Lower Tomahawk River Pines State Natural Area

Lower Tomahawk River Pines features mature stands of dry-mesic pine forest, which were historically prevalent over large portions of this ecoregion but are now rare and diminishing. This site is one of the few tracts of relatively intact, natural origin pine forest along this portion of the Tomahawk River corridor. Historical vegetation indicates this area was part of a larger Pine Barrens ecosystem that developed on the outwash plains associated with the Lower Tomahawk and Wisconsin Rivers. Mature stands of fire origin, mixed pine forest border the lower reaches of the Tomahawk River and Swamp Creek. Understory species include large-leaved aster, pipsissewa, bunchberry, trailing arbutus, wintergreen, twinflower, shining clubmoss, princess pine, and bracken fern. Associated wetlands include northern sedge meadow, alder thicket, and tamarack swamp. Scattered silver maples are found along the wide floodplain of the river. In this stretch, the Tomahawk River is wide and slow moving with a sand and muck bottom. Bird life includes golden-crowned kinglet, yellow-bellied sapsucker, pine warbler, and yellow-rumped warbler. Rare species include a state-threatened dragonfly, which requires clean, forested, fast-flowing streams for survival. It is one of the least tolerant groups of aquatic insects to perturbations in water quality. Protection of the forest river corridor will be of benefit to this and other Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Lower Tomahawk River Pines is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2008.