Moose River Cedar Hills

State Natural Area (No. 438)

Location: Within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Sawyer County. T41N-R5W, Sections 21, 22, 27, 28. 601 acres.

Access: From Clam Lake go southwest on Highway 77 7.5 miles, then south on FR 174 about 5.5 miles, then east on FR 164 0.25 mile to the northern boundary of the site.

Description: Moose River Cedar Hills features patches of upland mesic cedar forest bordering tributaries of the Moose River. These stands are associated with good quality examples of wetland communities including a long established beaver flowage, northern sedge meadow/alder thicket, black spruce-tamarack bog, and northern hardwood swamp. Patches of upland forest bordering tributaries of the Moose River are dominated by medium-large northern white cedar with super canopy white pine and associated hemlock, yellow birch, paper birch, and red maple. The shrub and sapling layer is sparse and heavy deer browse is occurring throughout. Common herbaceous species include three-leaved goldthread, wood sorrel, Canada mayflower, intermediate wood fern, common oak fern, northern tree club-moss, rosy twisted stalk, and yellow bluebead lily. On mid and lower slopes is a mature stand of rich, maple-basswood forest grading into mixed hardwood swamp forest west of the stream corridor. The northern mesic forest dominated by sugar maple with associated basswood and lesser amounts of white ash, black ash, yellow birch, red maple, hemlock and white cedar. Characteristic ground flora includes lady fern, blue cohosh, wild ginger, wild leek, and downy yellow violet. To the south is an island of seral stage forest dominated by aspen, birch, and balsam fir with upland black spruce, white spruce, and tamarack giving it a `boreal' like character. The groundlayer is covered with dense bracken fern. The uncommon gray jay (Perisoreus canadensis) is known to inhabit the area. Other bird species include yellow-throated vireo, winter wren, wood thrush, ovenbird, and blackburnian warbler. This site occurs in a relatively remote setting and is well buffered by wetland communities. The requirements and functions of upland mesic cedar forests are unknown and opportunities for research here are not duplicated anywhere else on the forest. Moose River Cedar Hills is owned by the US Forest Service and was designated a State Natural Area in 2007.