Wilson Lake
Location
Potential Research Topics:
Potential research topics include peatlands, sedge plant communities, shallow softwater lake systems and northern dry-mesic forest communities in juxtaposition with groundwater-influenced wetlands.
Ecological and Physical Description
Wilson Lake RNA contains a mosaic of high quality, pristine wetland communities including three lakes, a spring pond, a soft-water creek corridor, open bog, sedge meadow, emergent and submergent aquatic communities. Other plant communities present include: northern wet and wet-mesic forest; northern mesic forest; and northern dry-mesic forest. Rare species include dragon’s-mouth orchid (Arethusa bulbosa), spruce grouse (Falcipennis canadensis), and migratory bird species. All the components of a heterogeneous landscape are present and the critical interface between wetland and upland communities is intact.
Annual precipitation averages 34 inches (87 cm), 69% of which falls between April and September. Average seasonal snowfall is 68 inches (173 cm).
Drummond Ranger Station (Station no. 472240). The station is located about 18 mi (29 km) to the northwest of the RNA.
The majority of the RNA lies within Chequamegon Washed Till and Outwash Land Type Association (LTA) with metamorphic, igneous, and volcanic bedrock. Greater than 70% of the bedrock is within 5 feet of the land surface. The balance of the RNA is within Telemark Washed End Moraine. Here the bedrock of is carbonates and the bedrock is between 100 and 50 feet of the land surface. Geomorphologic processes throughout the RNA include till and glacial meltwater deposition.
The site contains numerous glacial eskers that rise abruptly above the otherwise flat marshes and lakes.
Wetland soils fall into the Loxley, Beseman, and Dawson peat series. These soils are very poorly drained and consist of organic material is derived largely from sphagnum mosses and herbaceous plants. The water table is at the surface throughout the year. The upland areas consist of well drained Padus-Karlin series soils that occur on steep side slopes of eskers and large drumlinoid features with an outwash core. Textures include a silt loam, fine sandy loam, or sandy loam surface over medium and coarse sands.
Wilson Lake, a 103-acre (42 ha) acid bog lake supports a healthy fish population that also includes undetermined species of minnows. Spring Lake is a small 11-acre (4 ha) lake whose unnamed outlet stream, flows into Star Lake. It has several spring water sources. The 104-acre (42 ha) Star Lake is also an acid bog, shallow lake with a maximum depth of 15 feet (4 m) and is the headwaters of Wilson Creek. Wilson Creek originates from two small feeder streams flowing into Star Lake and then flows south through the RNA into Wilson Lake and finally into Lost Land Lake on the Teal River System.
Flora and Fauna
Common Plant Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Myrica gale | sweetgale | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Andromeda glaucophylla | bog rosemary | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Kalmia polifolia | bog laurel | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Chamaedaphne calyculata | leatherleaf | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Vaccinium myrtilloides | blueberry | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Drosera rotundifolia | round-leaved sundew | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Sarracenia purpurea | pitcher plant | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Utricularia vulgaris | common bladderwort | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Triglochin spp | arrow-grass | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Eriophorum spp | cotton-grasses | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Calla | wild calla | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Arethusa bulbosa | Dragon’s-mouth orchid | Common Herbaceous Species | occurs here in large numbers along the bog shore of the lakes and streams |
Common Animal Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falcipennis canadensis | spruce grouse | Common Fauna | ✔ | a state threatened species, |
| Haliaeetus leucocephalus | Nesting bald eagles | Common Fauna | ||
| Pandion haliaetus | osprey | Common Fauna | ||
| Castor canadensis | beaver | Common Fauna | ||
| Ondatra zibethicus | muskrat | Common Fauna | ||
| Odocoileus virginianus | white-tailed deer | Common Fauna | ||
| Micropteris salmoides | largemouth bass | Common Fauna | ||
| Perca flavescens | perch | Common Fauna | ||
| Lepomis macrochirus | bluegill | Common Fauna |