Wikipedia

Powell Marsh Wildlife Area

The Powell Marsh Wildlife Area is a 4,850-acre (19.6 km2) tract of protected land located in Vilas and Iron counties, Wisconsin, owned and partially managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR).[3] The nearby Dead Pike Lake has drawn attention to the wildlife area from conservators and homeowners nearby due to surface and groundwater flows shared between the two, with man-made structures in the latter harming the water quality of the lake.[4]: 5 

Powell Marsh Wildlife Area
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)[1]
Trumpeter swans landing on the Vista Flowage
Map showing the location of Powell Marsh Wildlife Area
Map showing the location of Powell Marsh Wildlife Area
Location within Wisconsin
Map showing the location of Powell Marsh Wildlife Area
Map showing the location of Powell Marsh Wildlife Area
Location within United States
LocationVilas County and Iron County, Wisconsin
Nearest cityEagle River, WI
Coordinates46°4′17″N 89°52′50″W / 46.07139°N 89.88056°W / 46.07139; -89.88056[2]
Area4,850 acres (19.6 km2)
Elevation1,604 ft (489 m)[2]
Established1955
Governing bodyWisconsin Department of Natural Resources

History

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Farmsteads and a short railway track used to transport lumber were the first recorded instances of development within the current bounds of the wildlife area, which were present by the 1930s. The site was naturally prone to wildfires, which were responsible for helping new vegetation spring up from the peat, which in turn attracted geese to the area. Some fires were caused by railroad activity. These wildfires have not occurred since the 1940s, and modern management uses controlled fires. The potential for continued geese hunting led hunters and landowners to petition the Wisconsin Conservation Department (a precursor to the WDNR) to establish a protected habitat area to keep stocks of geese strong.[5]: 32  In 1955, the Commissioner of Lands granted ownership of 3,125 acres within Manitowish Waters township land to the state of Wisconsin.[4]: 18 

Early efforts to secure the integrity of the habitat resulted in the construction of various dikes and drainage ditches to allow for controlled burns to take place, which would create a more hospitable environment for geese.[6][7] In 1957 a decoy flock of geese was placed in the wildlife area that was initially successful in attracting migrating flocks, yet with each passing year, the efficacy waned, until the decoy flock was removed in 1974. An investigation determined by the WDNR concluded that the dwindling flocks of geese could be attributed to a shift in migration patterns and the base inhospitableness of the marsh. The site benefits other fowl, as well as deer.[5]: 32 

In 2013 planning for the master plan resumed after a 13-year hiatus due to the WDNR focusing its efforts on the master plan for the neighboring Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest. The current master plan for the wildlife area was approved and published in December 2016.[8] The current management strategy centers on the manipulation of water levels to shift land cover to be more suitable for shorebirds and other waterfowl.[5]: 6 

Much of the original and current funding comes from the Pittman–Robertson Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act.[5]: 34 [9]

Powell Marsh

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The whole of the Powell Marsh Wildlife Area is classified further as a habitat management area, with the goal of providing a habitat for species that require wetland or aquatic areas. Within the confines of the Marsh, there are five separate lakes and seven flowages that are managed by the WDNR. The wildlife area is bordered by the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest and Manitowish Chain O Lakes to the north, east, and west and the Lac du Flambeau Reservation to the south.[5]: 1 

In addition to the 4,850 acres owned by the state, there are 390 acres (1.6 km2) owned privately. There are five different types of cover in the wildlife area, including forested wetland, grassy upland islands, open water, upland forest fringe, and the most common, unforested wetland.[10]

Cover type acreage[5]: 12 
Cover type Acres Percentage cover
Forested wetland 1,284 28%
Grassy upland islands 62 1%
Open water 210 5%
Unforested wetlands 2,415 53%
Upland forest fringe 580 13%
Total acreage 4,551 (+390) 100%

Ceded territory

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The Powell Marsh Wildlife Area is within the boundaries of the ceded territory of the 1837 and 1842 treaties with the Chippewa.[11][12][13][14] These two treaties dictated that the Ojibwe tribes in the area would cede lands in the north of Wisconsin to the United States Government. In return for ceding ownership of their native lands, they were granted access to hunt, fish, and gather within some public areas. The Powell Marsh Wildlife Area is one such area, used for hunting, fishing, and other tribal activities. It is subject to management by the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa via an Integrated Resource Management Plan.[5]: 5 

Dead Pike Lake

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A water control structure in Powell Marsh
 
Iron floc in water at Vista Flowage

Dead Pike Lake is to the northwest and downstream of the Powell Marsh Wildlife Area, and the health and water quality of the lake are closely tied to man-made manipulations of the wildlife area. In the mid-1950s, the construction of water control structures and an extensive ditch and levee road system began in the wildlife area, which did restore much of the original marshland but also cut deep into the bog's semi-aquitard layer. This caused the groundwater and surface water, which feeds into Dead Pike Lake from Powell Marsh, to interact with each other.[4]: 18 [15] In addition to the iron-rich surface water that began to put increased pressure on groundwater in the area, the water control structures were built with material including taconite ore, which likely leaked more iron manganese into the water.[4]: 34 

The groundwater in the area is rich in iron, which naturally precipitates when exposed to oxygen, providing nutrients to iron-oxidizing bacteria. When water flow is prevented, naturally in low flow period and artificially through water control systems, most incoming water is from the groudwater table, and excretions from the iron bacteria accumulate, creating visible plumes of iron floc.[16]: 15, 23  The iron floc in the lake has been shown to correlate with flow rates of groundwater in the 13-mile (21 km) long levee system.[16]: 4  Not only is the iron floc visible in the lake, but it has turned the lake rusty-brown in some areas, and in others has turned the water slimy.[17][18][19]

Flora and fauna

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The Powell Marsh Wildlife Area has five defined types of ground cover, and thus has multiple different species of trees. The most commonly observed trees in the wildlife area consist of aspen, white birch, red maple, red oak, white pine, black spruce, and tamarack. In addition to trees, there are various aquatic plants and shrubs, including willow and sphagnum moss.[5]: 46 

In 2016, 205 different species of bird were observed in the wildlife area, including 34 species of birds that are labeled as either protected, threatened, endangered, or of special concern. The only species of bird labeled as endangered known to either nest or migrate in the wildlife area is the black tern, which while labeled as of least concern by the IUCN, is currently on the list of endangered birds in the state of Wisconsin.[20][21] Other rare birds considered in danger found to be in the wildlife area include the LeConte's sparrow, Nelson's sparrow, and the threatened Yellow rail.[22]

Other documented rare mammalian species observed in the wildlife area include the gray wolf (listed as of special concern), hoary bat (listed as of special concern), little brown bat (threatened), and the silver-haired bat (special concern). Rare species besides mammals include the American bullfrog, mink frog, wingless mountain grasshopper, bog copper butterfly, and the frigga fritillary butterfly.[23]

The wildlife area is a habitat founded specifically for the preservation and hunting of ducks and other waterfowl and is also known for its stock of mink and muskrats.[5]: 33 

Recreation

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Hunting, fishing, and trapping are allowed in the wildlife area, although other recreational activities such as camping and hiking are limited by poor soil quality. Viewing sites in the area are easily accessible by main roads in the general area, and the Marsh is a popular spot for birdwatchers.[24] Fishing is available in both Dead Pike Lake[25] and Sherman lake,[26] both of which are attached to the wildlife area and subject to catch limitations set by the WDNR,[27] with the focus of such limits being set around the catching of walleye,[28] also called the yellow pike or yellow pickerel, despite it not having any relation to the pickerel family.

There is one managed trail in the wildlife area, the 8.5-mile (13.7 km) Powell Marsh Ski Trail. The Ski Trail is managed by the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest and is available for hiking in non-winter months. There are two other trails in the wildlife area that are under construction; the Regional Bike Trail and the Vista Flowage Loop.[29]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Protected Area Profile for Powell Marsh Wildlife Area Archived April 13, 2023, at the Wayback Machine from the World Database on Protected Areas. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Powell Marsh". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  3. ^ WDNR Website Archived March 2, 2022, at the Wayback Machine- Retrieved March 2, 2022
  4. ^ a b c d "Dead Pike Lake Management Plan by Dead Pike Lake Association and Town of Manitowish Waters PDF" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i "WDNR Powell Marsh State Wildlife Area Master Plan PDF" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  6. ^ "The Journal of Wildlife Management PDF JSTOR". JSTOR 3798093. Archived from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.(subscription required)
  7. ^ "WDNR Prescribed Fire Website Page". Archived from the original on March 4, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  8. ^ On Wisconsin Outdoors Website Archived November 16, 2022, at the Wayback Machine- Retrieved November 17, 2022
  9. ^ History, Art & Archives US House of Representatives Website Archived March 21, 2022, at the Wayback Machine- Retrieved March 2, 2022
  10. ^ WDNR Various Maps PDF Archived March 3, 2022, at the Wayback Machine- Retrieved August 24, 2022
  11. ^ TREATY WITH THE CHIPPEWA, 1837 PDF Archived March 4, 2022, at the Wayback Machine- Retrieved March 4, 2022
  12. ^ TREATY WITH THE CHIPPEWA, 1842 PDF Archived January 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine- Retrieved March 4, 2022
  13. ^ Milwaukee Public Museum Website Archived March 4, 2022, at the Wayback Machine- Retrieved March 4, 2022
  14. ^ WDNR Ceded Territory Page Archived March 2, 2022, at the Wayback Machine- Retrieved March 2, 2022
  15. ^ WDNR Impaired Waters Detail Webpage Archived March 20, 2022, at the Wayback Machine- Retrieved March 20, 2022
  16. ^ a b "Jim Kreitlow, WDNR Water Program. 2007, WDNR PDF" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on March 6, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  17. ^ WXPR Radio "This American Life", first broadcast 2021-09-23 Archived March 6, 2022, at the Wayback Machine- Retrieved March 6, 2022
  18. ^ WDNR Water Detail of Dead Pike Lake Webpage Archived March 20, 2022, at the Wayback Machine- Retrieved March 20, 2022
  19. ^ Hydrologic investigation of Powell Marsh and its relation to Dead Pike Lake, Vilas County, Wisconsin USGS PDF Archived February 2, 2023, at the Wayback Machine- Retrieved November 17, 2022
  20. ^ WDNR Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan c. 2015 Archived March 2, 2022, at the Wayback Machine- Retrieved March 2, 2022
  21. ^ WDNR Wisconsin Endangered and Threatened Species Laws & List Archived March 20, 2022, at the Wayback Machine- Retrieved March 20, 2022
  22. ^ eBird Website Archived March 2, 2022, at the Wayback Machine- Retrieved March 2, 2022
  23. ^ WDNR Master Plan PDF Archived February 2, 2023, at the Wayback Machine- Retrieved August 24, 2022
  24. ^ Vilas County Website on Powell Marsh Loop Archived May 17, 2022, at the Wayback Machine- Retrieved March 20, 2022
  25. ^ WDNR Webpage on Dead Pike Lake Archived March 6, 2022, at the Wayback Machine- Retrieved March 6, 2022
  26. ^ WDNR Webpage on Sherman Lake Archived March 6, 2022, at the Wayback Machine- Retrieved March 6, 2022
  27. ^ WDNR Webpage on Fishing Regulations Archived March 6, 2022, at the Wayback Machine- Retrieved March 6, 2022
  28. ^ WDNR PDF from 1998 on Wisconsin's Walleye Management Plan Archived March 2, 2022, at the Wayback Machine- Retrieved March 6, 2022
  29. ^ Vilas County Website on Outdoor Recreation at the Powell Marsh Wildlife Area Archived March 6, 2022, at the Wayback Machine- Retrieved March 6, 2022
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