Meadow Valley Barrens State Natural Area

Meadow Valley Barrens is dominated by Hill’s oak with scattered jack pine throughout. White and red pine are also present. Shrubs are somewhat dense with blueberry, huckleberry, and sweet fern present. Pennsylvania sedge is dominant in many areas. With managed canopy thinning and prescribed fire many barrens plants are doing favorably including big bluestem, little bluestem, gray goldenrod, sky-blue aster, flowering spurge, and poverty panic grass. Three rare insects occur here including the federally endangered Karner Blue butterfly.

Meadow Valley Barrens is owned by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and leased by the DNR. It was designated a State Natural Area in 2008.

Source: WDNR