East Fork of the Black River State Natural Area

The East Fork of the Black River is one of the longest stretches of undammed and undeveloped river corridors in the southern two-thirds of Wisconsin. The southern extremity of the Canadian Shield, or Laurentian Plateau, is exposed here, exemplified by pre-Cambrian granitic bedrock outcroppings that occur along the shores. The site is a biologically significant mosaic of terrestrial and aquatic communities and supports a number of rare plants and animals. Along with the East Fork proper, the primary features at this site include a series of ridges and swales that parallel the river on its south side. Here, the ridges support mature dry-mesic forest of white and red pine and oak. The swales contain a variety of wetland communities, including white pine-red maple swamp, tamarack swamp, northern sedge meadow, and alder thicket.

The Area harbors a diversity of bird species including pine, black-throated green, blackburnian, Nashville, and golden-winged warblers along with hermit thrush, veery, and northern raven. The rare cerulean warbler is also found here.

The East Fork of the Black River is managed within the Black River State Forest by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2010.

Source: WDNR