Grandma Lake Wetlands
Location
Ecological and Physical Description
The RNA is notable for a pristine, undeveloped bog lake and a surrounding open mat composed primarily of sphagnum moss, sedges, rushes and low ericaceous shrubs that support a flora that is both diverse and unusual. The balance of the wetland within the RNA boundary is a conifer swamp, composed primarily of tamarack (Larix laricina) and black spruce (Picea mariana). There are 5 species of uncommon plants, including a large population of a rush (Juncus stygius), which was previously unknown in Wisconsin, common arrow grass (Triglochin maritimum), dragon’s mouth orchid (Arethusa bulbosa), and two sedges (Carex livida and C. tenuiflora).
The mean annual precipitation is 30.6 inches (78 cm). Average annual snowfall is 56 inches (142 cm).
Nicolet College Weather Station, south of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, is located approximately 41 miles (66 km) southwest of the RNA.
Two soils dominate the uplands, Padus and Stambaugh, which are both deep and moderately drained. 20 acres of wetland are open bog. Precambrian metamorphic rock underlie this area. The bedrock surface is irregular and slopes east and southeast approximately 7-10 feet per mile. Topography is hummocky due to the collapse of sediment deposited on stagnant ice.
Grandma Lake, a shallow, soft, seepage lake, covers 44.4 acres (18 ha) and has a maximum depth of 9 feet (3 m).
Flora and Fauna
Common Plant Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ericaceae | Heath family | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Lycopodium inundatum | bog clubmoss | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Chamaedaphne calyculata | leatherleaf | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Ledum groenlandicum | Labrador tea | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Kalmia polifolia | swamp laurel | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Andromeda glaucophylla | bog-rosemary | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Eriophorum sp. | cotton grass | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Alnus rugosa | speckled alder | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Vaccinimum macrocarpon | cranberry | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Scirpus hudsonianus | bulrush | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Carex oligosperma | sedge | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Arethusa bulbosa | Dragons mouth orchid | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Sarracenia purpurea | pitcher plant | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Drosera intermedia and D. rotundifolia | sundews | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Utricularia cornuta | naked bladderwort | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Nymphaea tuberosa | white water lily | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Brasenia schreberi | water-shield | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Eriocaulon aquaticum | pipewort | Common Herbaceous Species |
Common Animal Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lepus americanus | Snowshoe rabbit | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Mustela vison | mink | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Ondatra zibethicus | muskrat | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Castor candensis | beaver | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Ursus americanus | black bear | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Odocoileus virginianus | white-tailed deer | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Chlidonias nigra | Black tern | Common Bird Species | ||
| Gavia immer | common loon | Common Bird Species | ||
| Botaurus lentiginosus | American bittern | Common Bird Species | ||
| Melospiza lincolnii | Lincoln's sparrow | Common Bird Species | ||
| Zonotrichia albicollis | white-throated sparrow | Common Bird Species | ||
| Vermivora rufacapilla | Nashville Warbler | Common Bird Species | ||
| Dendroica coronata | yellow-rumped warbler | Common Bird Species | ||
| Geothlypis trichas | common yellowthroat | Common Bird Species | ||
| Anas platyrhynchos | mallard | Common Bird Species | ||
| Anas rubripes | black duck | Common Bird Species | ||
| Bombycilla cedorum | cedar waxwing | Common Bird Species | ||
| Charadrius hiaticula semipalmatus | semi-palmated plover | Common Bird Species |