Charles Pond Unit
Green Bay West Shores Wildlife Area
Charles Pond Unit of the Green Bay West Shore Wildlife Area (GBWSWA) is a 159-acre property with 26 of those acres as part of a State Natural Area.
The Charles Pond Unit is located five miles south of Pensaukee along County Road S in Oconto County. The unit is comprised of mature lacustrine forest with hardwoods (basswood, maples and ash) near the shore and an aspen/oak area on the uplands. Depending on water level, Charles Pond is a bay within Green Bay. The shoreline consists mainly of phragmites.
History of management
Charles Pond was formerly a bay-mouth bar lake with a narrow outlet to Green Bay, surrounded by extensive shrub-carr and shallow marsh. West of the pond was a hardwood forest, but high water levels during the 1980s have obliterated all of the marshland and a large portion of the hardwood forest. The Charles Pond Unit was obtained in 1965. This unit is a scientific area managed to limit access, avoid development and protect the area from human disturbances. A shallow water marsh is present during periods of low water in Green Bay.
Management objective
Today, we continue to provide opportunities for public hunting, trapping and fishing, while controlling invasive species and protecting the qualities of the unique native communities and associated species found on the property.
Recreation
Many recreational opportunities exist at the Charles Pond Unit.
- Birding
- Cross country skiing (no designated trail)
- Fishing
- Hiking (no designated trail)
- Hunting
- Trapping
- Wild edibles/gathering
- Wildlife viewing
Maps
Download [PDF] a map of this property.
If you are interested in exploring this property further, you can access an interactive map.