Blueberry Swamp State Natural Area (Maple, Wisconsin)

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Blueberry Swamp occupies a drainage divide between the Brule River to the east and Poplar River to the west. The eastern half comprises the headwaters region of Blueberry Creek, which flows southeast for 3 miles before joining Nebagamon Creek that continues east and enters the Brule River. Both the Brule and Poplar ultimately flow to Lake Superior. The core of the swamp holds mineral-rich waters and harbors a forest of black ash and white cedar. Canopy associates include yellow birch, paper birch, and red maple. The structural diversity of the swamp is increasing with large trees, standing snags, coarse woody debris, and tip-up mounds. The tall shrub layer is composed of alder, red-osier dogwood, highbush cranberry, and winterberry. Characteristic herbs and low shrubs include sensitive fern, cinnamon fern, royal fern, dwarf raspberry, fowl manna grass, marsh marigold, skunk cabbage, and numerous sedges. Pools of standing water up to 15 cm deep are frequent throughout. The swamp provides important habitat for numerous rare plant and animals including a diverse array of orchids. Birds include yellow-bellied flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris), golden-winged warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera), Canada warbler, evening grosbeak, and blue-headed vireo. The relative undisturbed core of this site makes it an extremely valuable ecological reference area since it has been rated one of the top hardwood swamps in all of northern Wisconsin. The value of this site is compounded by its large size, diverse biota, and its position as source water for two outstanding streams - Nebagamon Creek and Blueberry Creek, which provide clean water to the Brule River, one of Wisconsin's most highly regarded trout streams. Blueberry Swamp is owned by Douglas County and was designated a State Natural Area in 2007.