Rice Creek State Natural Area
| Rice Creek State Natural Area | |
| Wisconsin State Natural Area | |
 Rice Creek | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Vilas |
| Location | Boulder Junction |
| - coordinates | 46°9′53″N 89°44′53″W / 46.16472°N 89.74806°WCoordinates: 46°9′53″N 89°44′53″W / 46.16472°N 89.74806°W |
| Area | 435 acres (176 ha) |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Owner | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources |
  Location of Rice Creek State Natural Area in Wisconsin | |
Rice Creek is a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources-designated State Natural Area that features a large, high-quality wetland complex of conifer swamps, fens, and sedge meadows along a two-mile stretch of Rice Creek. The creek contains dense, lush beds of emergent and submergent aquatic vegetation, including wild rice. White cedar, balsam fir, black spruce, and tamarack are the dominant trees in the conifer swamp. Several stands of old-growth hemlock/hardwood forest can be found in the site, each with a supercanopy of large white pine. Two fens, fed by groundwater seepages and of exceptional floristic diversity, are found near the creek. Overall, the site supports a high concentration of rare plants and animals. At least seven species of orchid are found here: showy lady slipper, heart-leaf twayblade, swamp pink, striped coralroot, blunt-leaf orchid, northern bog orchid, and boreal bog orchid (Platanthera dilatata). Other notable plant species include: bog arrowgrass, naked miterwort, marsh cinquefoil, purple clematis, and downy willowherb (Epilobium strictum). Notable animal species present include: barred owl, gray jay, pine siskin, winter wren, and bog copper.[1][2][3]
Location and access
Rice Creek is located in northwest Vilas County, within the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) northwest of Boulder Junction. The site is best accessed via canoe, with a canoe landing located at Round Lake, at the end of Round Lake Rd.[4]
Showy ladyslippers photographed at Rice Creek State Natural Area
Conifer swamp at Rice Creek
Boreal rich fen located in the natural area
Platanthera dilatata photographed in the boreal rich fen
References
- ↑ "Biotic Inventory and Analysis of the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest" (PDF). Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
- ↑ "Rice Creek" (PDF). Wisconsin Wetlands Association. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
- ↑ "Rice Creek State Natural Area". Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
- ↑ Rice Creek State Natural Area (PDF) (Map). Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 2013-12-05.