of mainly white cedar but also tamarack and black spruce. A good representative understory is present. A small bog lake occurs in the eastern portion of the natural area. Milwaukee River and Swamp is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1971.

Very few State Natural Areas have public facilities, but nearly all are open for a variety of recreational activities as indicated below. Generally, there are no picnic areas, restrooms, or other developments. Parking lots or designated parking areas are noted on individual SNA pages and maps. Trails, if present, are typically undesignated footpaths. If a developed trail is present, it will normally be noted on the SNA map. A compass and topographic map or a GPS unit are useful tools for exploring larger, isolated SNAs.

The good majority of SNAs are isolated and have few or no facilities. Some SNAs have vehicle access lanes or parking lots, but their accessibility may vary depending on weather conditions. Parking lots and lanes are not plowed during winter. Hiking trails may be nonexistent or consist of undeveloped footpaths. A GPS unit or compass and a detailed topographic map are useful tools for exploring larger SNAs.

Entrance fees: Except for Parfrey's Glen, the Cambrian Outlook in the Dells of the Wisconsin River, SNAs within State Parks and some within State Forests, all other DNR-owned SNAs do not have any admission fees.

Allowable activities: DNR-owned land

In general, the activities listed below are allowed on all DNR-owned SNA lands. Exceptions to this list of public uses, such as SNAs closed to hunting, are noted below and posted with signs on the property site.

Prohibited activities: all SNAs

  • Camping and campfires
  • Collecting of animals (other than legally harvested species), non-edible fungi, rocks, minerals, fossils, archaeological artifacts, soil, downed wood, or any other natural material, alive or dead.
  • Collecting for scientific research requires a permit issued by the DNR
  • Collecting of plants including seeds, roots or other non-edible parts of herbaceous plants such as wildflowers or grasses
  • Geocaching
  • Horseback riding
  • Rock climbing
  • Vehicles, including bicycles, ATVs, aircraft, and snowmobiles except on trails and roadways designated for their use.

For rules governing state-owned SNAs and other state lands, please consult Chapter NR 45 Wis. Admin. Code [exit DNR].

Location

Within the Northern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, Fond du Lac County. T13N-R19E, Sections 11-14, 23, 24. 828 acres.

Driving directions

From the intersection of State Highway 67 and County Highway G in Dundee, go south on G for 2.9 miles, then east on the Forest Headquarters access road for 0.4 miles to a parking area. Get a State Forest map showing trail locations. To access the eastern portion, exit the headquarters and go north on G 0.85 miles, then east on SS 0.9 miles, then south on GGG 1.6 miles, then west on the access road to Mauthe Lake 0.8 miles to a boat landing and parking area. A trail leads west from the lot. The heart of the area can be reached by canoe via the Milwaukee River.

The DNR's state natural areas program is comprised of lands owned by the state, private conservation organizations, municipalities, other governmental agencies, educational institutions and private individuals. While the majority of SNAs are open to the public, access may vary according to individual ownership policies. Public use restrictions may apply due to public safety, or to protect endangered or threatened species or unique natural features. Lands may be temporarily closed due to specific management activities.

Users are encouraged to contact the landowner for more specific details. The data shown on these maps have been obtained from various sources, and are of varying age, reliability, and resolution. The data may contain errors or omissions and should not be interpreted as a legal representation of legal ownership boundaries. To create your custom map where you can zoom to a specific location, please use the DNR's Mapping Application.

Property Map [PDF]

Milwaukee River And Swamp is owned by: Wisconsin DNR