Necedah Oak-Pine Forest State Natural Area

The southern 80 acres of Necedah Oak-Pine Forest was set aside by the Society of American Foresters in 1960 as a “natural area” to be left in an unmodified condition. Original surveyors’ records show the Area as an open forest of jack pine, Hill’s oak, white pine, and a few red pine with no shrubs in the understory. Soils consist of Newton, Plainfield, and Morocco sands and loamy sands on flat to gently rolling topography.

Currently the forest is closed; however, controlled burns by the Necedah staff have opened up some of the formerly closed forest. The community is dominated by an even-aged stand of Hill’s oak with some jack pine. The understory is nearly pure Pennsylvania sedge with some goat’s-rue, frostweed, purple milkwort, trailing arbutus, coreopsis, and blueberries present.

Necedah Oak-Pine Forest is owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and was designated a State Natural Area in 1966.

Source: WDNR