Element 5: Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural...

___Wood County Comprehensive Plan

Element 5: Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural ResourcesPage 5 - 1

Element 5:Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural Resources

A compilation of objectives, policies, goals, maps and programs for the conservation,and promotion of the effective management, of natural resources such as groundwater,forests, productive agricultural areas, environmentally sensitive areas, threatened andendangered species, stream corridors, surface waters, floodplains, wetlands, wildlifehabitat, metallic and nonmetallic mineral resources consistent with zoning limitationsunder s 295.20 (2), parks, open spaces, historical and cultural resources, communitydesign, recreational resources and other natural resources.


Element 5: Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural Resources

Element 5:Agricultural, Natural, andCultural Resources

Introduction 3

Wood County Lands 3Geography 3Topography and Geology 3Soils 4Climatology 4

Agricultural Resources 4General Farming 4Dairy Production 5Cranberry Production 6Animal Waste Management 6Farmland Protection 7Farmland Preservation Program 7Working Lands Initiative 8

Natural Resources 8Wildlife 8Threatened and Endangered Species 10Natural Heritage Inventory Program 10Invasive Species 11Groundwater Resources 11Shoreland Zoning 12Point Source Discharge 12Surface Water Resources 13Nonmetallic Mining 14Dams 14Lakes 15Rivers and Streams 15Impaired Waterways 16Resource Management Plans 16State Natural Areas 16Conservation Organizations 17Air Quality 17Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces 17Wetlands 18Floodplain 20

Managed Forest Law (MFL) 21Forestlands 21

Historic and Cultural Resources 21Historic Properties Listed on Registries 22Archeological Resources 23Cultural Resources 23State Historic Markers 23Other Historic Markers 24Historical Museums 24Rustic Roads and Scenic Highways 25Historic Sites and Memorials 26

Adopted Agricultural, Natural, andCultural Plans Currently in Place 27

Trends 28

Goals and Objectives 30Agricultural Resources 30Natural Resources 30Cultural and Historical Resources 31



Topography is concernedwith the details of theelevation and contours ofthe earth’s surface.

Element 5:Agricultural, Natural, andCultural Resources

Introduction

This element of the comprehensive planprovides an inventory and assessment of theagricultural, natural, and cultural resources ofWood County. The diversity of Wood County’sresource base lends itself to a mix of agriculture,business and recreation. The presence ofresources in an area can many times be thedetermining factor in the feasibility of futuredevelopment or land use changes. Withknowledge of existing resources, futuredevelopment, and land use changes can takeplace in appropriate areas of the County, withoutnegatively impacting resources. In addition, byidentifying the resources of the county, actioncan be taken to continue to preserve, enhance,and in some cases restore resources in thefuture.

Wood County Lands

Geography

Wood County is located in the center ofWisconsin, with the city of Pittsville oftenconsidered the geographical center of the State.The county is bordered on the north byMarathon County, on the east by PortageCounty, on the south by Adams and Juneaucounties and on the west by Jackson and Clarkcounties. Wood County is the 32nd largestcounty in Wisconsin with a total land area of792.78 square miles.

Topography and Geology

Wood County contains Precambrian igneousmetamorphic rock, Cambrian sandstone, and avariety of Pleistocene material. The land form of

Wood Countyis primarily aresult of glacialthru Pittsvillebounds thenorthern shoreof glacial Lake

Wisconsinwhere deposits are sands and sandstone. Thesouthern and east central portion of the county,while not covered by ice during the glacialperiod, consists of well sorted deposits of clays,silts and sands left by glacial outwash and lakedeposits. The remainder of the county consistsof ground moraine deposits of clay, silt, andgravel and boulders.

The surface elevation lowers from the 1250 footelevation in the north to 960 feet in the south.The slope is interrupted by the MarshfieldMoraine (1360 feet), Powers Bluff (1481 feet),Cary Bluff (1340 feet), South Bluff (1136 feet)

Inset Map 5-1



Geology is concerned withthe makeup of the solidmatter that makes up theEarth including such thingsas rocks and soils.

and North Bluff(1182 feet) aswell as a fewlower hills.

Soils

Wood County is separated into three main soilgroups. The northern portion of the County,roughly north of a line from Pittsville to Rudolphis characterized by loamy soil. This group isassociated with uplands on nearly level tomoderately steep slopes and are moderatelylevel to moderately steep slopes. Most oftenthese soils are moderately well drained.Agricultural uses are well suited to the loamysoils.

Sandy soils dominate the southeastern portionof the county. This area is a former glacialoutwash plain which resulted in sandy soils.Most of these soils occur on nearly level slopesand range from somewhat poorly drained to welldrained in the town of Saratoga and easternparts of Port Edwards and Seneca.

Organic and alluvial soils are also found in thesouthern portion of the county in basins anddepressions. The Wisconsin and Yellow Riverfloodplains contain poorly drained sandy andloamy soils formed from recent alluvium. Otherareas contain very poorly drained organic soilsformed from partly decomposed plant remains.Cranberry bogs are well suited to these soils.

Climatology

The climate in Wood County is continental,characterized by large seasonal and dailyranges in temperature. Winters are usually coldand snowy and summers are generally warmwith periods that are hot and humid.Precipitation on average is adequate foragricultural purposes, although some degree ofsoil moisture deficiency often occurs during themonths of July and August. During the wintermonths prevailing winds are generally from the

west and northwest, and from southerlydirections in the summer.

Agricultural Resources

General Farming

With the recent trend of the family farmdisappearing across the Midwest, many wouldbe surprised to see that currently 89.2% of thefarms in Wood County are family-owned asshown in table 5-1. A drive through the countywill show that although many farm buildingsstand vacant or dormant, other larger farms, andhobby or recreational farming continue tomanage the land that would otherwise be fallow.The general trend over time has seen thenumber of farms decrease, but the number ofacres per farm increase.

With the introduction of mechanization infarming we see this shift start to take hold asearly as 1935-1940 where the number of farmsdropped from 3341 to 1979 respectively. Asfarm equipment has improved over time farmershave been able to manage more acres of land.Farming more acres of land and havingequipment that is more efficient in planting andharvesting crops allows farmers to become moreproductive by improved efficiencies of scale.

Agriculture is a major employer providing jobsfor 3761 Wood County residents, or nearly 7percent of the 2002 county’s workforce of

Table 5 - 1Wood County Farm Ownership, 2002

89.2% Individuals or families5.2% Family Partnerships4.6% Family-owned corporations1.0% Non-family corporations

Source: Wood County Agriculture: Value andeconomic impact, UWEX 2004.



Figure 5-2Impacts of Dairy Farming

One dairy cow generates $1,668 in directincome to producers.

Each dairy cow generates more than$15,000 to $17,000 of economic activity.

Thirteen plants process dairy products inWood County.

Wood County’s on-farm milk production anddairy processing account for 1,907 jobs.

Source: Wood County Agriculture: Valueand Economic Impact, UWEX 2004

54,527 people. The types of jobs range fromfarm ownership, and on-farm employees, to fuelsuppliers and food processors. Every new job inagriculture generates an additional 0.6 jobs inWood County.

In 2002, 1,108 farms in Wood County managedthe resources of 228,050 acres of land, or 45percent of all land in the County. This includesland used for grazing, cropland, and agriculturalsupport land.

In 2002 agriculture generated $537.8 million ineconomic activity, accounting for an estimated10 percent of total economic activity in the

County. The breakdown of where this economicactivity took place is show in Table 5-3.

The top five commodities produced in theCounty are shown in table 5-4 along with theirsales by dollar value. Milk and cranberriesaccount for $39 million and $23.9 million inannual sales respectively. The sales of the top5 commodities total $75.9 million, with the saleof milk and cranberries accounting for $62.9million of the sales.

Dairy Production

Dairy is the largest part of Wood County’sagriculture contributing $438 million to thecounty’s economy. Of the $438 million, $49.4

Table 5 - 2General Agriculture Facts - 2002

Number of farms 1,108

Land in Farms – Avesize (acres)

206

Land in Farms –Median size

150

Land in Farms (acres) 228,050

Total cropland(acres)

140,061

Source: 2002 Census of Agriculture

Table 5 - 3Economic Activity Generated byAgriculture

$380.6 million = direct effect of agricultureincluding sale of all farm products and value-added products$135.1 million = purchase of agriculture inputsand services$22.2 million = economic activity from peoplewho work in agriculture-related businessesspend their earnings$537.8 million total impact

Source: Wood County Agriculture: Value andEconomic Impact, UWEX 2004

Table 5 - 4Wood County’s Top CommoditiesSales by Dollar Value - 2002

1. Milk $39 million2. Cranberries $23.9 million3. Cattle and calves $7.6 million4. Grain $3.7 million5. Nursery and Greenhouse $1.7 million

Source: Wood County Agriculture: Value andEconomic Impact, UWEX 2004



million accounts for on farm production andsale of milk, and $388.7 million accounts for theprocessing of dairy products. In 2002 therewere 330 dairy herds comprised of 20,736 dairycows. Figure 5-2 shows the significant impactthat dairy farming has to the economy in theCounty.

Cranberry Production

Wood County is the top producer of cranberriesin the top producing cranberry state in thecountry. Cranberries are a native species toWisconsin and require access to an abundantwater supply for maintaining growingconditions, harvesting, and protection from frost.Although the majority of cranberry farming is inthe southwest portion of the county whereswamp and marsh land is predominant, uplandcranberry farming is becoming more prevalent.The highest concentration of bogs can be foundin the township of Cranmoor. Many of the bogsare in the same families that established them inthe late 1800’s, and have seen changes in allaspects of the operations. Given the longhistory of production in the area, many advancesin growing and harvesting technology can beattributed to local operations.

In 2002 Wood County had 4682 acres ofcranberry bogs in production by 68 farms thatproduced 3,208,000 barrels of fruit. Low barrel

prices in the late 1990’s due to favorablegrowing conditions, and an increase in cranberryfarming activity, caused cranberry barrel pricesto drop. In recent years the price per barrel ofcranberries has increased due to strongerdemand.

In addition to cranberry production, there are 3cranberry receiving stations and severalprocessors that specialize in value-addedproducts. In recent years a number of factorsincluding increased marketing of cranberries andmore variety of value added products havebrought demand in line with supply.

Over the years Wood County and cranberrygrowing have become synonymous. In the 1972Economic Analysis portion of the Wood CountyComprehensive Development Plan, theuntapped potential for attracting tourists to thearea for the cranberry culture, and specificallythe harvest is mentioned. Over recent yearsmarketing of cranberry culture has been asource of pride for residents of Wood County,and a source of interest to the tourists that visitthe area to view the unique and somewhatmysterious agricultural practice.

Animal Waste Management

Because agriculture is so prevalent in WoodCounty, one of the most significant potentialgroundwater contamination sources is animalwaste. Both storage and spreading of animal

Table 5-5Market Value of AgricultureProducts Sold - 2002

Sales by MarketValue

Percentof total

Dairy $38,958,000 48.5Fruits & Berries $3,888,000 29.7Cattle, calves & hogs $8,339,000 10.3Grain & oil seeds $3,667,000 4.6Vegetables, Nursery $2,903,000 3.6Other crops & hay $1,615,000 2.0Total $80,361,000 100




waste can contaminate groundwater if not doneproperly.

Animal waste storage facilities currently in userange from manure pits dug 50 years ago tonewly engineered and installed storagestructures. In 2009 there are 188 animal wastestorage facilities in Wood County. According tothe Land Conservation Department records, 84of these structures were designed and installedto meet technical standard and specification thatwere in effect at the time they were built. It isestimated that there are 104 manure storagefacilities that do not meet any type of technicalstandards for design and installation. WoodCounty regulates the location, design, andinstallation of animal waste through its AnimalWaste and Manure Management Ordinanceadministered by the County Land ConservationDepartment. This ordinance ensures that allnew, substantially altered, and abandonedmanure storage facilities are completed incompliance with approved standards andspecifications. The ordinance also requires thatpermitted storage facilities submit and follow anannual nutrient management plan.

The State of Wisconsin regulates livestockoperations with 1,000 animal units or more andthose livestock operations with less than 1,000animal units that have discharges thatsignificantly affect water quality.

The WDNR has also created AgriculturePerformance Standards and Prohibitionsthrough Administrative Rule NR 151, StateStatutes. The performance standards andprohibitions were created to control pollutedrunoff from farms, as well as other sources, tohelp protect Wisconsin’s lakes, streams, andgroundwater. The agriculture performancestandards apply to all farm operations inWisconsin.

Farmland Protection

In Wood County, townships have the ability toplan for the long term preservation of farmland.

Preserving areas that are best suited for raisingcrops and grazing can be implemented by townsin a variety of ways including zoning andresidential density limitations.

Farmland Preservation Program

The Wisconsin Farmland Preservation Program(FPP) was created in 1977 to preserveagricultural resources by supporting localgovernment efforts to manage growth. TheProgram became available to Wood Countylandowners in 1984. The original intent of theFPP was to protect productive farmland fromurban sprawl and unplanned rural development.The program supports soil and waterconservation management techniques and isregulated by the Wisconsin Department ofAgriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection(DATCP).

For a County to be eligible to participate in theFarmland Preservation Program the Countymust have an adopted agricultural preservationplan. Contracts between landowners and theState cover agricultural activities includingbeekeeping, grazing, and sod farming amongmany others. Contracts range between 10 to 25years and remain in effect even as the propertychanges ownership. Once in the program, thelandowner has the right to claim credits on theirincome tax, with the level of relief based onhousehold income and property taxes paid.Property in the program cannot be subdividedinto less than 35 acre parcels. Land under theFPP must also follow crop rotation and tillagemethod identified in a mutually agreed uponconservation plan.

Interested landowners can apply for the FPP bypicking up an application from the Wood CountyClerk’s Office or Land Conservation Department.Deadline for application is June 30th of any givenyear.

In recent years the number of acres as well asthe number of participants in the FPP hasdrastically decreased. Table 5-6 shows the



extent of the decreased participation from 1996compared to years 2000 and 2008.

Working Lands Initiative

Past population growth and development needshave impacted the amount of availableproductive farmland in the state. Rural sprawlhas reduced the acreage of available farmlandin some rapidly developing areas at an alarmingrate. Agriculture is a defining characteristic ofWisconsin’s identity and a predominantinfluential factor on the rural landscape. TheFarmland Preservation program of Wisconsinhas historically been used to encourage thepreservation of farmland on a voluntary basis.In the future the Farmland Preservation Programwill continue to be used as a tool to preservefarmland as a part of the Wisconsin WorkingLands Initiative (WLI). In addition to theFarmland Preservation Program, the WLIincludes programs that offer incentives forcreation of Agricultural Enterprise Zones,creates a program for the purchase ofagricultural conservation easements, andencourages participation in voluntary farmlandpreservation zoning. Starting with the 2009-2011 Wisconsin Biennium budget, the programsof the WLI will gradually be rolled out, and willbe funded by the redirection of existing fundingmechanisms. Figure 5-3 summarizes theprograms the make up the WLI.

Natural Resources

Wildlife

The Wood County landscape provides a richand diverse habitat for wildlife species ofsongbirds, waterfowl, raptors, shorebirds,reptiles, amphibians, fish and mammals. Theabundance of wildlife in the area is the result ofa complex variety of factors, and can beattributed to the management practices of thefederal government, Wisconsin Department ofNatural Resources, the County, and propertyowners. Some of the common practices used toprovide or improve wildlife habitat include tree,shrub, and food plot planting; logging practiceswhich promote habitat in fence rows and oddshaped areas; pond building; and proper landuse planning and practices.

The presence of wildlife contributes to the activeand passive outdoor recreation opportunitiesavailable. Active outdoor recreation activitiesthat depend on a healthy wildlife populationinclude hunting. Hunting is for many families atradition that brings generations together toshare a common interest, for others it is arelaxing hobby that connects them with theoutdoors. When people hunt they spend moneyon gas, licenses, hotel stays, and meals.Knowing they will have access to an ampleamount of public lands in Wood County, manyindividuals travel here and spend money here inpursuit of trophy game, and some peace andquiet in the woods. Passive recreationalactivities such as wildlife viewing and birdwatching also bring people to the County, andwith them their travel and recreation dollars.

Table 5-6Farmland Preservation Program (FPP)Participation in Wood County

Year 1996 2000 2008Participants 122 59 39Acres 19,815 10,448 4,970




Figure 5-3Programs of the Wisconsin Working Lands Initiative

Farmland Preservation PlansPlanning is essential for farmland preservation as population growth and development are straining alreadyscarce land resources. Through the Working Lands Initiative, farmland preservation planning will: Modernize farmland preservation plans to meet current challenges Provide planning grants to counties Provide flexibility for designating planning areas for farmland preservation Improve consistency between local plans Simplify the certification process and streamline state oversight.

Agricultural Enterprise AreaAn Agricultural Enterprise Area (AEA) is a contiguous land area devoted primarily to agricultural use and locallytargeted for agricultural preservation and development. The designation of an AEA by the state is based on avoluntary local application. Voluntary participation of county and local governments Participation of at least 5 farm owners Located in a farmland preservation area Contiguous land area Primarily in agricultural use State approval

Farmland Preservation ZoningFarmland preservation zoning standards under the WLI give county and local governments more flexibility,consistent with effective farmland protection. Increase available income tax credits Establish new standards to increase local flexibility and reduce land use conflicts Improve consistency between local plans and ordinances Simplify the certification process and streamline state oversight Ensure compliance with state soil and water conservation standards

Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement Grant ProgramAn agricultural conservation easement restricts nonagricultural development of land covered by the easement.By voluntarily entering into an easement a farmer can be compensated for permanently limiting development ofthe property while protecting important resources. The covered land remains privately owned and managed. Privately owns and manages the land Retains land for farming, while augmenting income Retains title to the property Can collect farmland preservation income tax credit Continues to be responsible for property tax

Source: Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

Many residents of the county enjoy living herebecause the presence of wildlife contributes totheir quality of life. In recent years however,many species of animals have adapted toincreased development pressure. It is not

uncommon to see animals like deer, turkey,raccoons, and even bear or wolves in areasconsidered to be urban or suburban. Althoughmany people enjoy the opportunity to viewwildlife in their back yards, there are some cases



where damage to property has causedcommunities to consider taking action to controlexcessive animal populations. When theDepartment of Natural Resources issues huntingpermits and structures regulations, they considerthe impact that it will have on wildlife resourcemanagement. On request the WDNR does workwith cities, villages, and towns, to address theirunique wildlife management issues such asoverpopulation.

The rural agricultural landscape has contributedto the healthy population of wildlife in theCounty. Many animal species take advantage ofthe available food source found in the crops thatfarmers plant. The impact that wildlife makes oncrops varies from unnoticeable to the extreme ofthreatening the farmers necessary crop yield.The County Land Conservation Departmentworks with farmers who are experiencing cropdamage to reduce or prevent future damage,and in some cases compensates for lost crops.

Threatened and Endangered Species

According the WDNR, species are listed as“endangered” when their existence as a viablecomponent of this state’s wild animals or wildplants is determined by the Department to be injeopardy on the basis of scientific evidence.Threatened species are listed when it appearslikely, within the foreseeable future, on the basisof scientific evidence to become endangered.The WDNR also has a “special concern”category for species where there is a suspectedabundance or distribution concern. The purposeof this category is to focus attention on certainspecies before they become endangered orthreatened. Table 5-7 lists the threatened andendangered species present in Wood County.

Natural Heritage Inventory Program

The Wisconsin Natural Heritage InventoryProgram (NHI) is part of an international networkof NHI programs. This network was establishedby The Nature Conservancy and is coordinatedby NatureServe, an international non-profit

organization. The three objectives of the NHIare to: collect information of occurrences of rareplants and animals, high-quality naturalcommunities, and significant natural features inWisconsin; standardize this information, enter itinto an electronic database, and mark locationon base maps for the state; and use thisinformation to further the protection andmanagement of rare species, naturalcommunities, and natural features. NHIprograms use a standard methodology forcollecting, characterizing, and managing data.With data being standardized it can becombined at various scales to address local,state, regional, and national issues. NHIprograms focus on locating and documentingoccurrences of rare species and naturalcommunities, including state and federalendangered and threatened species.Inventories are conducted around the state andthe results are included in the NHI Working List.Natural Heritage Inventory data are used for avariety of purposes including land management,

Table 5-7Threatened and Endangered Species – WoodCounty

Mammals Timber WolfBald EagleCerulean WarblerGreat EgretOsprey

Birds

Red-Shouldered HawkEastern MassasaugaRattlesnakeWestern Slender GlassLizard

Reptiles and Amphibians

Wood TurtleFish noneMussels and Snails none

Frosted Elfin ButterflyInsects

Karner Blue ButterflyPlants Goblin Fern

Source: “THREATENED & ENDANGERED SPECIESIN FORESTS OF WISONSIN; A Guide to Assist withForestry Activities”, Compiled by David A Kopiztke,University of Wisconsin – Richland, Edited by Dr.James M. Sweeney, International Paper Company



state land master planning, community planning,conservation planning, and environmentalreview of public and private activities across thestate. Appendix 5-A includes NHI for WoodCounty.

Invasive Species

The recent onslaught of invasive species fromother regions and countries is cause forconcern. These non-native plants, animals, andpathogens displace native species, disruptecosystems, and harm recreational activitiessuch as fishing, hiking and boating. They alsodamage commercial, agricultural, andaquacultural resources. Damage from invasivespecies goes beyond the natural environment,and can have lasting economic impacts both inlost recreation revenue dollars and cost tocontrol them.

Once introduced to an area invasive species aredifficult to control because they lack thepredators and competitors that they face in theirhomelands. They can spread rapidly, andaggressively, and may be impossible to get ridof completely. People play a major role inspreading invasive species, but can also preventthem from spreading. One of the most effectiveefforts to control invasive species is througheducating outdoor enthusiasts on how to reduceand control the spread of invasive species.

Many are surprised to learn that some of theplants commonly used for landscaping, areconsidered invasive species that can rapidlyspread and threaten the survival of native plants.The WDNR maintains a list of common invasivespecies in the state, and offers suggestions onhow to control their populations and preventspreading to new areas.

Groundwater Resources

Groundwater is the source of all drinking waterin Wood County, whether by drilled or sand pointwells of rural homeowners, or high-capacitymunicipal wells. Commonly accepted estimates

of water usage per capita is 50 to 75 gallonseach day per person. If we use these numbersand Wood Counties 2000 US Census populationof 75,555 people, we end up with 3,777,750 and5,666,625 gallons used each day respectively.These estimates are being calculated purely toget an idea of the magnitude of consumption inthe county each day. Water consumption byagricultural, industrial, commercial, government,general residential cleaning and yard care, arenot included in this number. Actual water drawnfrom groundwater resources could possiblydouble considering total of all daily water usage.With the usage estimates in mind it is apparentthat we can no longer take for granted a cleanand adequate water supply, but need to viewgroundwater as a resource that requiresmanagement. Figure 5-3 lists some of thefactors that may impact the availability ofadequate groundwater resources.

Generally, groundwater in the County isacceptable as far as quality and quantity of thisresource is concerned. Regardless of thesource, many factors determine the quality ofthis limited resource. Although the water qualityof municipal wells is monitored and controlled ona daily basis, the monitoring of private wells isleft to the discretion of the homeowner. Manytimes homeowners do not question the quality oftheir water until there is a change in taste, smellor color, allowing many critical but unnoticeablewater problems to persist over time. Manytypical problems that a homeowner mayexperience with water quality may be remediedby installing a home water conditioning ortreatment system, or drilling another well at adifferent depth.

With groundwater being such an importantresource, one would expect an accurate andcomplete inventory of wells in Wood County andbeyond to be available, but this is not the case.Although all new wells are required to bereported to the WDNR, several factors make thecreation of an inventory challenging: Many wellswere installed years ago prior to awareness ofthe importance of protecting the quality and



quantity; shallow sand point wells can still beinstalled by homeowners without a permit ornotifying anyone. The Wood County PlanningOffice estimates that there are 12,850 privateresidential wells in the County.

Water quality issues will likely never go away,and in fact may get more complex asdevelopment pressures increase in many areasof the county. At some point it may be to thebenefit of the residents of the county to make aconcerted effort to inventory existing wells anddevelop a means to monitor water qualitythrough testing. Municipalities may also want toconsider implementing wellhead protection plansor ordinances to perpetuate the water qualityand quantity of the high capacity wells that servecities and villages.

Shoreland Zoning

Uncontrolled use of the shorelands and pollutionof the navigable waters of Wood County, canadversely affect the public health, safety,convenience, and general welfare. Thelegislature of Wisconsin has delegated

responsibility of shoreland zoning to the countiesand local units of government. The WoodCounty Planning and Zoning Departmentadministers the Wood County Ordinance #704,for all unincorporated areas of the county. Thejurisdiction of Ordinance #704 includes areaswithin 1000 feet of the ordinary high-water markof lakes, ponds, or flowages, and areas within300 feet of the ordinary high-water mark ofnavigable rivers or streams. Goals of shorelandzoning in the County include the following:prevention and control of water pollution;protection of spawning grounds, fish and wildlife;control building sites; placement of structuresand land uses; and preserve shore cover andnatural beauty. Residents are encouraged tocontact the Wood County Planning and ZoningDepartment, their municipality, and theDepartment of Natural Resources prior tocommencing any construction, filling, grading,dredging, lagooning, and cutting of shorelandvegetation.

Point Source Discharge

The Department of Natural Resources regulatesmunicipal and industrial operations thatdischarge wastewater to surface or groundwaterthrough the Wisconsin Pollutant DischargeElimination System (WPDES) permit program.Point source dischargers, facilities dischargingto surface water from a specific point such asfrom the end of a pipe, must meet either thefederal minimum requirement for secondary

Figure 5 - 3

Potential Shortage of Groundwater Capacity

Development / overdevelopment in unsuitableareas

Lack of water conservation education programs Development in groundwater recharge areas Prolonged drought conditions Water usage exceeding aquifer recharge for

prolonged periods High capacity well pumping

Source: Wood County Planning & Zoning

Figure 5-4Potential Sources of GroundwaterContamination

Active or Inactive Landfills Private Onsite Waste Treatment Systems Mines, Pits, Quarries Animal Feedlots Road salt usage and storage Underground pipelines and storage Chemical Storage Residential Fertilizer or pesticide application Landspreading of sewage treatment plant sludge Development / over development in unsuitable

areas Air pollution Industrial or manufacturing pollution Stormwater Runoff Nonpoint runoff from urban areas

Source: Wood County Planning & Zoning



treatment in the case of amunicipality, and technology-based categorical (base level)limits for industries, or thedischarges must meet levelsnecessary to achieve waterquality standards, whichever ismore stringent. The WDNRestablishes regulations andmonitors compliance of alldischarges.

Surface WaterResources

Water Resources coverapproximately 47.78 squaremiles or 171 percent of WoodCounty. Although they are anobvious limiting factor tolanduse and futuredevelopment, they are criticalto the economy, quality of life,and sustainability of living inWood County.

The quality of water resources is important tosustaining a healthy wildlife population, creatinga safe and desirable place for recreationpurpose, and is vital for agricultural practices.Clean water provides an environment for aquaticspecies to thrive and reproduce in. When awater body experiences problems with pollutionor lack of oxygen, many other plants and animalspecies that live on, in or near water bodiessuffer as a result. Clean surface water is alsoimportant to water recreation activities includingswimming, boating and fishing. In Wood Countywater related recreation activities are verypopular and are a contributing factor to theoverall quality of life of the area. Clean lakes,rivers and streams also help the economy by

1Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, “WisconsinLakes Directory – Wood Co. (Alphabetic by County)”[http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/fhp/lakes/county/wood.htm] 16 July 2007.

drawing tourists to the area to recreate andvacation.

Water resources are classified for the purpose ofenforcing Wisconsin boating restrictions andapplying provisions of the shoreland access andzoning laws. A water body must be classified asa lake or river according to the WisconsinDepartment of Natural Resources. A Wisconsincourt ruling over 100 years ago found that: thecontrolling distinction between a stream and alake or pond is that in the one case the waterhas a natural motion, a current, while in theother, the water is, in its natural state,substantially at rest…Ne-pee-nauk Club v.Wilson, 96 Wis. 290 (1897)

Classification of a water body as either a lake orriver is many times disputed and subject toadditional testing, criteria or ruling.

Figure 5-5Sources of Groundwater Contamination



Additional terminology that is very relevant to thewater resources of Wood County are the terms“flowage” or “impoundment”. Both terms aresynonymous and are used to describe the poolcreated by a dam.

Nonmetallic Mining

Nonmetallic mining involves the extraction ofstone, rock, sand or other similar material fromnatural deposits. This is a widespread activity inWood County with the most common examplesof nonmetallic mines being quarries and pits.Materials extracted can range from aggregatefor construction; sand, gravel and crushedlimestone or dolomite for road building; peat forgardening and horticulture; dimension stone foruse in buildings, landscaping, and monuments;and sand that is exported for use by the oilindustry.

Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 135 requiresthat all counties adopt and enforce a Non-metallic Mining Reclamation Ordinance thatestablishes performance standards for thereclamation of active and future nonmetallicmining sites, but not sites abandoned prior toAugust 1, 2001. The Wood County LandConservation Department administers thereclamation Ordinance that went into effect onAugust 1, 2001. Ordinance standards addressreclamation, surface water and wetlandprotection, groundwater protection, topsoilmanagement, grading and slopes, maintenanceand a variety of other issues. In August of 2009there were 51 active quarries in Wood County.

Although the County is required to have areclamation ordinance that is focused on howthe site will be left following the miningoperation, sighting of nonmetallic operations isdependant on local zoning ordinances or lackthere of. Some towns in Wood County throughlocal zoning have identified appropriate areas formining operations, established regulations thatset hours of operations, safety features such asfencing, and noise thresholds, among otherrequirements.

Dams

There are 105 dams in Wood County that serveto control water flow that could potentially lead todangerous and costly flooding. Dams wereconstructed for a variety of reasons includingproviding flowages for transporting goods, forpowering lumber and grain mills, and forcontrolling flow for agricultural purposes.Fluctuating seasonal precipitation is monitoredto the greatest possible extent to control stream,impoundment and flowage depths, and rate ofwater flow through the dams. In addition, someof the dams are used to generatehydroelectricity that powers some WisconsinRapids Area paper mills as well as other localbusinesses and residents’ homes. Maintenanceof dams can be costly, and in some instancesthey are removed instead of replaced, restoringthe natural flow of the water.

In Wood County of the 105 dams, 25 areclassified as large and 75 are classified assmall, and 5 are not classified as either. Largedams measure at least 6 feet high and taller,and are capable of 50 acre feet of storage ormore, or measure 25 feet high or more with 15acre feet or more of storage. Small dams areclassified as any dam that falls below thethreshold height or storage capacity of largedams.

Ownership and maintenance varies amongprivate and public entities. In the early 1980’sthe WDNR developed standards for design,construction and reconstruction of large dams,enacted rules for warning signs and portages aswell as other public safety measures. In 1991,procedures for implementation of maintenance,repair, modification or abandonment were putinto place and a grant program to fund some ofthese costs initiated. The WDNR currently dealswith permitting for new dam construction,repairs, reconstruction, ownership transfers,water levels, and abandonment.



Lakes

Wood County is abundant with surface waterresources comprising approximately 4774 acres.The Wisconsin Department of NaturalResources has identified 78 lakes of which 13are named and 65 are unnamed. The listingincludes the Wisconsin River, the county's mostprominent water feature, and it is identified bythe 6 flowages; Biron Flowage, WisconsinRapids Flowage, Centralia Flowage, PortEdwards Flowage, Nekoosa Flowage, and thetail of the Petenwell Flowage. Although legallyconsidered a river, the Wisconsin River isincluded with the lake inventory because of thelarge surface area that it covers that is moretypical of a lake than a river. Althoughcontiguous, the Wisconsin River flowages aresomewhat confined water features separated by4 dams that control the rate of water flow forpower generation and regulating seasonal flow.

Natural lakes in the County are generally smalland very shallow with recreation potential mainlycentered around wildlife, waterfowl and limitedfishing. Man-made lakes or flowages providemost of the recreation water in the county.

Rivers and Streams

There are 82 named streams that total 389.7miles collectively. Although there is no legaldistinction made between the terminology usageof river and stream, streams generally flow intoor are considered tributary to major rivers. Themajor rivers and streams of Wood County withtheir surface area and mileages are listed intable 5-8.

The Wisconsin River

The Wisconsin River is the most prominent“river” feature in Wood County flowingsouthwesterly 8.6 miles through the southeastcorner of the County. The portion of theWisconsin River that runs through the county isdivided into 6 flowages, and for this reasonincluded with the lake inventory, However,

legally the Wisconsin River is considered a riverand subject to shoreland access, zoning laws,and boating restrictions of a river.

The Yellow River

The Yellow River is second to the WisconsinRiver in size. This river flows from the northwestcorner to the south-central part of the county.Lakes Kaunewinne and Manakiki are smallflowages on the Yellow River located in NorthWood County Park and have limited recreation,mainly fishing. Lake Dexter is the mainrecreation area along this river. A county parksurrounds this lake and has picnic andrecreation areas for public use. The city ofPittsville also has a small city park located onthe Yellow River.

East Branch Yellow River and South BranchYellow River

The East Branch Yellow River and South BranchYellow River are located in the far northwestcorner of the county. The two tributaries of theYellow River are undeveloped except for the onecampground on the South Branch Yellow River.

Table 5-8Wood County Major Rivers and Streams

RiversSurfaceAcres

Miles

Wisconsin River 567.1 8.6Yellow River 282.4 43.6East Branch Yellow River 7.13 4.9South Branch Yellow River 10.91 5.0East Fork Black River 85.09 18.0

Streams(over 10 miles long)

SurfaceAcres

Miles

Hemlock Creek 167.76 34.6Mill Creek 55.47 26.3Rocky Run Creek 41.75 16.4Rocky Run Creek ( to E.Fork Black River)

31.2 13.9

Moccasin Creek 23.4 13.3

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources



East Fork of the Black River

The East Fork of the Black River Meanders intowest central Wood County and then joins theBlack River in Clark County. This river isundeveloped in Wood County.

Exceptional and OutstandingResource Waters

Wisconsin has designated many of the state’shighest quality waters as Outstanding ResourceWaters (ORWs) or Exceptional ResourceWaters (ERWs). These designations identifywater resources that warrant additionalprotection from the effects of pollution. WoodCounty does not have any water bodies with theORW designation, but has the 5 creeks listed intable 5-9 that are designated as ERWs.

Impaired Waterways

Every two years the listing of impaired waters,as defined by Section 303(d) of the federalClean Water Act, is updated. The state isrequired to update the list with those waters thatdo not meet the state’s water quality standards.This list identifies waters that do not meetnumeric or narrative criterion, or meet thedesignated use of the water body. The mostrecent list was created in 2006 and with the 2-year update requirement will be updated in2008.

There are 3 impaired waterbodies in WoodCounty according to the WDNR Proposed 2006Impaired Waters List. On the Wisconsin Rivernear Port Edwards there is a one-mile stretchthat is on the list because of fish consumptionadvisory due to mercury contamination andcontaminated sediment. Lake Dexter is includedbecause of high bacteria levels that havecaused beach closings. A 16.7 mile stretch ofMill Creek is included because of low levels ofdissolved oxygen due to high amounts ofphosphorous.

Resource Management Plans

There are many programs in place that offerincentives to manage natural resources. Someof the programs are mentioned in this element ofthe Comprehensive Plan, as well as otherelements. Appendix 5-B includes a listing offederal, state, local and other programsavailable for property-owners to consider whenimplementing resource management programs.This list is cited in the Wood County Land andWater Resource Management Plan as anecessary resource for landowners to utilize.

State Natural Areas

The State Natural Area (SNA) program isdesigned to protect outstanding examples ofWisconsin’s native landscape of naturalcommunities, significant geological formationsand archaeological sites. Of 552 State NaturalAreas, 6 are located in Wood County. SNA’sharbor natural features that are unaltered orhave recovered from human disturbance. Theyalso provide a relatively safe home for over 90percent of plant and 75 percent of animals thatare on Wisconsin’s list of endangered orthreatened species. Designated Natural areasare important for research and education,preservation of genetic and biological diversity,and provide a benchmark for determining impactof use on managed lands. The SNA program islocated in the Department of Natural Resources’Bureau of Endangered Resources and advised

Table 5-9Wood County Exceptional Resource Waters

Waterbody Name Portion within ERW Classification

Bloody Run Creek AllFivemile Creek Hwy 13 down to CTH ZLynn Creek All of stream in S16 T21N R5E

upstream of cranberry bogRocky Creek All of stream in S9 T24N R2ESevenmile Creek From Range Line @ E section line of

S13 T21N R5E

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources



by the Natural Areas Preservation Council.Appendix 5-C lists the 6 SNAs in Wood County.

Conservation Organizations

There are many groups in Central Wisconsinthat impact the natural, historical and culturalfeatures of Wood County in a positive way. Thestructure and focus of these groups varies, butare funded primarily through donations andprivate funding, and work cooperatively withgovernment agencies towards their goals. Thefollowing list shows some of the groups thathave made a significant impact in Wood County.

Friends of Powers Bluff and Environs, Inc. –Working to preserve the rich history and uniquenatural features of the Powers Bluff Park.

Mill Creek Watershed, Inc. – Educates the publicabout natural resources and programs that canhelp improve the environment and increase theoverall value of Mill Creek.

Golden Sands Resource Conservation andDevelopment (RC&D) Council, Inc. – Works toimprove the area’s economy, while conservingits natural resources.

Air Quality

The Wisconsin Department of NaturalResources works to maintain and improveWisconsin’s air quality in order to protect publichealth and the environment. Many air pollutionrequirements in the state statutes and rulesreflect mandates contained in the federal CleanAir Act. The Clean Air Act created by theEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) also isreflected in Wisconsin air pollution rules.

Air quality can affect individuals both directly andindirectly. Direct impacts of poor air quality canaffect individuals acutely or chronically based onthe type of pollutant, concentration, and durationof exposure. Direct impacts of poor air qualityare a result of individuals breathing thecontaminated air. Indirect impacts of poor air

quality can affect the quality of food we eat andthe water we drink as pollutants deposited onland or water enter the food chain andbioaccumulate. The DNR actively monitors airquality of air pollutants through a statewidemonitoring network.

The DNR issues air pollution control permits thatfall into the categories of construction permits oroperation permits. Construction permits ensurethat proposed projects can meet air pollutionstandards before they are constructed.Operation permits set emission limits andestablish monitoring, record-keeping andreporting requirements. The permitting processis intended to be transparent with all relateddocuments including applications and modelinganalyses being open records. According to theDNR there are 34 active construction permitsand 52 active operation permits in WoodCounty. Some facilities in the County that emitair contaminants have pending permits and areexempt from DNR permits, or are operatingwithout WDNR consent.

Air quality in Wood County meets the NationalAmbient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) set bythe Environmental Protection Agency for carbonmonoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfurdioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM), lead (Pb),and ozone. The 6 aforementioned pollutants areknown as the “criteria pollutants” because theyare regulated based on human health-basedand/or environmentally-based criteria for settingpermissible levels.

Besides the “criteria pollutants” there are manyother air pollutants that can be cause for healthconcerns. The orgin of pollutants ranges fromvehicle emissions, to industrial smokestackemissions. The DNR maintains a list of over700 pollutants that companies should considerreporting to the best of their ability for theirannual air emissions.

Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces



Inset Map 5-2DNR Delineated Wetlands – Wood County

The Wood County Park Recreation and OpenSpaces Plan is typically updated on a five yearcycle and takes a comprehensive look at parkand recreation resources in the County. Theplan inventories all existing resources anddetermines if they are meeting the needs ofresidents. Public input is an importantcomponent of the planning process indetermining future capital improvements and

identifying future needs. The current WoodCounty Plan was adopted in 2001, and the nextupdate is scheduled for 2009. By keeping theplan up-to-date, future projects that are identifiedin the plan are eligible for WisconsinStewardship Grant funding.

All of the towns, villages and cities in the Countyare included in the Park, Recreation and Open

Spaces Plan. In additionthe Cities of Marshfieldand Wisconsin Rapids,and the Villages ofHewitt and Biron havedeveloped more detailedplans that can moreadequately addressfuture park andrecreation needs byincluding more intensivepublic participation at thelocal level, and moredetail on future projects.

The StateComprehensive OutdoorRecreation Plan(SCORP) is alsoreferenced to get abetter idea of regionaland state recreationneeds and trends. TheSCORP is typicallyupdated every 5 yearsand the next update isscheduled for 2010.

Wetlands

Wisconsin StateStatutes, Chapter NR103 defines wetlands asareas where water is at,near, or above the landsurface long enough tobe capable of supportingaquatic or hydrophyticvegetation and which



Inset Map 5-3FEMA Delineated Floodplain – Wood County

has soils indicative of wet conditions. Theysupport aquatic or “water loving” plants and wetsoils, and provide habitat for more species ofplants and animals more than any otherlandscape. Over 75 percent of Wisconsinwildlife species use wetlands during some stageof their life. Wetlands serve as holding areas forwater to prevent flooding, protect water qualityby filtering many impurities, sediments,pesticides and animal waste, and providehunters, anglers, and wildlife watchers withquality experiences. Wetlands may be seasonalor permanent and arecommonly referred to asswamps, marshes, fens, orbogs.

In Wood County there areapproximately 130,725acres of wetlands, which is25.8% of the total surfacearea, or 2.4% of thewetlands inventoried in thestate of Wisconsin. Insetmap 5-2 shows the areathat wetlands cover in theCounty.

The Wisconsin WetlandInventory was establishedin 1978 to help protectwetlands because abouthalf of the state’s wetlandshave been destroyed in thepast 200 years. TheWDNR completed the initialinventory in 1984 and mapsare available for the entirestate. The WDNR wetlandmaps are the officialwetland maps that allcounties in the statereference. It is important tobe aware that the WoodCounty’s wetland inventorywas compiled in 1984,referencing aerialphotography from 1978 to

1979. Changes in land use in recent years, mayhave cause some agricultural lands that werenot mapped as floodplain, and left fallow for aperiod of time, to revert back to wetland. Inaddition, it is worth noting that no wetlandssmaller than 2 acres in size are included in theWDNR wetland inventory. In all cases whereland use changes such as home constructionare considered in areas where there is thepossibility of wetland, the Army Corp ofEngineers should be contacted to walk theproperty and flag the areas that are wetlands.



The Wisconsin DNR and the US Army Corp ofEngineers require mitigation when naturalwetland sites are destroyed. Several mitigationshave taken place in Wood County over the pastten years, and since wetlands are difficult tocreate, in many cases, the mitigated wetlandsare of lesser quality than the destroyedwetlands.

Floodplain

One of the most prevalent and destructivenatural disasters is flooding. Despite risks offlooding, shoreland and many times flood proneareas are among the most desirable areas tobuild a residence because of the aesthetics andrecreational opportunities. Regardless ofproximity to surface water, the potential offlooding is a consideration that property ownersneed to consider when purchasing an existinghome or building.

Floodplains are lowland areas that are adjacentto lakes, wetlands and rivers that are covered bywater during a flood. The 100-year floodplain isthe boundary of areas that have a one-percentchance of flooding in any given year. In WoodCounty approximately 200 square miles or 25percent of the land area is considered to befloodplain. An estimated 518 residences arelocated within the floodplain. Inset Map 5-3shows the location of floodplain in the County.

Floodplain management is the operation of acommunity program of corrective andpreventative measures for reducing flooddamage. These measures take a variety offorms and generally include requirements forzoning, land subdivision or building, and special-purpose floodplain ordinances.

A community's agreement to adopt and enforcefloodplain management ordinances, particularlywith respect to new construction is an importantelement in making flood insurance available tohome and businesses owners. Currently over20,100 communities nationwide voluntarily adopt

and enforce local floodplain managementordinances that provide flood loss reductionbuilding standards for new and existingdevelopment.

Wood County Ordinance #703 is the floodplainordinance that provides a uniform basis for thepreparation, implementation and administrationof sound floodplain regulation for all floodplainsin unincorporated areas. This ordinance isnecessary to prevent increases in floodplainelevation that could increase flood damage andincrease conflicts among property owners. Inaddition, for residents to remain eligible forFederal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA) flood insurance through the NationalFlood Insurance Program this ordinance needsto be in place, and properly administered. TheCounty Planning and Zoning Departmentadministers this ordinance and anticipatesamending it in 2009 to include reference toupdated floodplain boundary maps.

Although the floodplain maps were updated in2007-2009 utilizing the best informationavailable, there is a need for better quality, moreaccurate floodplain mapping in the future basedoff of higher quality elevation information.Currently the burden of proof for floodplainboundary determination is on the propertyowner. Many times this is a cost prohibitiveexercise for the property owner, and can deterdevelopment in areas that may safelyaccommodate it. Having floodplain mapping ofmarginal accuracy also results in propertyowners many times paying for flood insurancewhen it really is not necessary.

Natural Communities

A natural community is comprised of plant andanimal species, living together in a particulararea, in a particular time, in a particular habitat.Many times communities are named forprevalent plant species, prominentenvironmental feature, or combination of both.Communities can range in size from just a fewacres to thousands of acres. Although natural



communities are not legally protected, theyprovide habitat for many endangered orthreatened species, offer educationalopportunities, and basis for future preservationor recognition. In Wood County the followingcommunities exist: Sand Prairie, 1997; NorthernMesic Forest, 1993; Southern Mesic Forest,1993; Northern Dry-mesic Forest, 2005;Southern Dry-mesic Forest, 1997.

Managed Forest Law (MFL)

The MFL program was initiated in response tothe negative impact of overcutting and lack offorest management practices in the state. Thepurpose of the program is to promote goodforest management through property taxincentives. Practices that improve forestmanagement are required to be included in anapproved forest management plan written by acertified plan writer or DNR Forester. Themanagement plan can address harvesting andthinning timber, tree planting, erosion control,and wildlife measures. Enrollment in MFL isopen to all private land owners of 10 or moreacres of woodlands. Under MFL the landowneragrees to a management plan for a period of 25to 50 years. Under Managed Forest Law, thelandowner has the choice to enroll the land aseither open to the public, or closed at a higherproperty tax rate.

Forestlands

Forestlands are one of the most prominentfeatures in Wood County. Forestlandencompasses approximately 215,400 acres, or42% of the County (USDA, 1996). Thepredominant species are aspen, white birch,conifers, and oak.

In 1932, Wood County established a countyforest by entering 13,270 acres under the forestcrop law of Wisconsin. Additional acreageobtained through the years has increased thesize of the County Forest to 37,535 acres. Mostof the County forestland is formed on the

southern portion of the County and consists offlat, sandy, lake plain topology.

Many large blocks of industrial forest providewood products that are important to theeconomy. Much of this land is enrolled in ForestCrop Law or Managed Forest Law programs andoffers public recreation opportunities.

In recent years forest-based recreation hasexpanded rapidly. Hiking, mountain biking,cross-country skiing, hunting, fishing, berry andmushroom picking, bird watching, andsightseeing are just some of the activities thatoutdoor enthusiasts of all ages can takeadvantage of.

Historic and Cultural Resources

The National Register of Historic Places is alisting of properties of local, state, and nationalsignificance. The register contains districts,sites, buildings, structures and objects ofdistinguishable American culture, history,engineering, and architecture. There are over85,000 places currently in the listing, and newsites can be considered for the National Registerthrough a formal nomination process.

The Wisconsin State Register of Historic Placesis very similar to the National Register. Most ofthe properties listed in the National Register arealso listed in the State Register. The process forregistration of properties is simultaneous for thestate and national register. In order to beeligible a site must meet at least 1 of the 5requirements listed in Wis. Stat. § 44.36.

Most of the properties in the listing are privateresidences or under private ownership andtherefore access is limited. Many of the propertyowners choose to display an informative plaqueregarding the age, design, and brief history ofthe structure. Inclusion on the register does notlimit the private owners from future sale oralterations to the property. However, whenalterations are proposed to publicly-ownedbuildings the State Historic Preservation Officer



at the Wisconsin Historical Society must benotified of any plans or proposed actions that willaffect any listed property. Plans to alter anypublic registered buildings may be negotiated toreduce adverse structural or design impacts.According to the State of Wisconsin andNational Register of Historic Places, WoodCounty has 14 historic places. The majority ofthe listings are found in the Marshfield area withonly 3 listing in the Wisconsin Rapids area andone at the Powers Bluff Recreation Area.

Historic Properties Listed onRegistries

The Wisconsin Architecture and HistoryInventory (AHI), is maintained by the WisconsinHistorical Society and lists historical andarchitectural information on properties in the

State. The AHI contains data on buildings,structures, and objects that illustrate Wisconsin’sunique history. The inventory has beencompiled over the past 25 years from a varietyof sources. The majority of the properties in theinventory are privately owned, and some mayhave been altered or do not exist. In 2007 therewere 979 properties in Wood County found inthe AHI, and over 120,000 properties in theState.

The accuracy of the information contained in theAHI is dependant on participation from residentsfrom across the state that report information tothe AHI. In order for the information to remainuseful, residents in Wood County shouldcommunicate any inaccurate or outdatedinformation they come across in the AHI.

Table 5-10 shows the sites in the County that

Table 5-10State and National RegistryWood County - 2007Historic Name City/Village Civil Township State Registry National

Registry

Central Wisconsin State FairRound Barn

Marshfield X X

Daly, Elizabeth, House WisconsinRapids

X X

Marshfield Central Avenue HistoricDistrict

Marshfield X X

Marshfield Post Office Marshfield XMarshfield Senior High School Marshfield X XPleasant Hill Residential andHistoric District

Marshfield X X

Purdy, Willard D., Junior High andVocational School

Marshfield X X

Skunk Hill (Tah-qua-kik)Ceremonial Community

Arpin X X

Upham, Gov. William H., House Marshfield X XWahle—Laird House Marshfield X XWakely’s Tavern Saratoga X XWakely Road Bridge Saratoga X XWest Fifth Street – West SixthStreet Historic District

Marshfield X X

West Park Street Historic District Marshfield X X

Source: Wisconsin National Register of Historic Places, 2007



are included in both the state and nationalregistry of historic places.

Archeological Resources

According to records at the Wisconsin HistoricalSociety, there are presently 163 archaeologicalsites in the County. Eight of these sites havebeen determined to be eligible for the NationalRegister of Historic Places, and all 8 are locatedalong the Wisconsin River. Most of the sites aresignificant because they were early NativeAmerican villages or burial grounds, or theyshow signs of an undetermined prehistoric life.

Very little systematic effort has been made toinventory archaeological sites in the County, andfor that reason the Wisconsin Historical Societyfeels that there are many more possible sites ofhistorical value that have not been identified.The Wood County Park, Recreation and OpenSpaces Plan adopted in 2001 recommends amore thorough study to identify possible sites ofarchaeological importance in the County beforemore sites are inadvertently destroyed.

Cultural Resources

Wood County has a rich variety of culturalresources. Because of the number, nature, andvariety of resources it is difficult to create acomprehensive listing. Detailed listings ofcultural activities may be available in localcomprehensive plans.

A wide variety of cultural experiences providesentertainment and serves to broaden culturalhorizons. Figure 5-6 lists some activities thatcan be considered cultural experiences.

The Wood County Community Asset Survey thatis updated on a regular basis, tracks culturalinterest and trends. Figure 5-7 shows that inrecent years interest and attendance at culturalevents has been gradually increasing, and thatmost funding is provided by privatecontributions.

State Historic Markers

State Historic Markers are a great way tocommemorate sites, individuals, buildings, orevents of local, state, or national significance.Without historic markers many sites wouldsimply go unnoticed and would not be enjoyedand appreciated by the general public.Wisconsin has over 470 historic markers in thestate, with 5 located in Wood County. Anyonecan apply for a marker as long as it addresses atopic of Wisconsin’s history. The applicant must

Figure 5-6Cultural Resources

Visual Arts Educational ExperiencesMusic TheaterDance Ethnic Diversity

Literature Museums & GalleriesHistory Festivals

Figure 5-7Cultural Event Trends

Attendance at major Wood County culturalevents exceeded 32,000 in 2005. This wasa 1.7% increase from 2001.

The number of cultural events hasincreased steadily from 2003 to 2005.

Attendance at Cultural events in WoodCounty shows slight growth from 2003 to2005.

*In 2002 federal, state and local governmentsupport for the arts accounted for 12%of totalfunding, while private contributions provided88% of funding.

Source: 2006 Wood County Community AssetSurvey, referencing 2005 Cultural Arts Survey

*funding breakdown represents the eightlargest cultural arts organizations in WoodCounty in 2005.



Figure 5-8

Rustic Road Qualification

To qualify for the Rustic Road program, a road:

should have outstanding natural features alongits borders such as rugged terrain, nativevegetation, native wildlife, or include open areaswith agricultural vistas which singly or incombination uniquely set this road apart fromother roads.

should be a lightly traveled local access road,one which serves the adjacent property ownersand those wishing to travel by auto, bicycle, orhiking for purposes of recreational enjoyment ofits rustic features.

should be one not scheduled nor anticipated formajor improvements which would change itsrustic characteristics.

should have, preferably, a minimum length of 2miles and, where feasible, should provide acompleted closure or loop, or connect to majorhighways at both ends of the route.

A Rustic Road may be dirt, gravel or pavedroad. It may be one-way or two-way. It may alsohave bicycle or hiking paths adjacent to orincorporated in the roadway area.

Source: Wisconsin DOT

also agree to pay for the cost of the marker,maintain it, and have permission from theproperty owner where it is located.

The following Wood County markers areincluded in the Wisconsin Official HistoricalMarkers listing. They are listed in chronologicalorder by date erected. Cranberry Culture, Hwy 54, 5 miles West

of Port Edwards Centralia Pulp and Paper Mill, Hwys 54 &

73, S of city limits of Wisconsin Rapids Point Basse, Riverside Park, Hwys 54 &

73, Nekoosa Prisoners of War, Wayside No. 4, jct Hwy

10 & Hwy 13 Founder’s Square, West 100 Block of

North Central Avenue – corner of Depotand Chestnut Street, Marshfield

Source: Wisconsin Historical Society, 2007

Other Historic Markers

Many communities across the state choose toidentify places of historic significance in theirown way, outside of having them included as aState Historic Marker. In Wood County thereare a few cases where markers are erected forthe purpose of sharing historic information, butare not included in the state listing of historicmarkers. The following list is not intended to bea complete listing, but includes the most visiblemarkers in the county. Circus Train Crash and Carrier Pigeon,

Babcock Ed the Strangler Lewis, Nekoosa Downtown Wisconsin Rapids Historical

Murals, series of 6

Historical Museums

Wood County is home to two museums that areboth located in stately historic homes that havebeen restored. Items and displays at themuseum are of local historical significance.

The Upham Mansion is located at 212 WestThird Street in the historic district of the city of

Marshfield. The restored mansion is the formerhome of Wisconsin Governor William HenryUpham, and represents mid-Victorianarchitecture. Victorian furniture is on displayand many of the pieces were made at theUpham Manufacturing Company. Anotherunique feature of the museum is the rose gardenwith 32 varieties of beautiful roses.

The South Wood County Museum is located at540 Third Street in Wisconsin Rapids. Thebuilding was erected in 1907 by architect AntonBillmeyer for Issac P. Witter. The property wasgiven to the city in 1947 and served as the T.B.Scott Library for a number of years. In 1970, itbecame The South Wood County HistoricalMuseum under the direction of the South WoodCounty Historical Corporation. Some of the



museum exhibits include: schoolhouse, countrykitchen, store, antique cranberry harvestequipment, and Grim Natwick exhibit (creator ofthe Betty Boop character).

Rustic Roads and Scenic Highways

In 1973 the state of Wisconsin established theRustic Roads program to help citizens and localunits of government preserve what is left of theState’s scenic, lightly traveled roads. WoodCounty does not have any stretches of roadsthat are designated as rustic roads, but there aremany miles of rural roads that meet thequalifications of the rustic road designation. Thequalifications for rustic roads are identified intable 5-8. Many rural roads in Wood Countywould likely meet Rustic Road requirements butwould require local initiative, support andapproval.

The maximum speed limit on a Rustic Road hasbeen established by law at 45 mph. A speedlimit as low as 25 mph may be established bythe local governing authority.

Yellowstone Trail

Before there were numbered highways in the

United States there were names attached toroads to help the motorist navigate from town totown or from county to county. In 1912 beforethe vision of the interstate highway wasconceived, a small group of men envisioned aroad from Plymouth Rock to Puget Sound andcalled it the Yellowstone Trail (Figure 5-9).

In Wisconsin the Yellowstone trail ran fromKenosha to Hudson through 18 countiesspanning 406 miles. This transcontinental road,one of the first, carrying Tin Lizzies in the early1900s and Chevys in the 1930s finally faded intoa growing network of roads and the interstatesystem. Although there are many more routechoices when traveling today, much of theYellowstone Trail can still be traveled. Moreinformation on the Yellowstone trail can befound at www.yellowstonetrailwi.org

Cranberry Highway

The Cranberry Highway and Cranberry bikingtrail was started in the late 90’s to promotetourism in South Wood County associated withcranberry culture. What first started as apromotional tour, has evolved into a culturalexperience where participants can take a self-guided auto drive or bicycle ride on a 50 mileroute. Although the tour can be taken any timeduring the year, the cranberry harvest and

Figure 5-9

Source: The Yellowstone Trail Association



changing colors make the fall season theoptimum time of the year to experience it. Onthe tour there are opportunities to tour cranberrymarshes, dine at local establishments, and shopat unique specialty stores that sell items uniqueto the area. A map of the Cranberry Highwayand Cranberry Biking Trail, along with featuredstops along the way can be found at theWisconsin Rapids Area Convention and VisitorsBureau at www.visitwisrapids.com

Historic Sites and Memorials

Rudolph Grotto Shrine

The Rudolph Grotto Shrine is located in thevillage of Rudolph. The Grotto was started in1920 by Father Philip Wagner and consists ofover five acres of lush gardens, numerousshrines, museum, and a gift shop. It isconstructed using rock and broken glass and isset among meandering paths and crookedbridges, with shady, intimate areas formeditation as well as more formal memorialsand open picnic grounds.

Historic Point Basse

One of Wood County’s most historicallysignificant areas is located on the East side ofthe Wisconsin River just south of the city ofNekoosa. Point Basse, as the site is called, isthe French term for “low point” or “shallows.”Prior to development by Robert and MaryWakely on June 2, 1837, as a trading post,warehouse, inn, and home for themselves, thesite marked the crossing point for NativeAmericans as they made their way on an eastand west trail that ran from Lake Poygan toBlack River.

Many of the original building at Point Bassehave been moved, burned or razed. The onlyoriginal building is the Wakely home, and otherstructures have been donated or reconstructed.

Over the years Point Basse has hosted manyevents that focus on the history of the area and

interpretation of the lives of the eleven Wakelyfamily members that resided there. The sitealso offers nature education through events anda nature walk and prairie garden. Moreinformation on Point Basse and scheduledevents can be found atwww.historicpointbasse.com.

Wisconsin River Papermaking Museum

The Wisconsin River Papermaking Museum islocated at 730 First Ave. South in the city ofWisconsin Rapids. The museum is open to thepublic and features changing exhibits that focuson paper making over the years. Some exhibitsinclude antique papermaking tools and largewooden papermaking vats from China andJapan.

The Alexander House

The Alexander House is located at 1131Wisconsin River Drive in the village of PortEdwards. It was founded by the AlexanderCharitable Foundation of Port Edwards in 1990.It is named for the late John E. Alexander, whowas instrumental in establishing the lumberingand paper industry.

Since opening in 1991 tens of thousands ofpeople have visited the art and history displays.The art displays changes throughout the yearand features many local and Midwestern artists.The second floor of the house contains manyhistoric items from the Nekoosa-Edwards PaperCompany.

Wisconsin State Firefighter Memorial

The Wisconsin State Firefighters Memorial islocated on the southwest side of WisconsinRapids, in Ben Hansen Park. The memorial atthis scenic location along the Wisconsin Riverwas constructed to pay tribute to the firefightersfrom the State of Wisconsin who have made theultimate sacrifice while in service to theircommunities.



Wood County Veteran’s Memorial

The Wood County Veteran’s Memorial is locatednear the courthouse entrance at 400 MarketStreet. The memorial pays tribute to theveterans that paid the ultimate price in defendingthe principles and freedoms of the United Statesof America. Veterans listed by name on themonument served in the following wars: SpanishAmerican; Civil War; World War I; World War II;Vietnam War; Korean War; Gulf War; and IraqWar.

The memorial was established by a volunteercommittee that wanted to make sure that allWood County service men and women who diedas a result of combat-related wounds, injuries orcauses are not forgotten. Inspiration for themonument comes from the Vietnam Memorial inWashington, D.C., and the Highground inNeillsville, Wisconsin.

Adopted Agricultural, Natural, andCultural Plans Currently in Place

The following programs pertaining toagricultural, natural and cultural resources arereferenced and used to guide current and futureuse of resources.

Wood County Park, Recreation, and OpenSpaces Plan, 2001

The Wood County Park, Recreation and OpenSpaces Plan was prepared by the Wood CountyPlanning and Zoning Department and adopted in2001. The plan represents a comprehensivestudy of outdoor recreation in Wood County,with a primary emphasis on the role the Countyis expected to play in meeting demands foroutdoor recreation areas and facilities. Severalrecreational activities that are considered basicto the County’s program are discussed at lengthin terms of supply, demand and need. Followingthis discussion is a presentation of a programaimed at correcting deficiencies noted during thecourse of the study, or at making improvementsto existing facilities. Secondary emphasis is

placed on those outdoor recreation facilitiesprovided by the Wood County’s towns, cities andvillages, the role of those facilities, and how theymight best serve the users. By keeping thepark, recreation and open spaces plan up-to-date, Wood County and city, village and townprojects included in the plan are able toparticipate in the Wisconsin Department ofNatural Resources Stewardship Program andother related funding programs.

Wisconsin’s Land Legacy Report

In 2006 the State completed the Wisconsin LandLegacy Report. The purpose of the report is toidentify the places believed to be most importantto meet the state’s conservation and recreationneeds over the next 50 years. In the report 229Legacy Places are identified and arranged by 16ecological landscapes. The first step in theprocess of identifying these unique places wasto develop criteria of what types andcharacteristics of land and water are believed tobe most important in conserving critical naturalresources and providing outdoor recreationopportunities. Then using existing data onnatural resources, WDNR staff expertise, andinput from the public the criteria was applied toidentify the Legacy Places presented in thereport.

Wood County Land and Water ResourceManagement Plan, April 2007

The most recent edition of the Wood CountyLand and Water Resource Management Planwas adopted in April 2007. The plan is updatedevery 5 years by a locally led process thatimproves decision-making, streamlinesadministrative and delivery mechanisms andbetter utilizes local, state, and federal fund toprotect Wisconsin’s land and water resources.The plan is written by Wood County LandConservation Department staff and incorporatespublic participation and focus group input. Thepurpose of the plan is to identify and prioritizethe major natural resource issues and concerns,develop a coordinated effort to resolve these



Figure 5-9Trends

Cultural and Historical Resource Trends1. Recognized value of historic resources will grow leading to increased preservation efforts.2. Recognized value of cultural resources will grow leading to increased awareness and promotion of culturalidentity.3. Over time historical resources will emerge based on a variety of factors that make them unique and worthpreserving for Wood County Communities.4. Attendance at cultural events will continue to gradually increase in the future.5. The number of cultural events will continue to increase in the future.

issues and concerns, and identify roles ofagencies and funding resources to implementthe plan. The successful implementation of theplan hinges on the availability of cost-sharefunding for farmers for the installation of BestManagement Practices that protect andconserve our natural resources. Additionally,implementation of the plan requires adequatestaff hours to assist farmers in meeting theagricultural performance standards andprohibitions, monitoring, compliance anddelivering technical assistance.

Wood County Forest Comprehensive LandUse Plan

This plan provides extensive backgroundinformation regarding the Wood County Forestand operating policies and procedures whichWood County will follow in administration of theforest. This is a 15-year plan and allmanagement of county forest lands must complywith this plan. It was updated in 2007 and isscheduled to be updated in 2022.

Trends

By looking at agricultural, natural, and culturalresource trends we can get an idea of some ofthe opportunities and challenges that WoodCounty will face in the future. The goals andobjectives of this element as well as other

elements directly address some of these trends,and other trends are listed to create awareness.The trends for this element are listed in Figure 5-9.



Figure 5-9Trends - Continued

Agricultural Resource Trends

1. Availability of Agricultural Lands will decrease.2. We will continue to see fragmentation of agricultural lands.3. Rural development will increase the instances of conflicts between agricultural and residential land uses.4. Average size of farms will continue to increase.5. Dairy herd size will continue to increase.6. There will be an increased interest in specialty farming.7. There will be an increased interest in organic farming.8. There will be an increase in Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA).9. There will be an increase in subsistence farming practices.10. There will be more issues related to quality and quantity of water resources for agricultural practices.11. There will be an increasing number of large dairies that are required to obtain WPDES permits.12. Agricultural lands will see more opportunities to generate revenue from wind power and cell tower.

Natural Resource Trends, Wood County Forest Lands

1. Greater demands are being placed on the forest by competing recreational pursuits.2. Demand for timber products are predicted to increase.3. Forest succession is changing the species of the trees and also affecting conditions for the wildlifespecies.4. There will be an increase in conflict over timber management practices as more individuals and groupsare involved in forestry decisions.5. There will likely be more reliance on timber sales to generate revenue as municipalities struggle to providemore services with less money.6. Increased knowledge of species and their habitat is leading to a growing list of threatened andendangered species. This could lead to improvements in management practices that impede the recreational andforest management practices.7. The County Forest is increasingly being perceived as an outdoor classroom for the benefit of all agegroups.

Natural Resource Trends

1. Water quality and quantity issues will continue to increase.2. Interest in hunting will continue to decrease with generational loss and access issues.3. Interest in fishing will remain stable and is popular with all generations.4. Large blocks of forest lands that are managed for timber harvest and open to the public for recreation willdecrease.5. Demands on natural resources will continue to change as recreation trends change.6. There will be more encroachment of wetlands for development and access purposes.7. Conflicts between property owners and wildlife will increase as animals adapt to living in developed areas,and more rural areas are developed.8. Demand for sand and gravel resources will continue.9. Management of invasive species will become increasingly important and complex.10. Waterfront property will continue to receive development pressure.11. Control of wildlife population will continue to be a management issue.12. Accurate delineation of floodplain boundaries based on accurate elevation information will continue to bea requirement for properties adjacent to water bodies or located in flood prone areas.13. Decisions to manage natural areas for seasonal recreation activities will consider the milder winters thatwe are having.14. The interest in using water features for recreation will continue to increase and trips for family andpersonal business continue to increase.



Goals and Objectives

Agricultural Resources

A. Goal: Maintain prime farmland for futureagricultural use.1. Direct housing development in rural areas

where adverse impacts to agriculturalpractices are minimized.

2. Encourage rural communities to developcomprehensive plans that involve the publicand identify future land use.

3. Encourage participation in programs of theWisconsin Working Lands Initiative thatpromote farmland preservation.

B. Goal: Reduce Crop Damage Caused byWildlife1. Administer Wildlife Damage Abatement and

Claims Program.2. Work with the Department of Natural

Resources on programs to control excessivepopulations of wildlife.

Natural Resources

D. Goal: Protect natural areas andenvironments including air, wetlands,wildlife, lakes, woodlands, open spaces, andgroundwater resources Increase and protectwetlands and wildlife habitat.1. Provide property owners with resources to

determine the location of wetlands and otherenvironmentally sensitive areas on theirproperty.

2. Educate public officials and the generalpublic on the importance of wetlandsresources as they relate to wildlife habitat.

3. Encourage local units of government toidentify and maintain the habitats of animals,plants, and natural communities of specialconcern, endangered or threatened in theWisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory (NHI)in their area.

4. Encourage large blocks of habitat to bemaintained whenever possible.

5. Protect portions of unique natural areas forwildlife habitat, passive enjoyment andscientific study.

6. Update the Wood County ForestComprehensive Land Use Plan on a regularbasis.

7. Encourage local units of government toidentify and support the protection ofsensitive wildlife habitat.

8. Reduce wind erosion from cropland fields.9. Educate residents on ways they can

contribute to improved air quality.10. Promote clean energy sources in the

Region.

E. Goal: Protect the quantity and quality oflakes, rivers, streams and groundwater.1. Reduce erosion and sediment delivery from

cropland fields and animal waste storagefacilities.

2. Reduce erosion and sediment delivery fromnon-cropland areas and construction sites.

3. Encourage lake or river protection plans.Utilize grants from the WDNR and othersources to fund protection and restoration ofWisconsin waters.

4. Promote proper well abandonment.5. Update the Wood County Land and Water

Resource Management Plan on a regularbasis.

6. Increase water quality monitoring on WoodCounty streams and other surface waters.

7. Increase water quality monitoring forgroundwater resources in Wood County.

8. Educate residents that have private wells onthe importance of regular water qualitytesting.

9. Continue to administer the following WoodCounty Ordinances

a. Wood County Private SewageOrdinance #702

b. Wood County Shoreland ZoningOrdinance #704

c. Wood County Animal WasteStorage Ordinance #801



F. Goal: Maintain the quality and availabilityof outdoor recreation opportunities in theCounty.1. Update the County Parks, Recreation and

Open Spaces Plan every 5 years.2. Encourage local units of government to

develop or update outdoor recreation plansto identify public park and recreationalneeds.

Cultural and Historical Resources

G. Goal: Preserve historically significantbuildings and features and locations inWood County.1. Coordinate and improve efforts to identify,

evaluate, and protect significant historicresources.

2. Encourage appropriate management andmaintenance of historic resources.

3. Increase public awareness of the uniquehistory of the area.

4. Consider the impacts of land use changeson historic resources.

H. Goal: Continue to offer a variety ofcultural opportunities to County residentsand visitors through a variety oforganizations and programs.1. Increase public awareness of the value and

role of cultural events to the quality of life inthe area.

2. Cultivate and environment where a diverseoffering of cultural resources is madepossible by many volunteer organizationsutilizing volunteer efforts and privatedonations.



Appendix 5-A



Federal Programs

1. Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)Provides cost-share assistance for the installation of locally selected best managementpractices that reduce erosion and animal waste concerns. Program administered by theU.S.D.A. Farm Services Agency(FSA) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service(NRCS).

2. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)A FSA and NRCS administered program that provides funding to landowners for settingeligible lands for conservation purposes.

3. Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)A multi-agency coordinated program that (DATCP, FSA, NRCS, and Wood County)provides land rent payments to landowners who install buffers along streams andwaterways and to landowners who establish or maintain grasslands in the grasslandproject area.

4. Grassland Reserve Program(GRP)Provides incentives to manage permanent pasture and hay land. This program isadministered by NRCS and FSA.

5. Wetland Reserve Program (WRP)A FSA and NRCS administered program that provides cost-share assistance to restoreconverted wetlands from agricultural use.

6. Partners for Fish and Wildlife Service ProgramUS Fish and Wildlife Service Program used in Wisconsin to assist in wetland restoration,fish and wildlife habitat improvement, and restoration of habitats of special concern.

State Programs

1. Targeted Resource Management Program (TRM)Provides cost –share assistance and staffing grants to County Land ConservationDepartments to implement their Land and Water Resource Management Plans. Fundsare provided by Wisconsin DATCP.

2. Soil and Water Resource Management (SWRM)Provides cost-share assistance and staffing grants to County Land ConservationDepartments to implement their Land and Water Resource Management Plans. Fundsare provided by DATCP.

3. Lake Management and Planning GrantsFunds provided by WDNR to protect and improve water quality in Wisconsin lakes.

4. Managed Forest Law (MFL)

Appendix 5-B



Provides a tax incentive to landowners who manage their woodlots in accordance withan approved timber management plan.

5. Agricultural Clean SweepProvide funding to local units of government to implement a program for collectingunwanted hazardous wastes.

County Programs

1. Wood County Animal Waste and Manure Management OrdinanceAdministered by the Wood County Land Conservation Department to regulate thelocation, design, construction and operation of animal manure storage facilities.

2. Wood County Nonmetallic Mining Reclamation OrdinanceAdministered by the Wood County Land Conservation Department. The LandConservation Department review and approves reclamation plans for compliances withstate laws and recommends erosion control practices to mining operators.

3. Wood County Shoreland Zoning OrdinanceAdministered by the Wood County Planning and Zoning Department. Regulatesdevelopment that takes place near shore and wetland areas.

4. Wood County Farmland Preservation PlanManaged by the Wood County Land Conservation Department., The plan allows farmersto be eligible to receive tax credits under the Wisconsin Farmland Preservation Program.

5. Wood County Forest – 15 Year Comprehensive Land Use PlanThis plan provides extensive background information regarding the Wood County Forestand operating policies and procedures, which Wood County will follow in administrationof the forest.

Other Active Partners1. Wood County sportsmen’s clubs and associations2. Golden Sands Resource Conservation and Development Area.3. Local units of government in Wood County including cities, villages, and townships.4. Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association.5. Central Wisconsin Windshed Partners.

Appendix 5-B



Powers Bluff Maple WoodsState Natural Area (No. 131)

Location: Within Powers Bluff County Park, Wood County. T24N-R4E, Sections 29, 30E½SE¼. 70 acres.

Access: From the intersection of County Highways N and E on the west side of Arpin, gosouth on E 1 mile, then west on Bluff Drive 1.1 miles to the entrance to Powers BluffCounty Park. The natural area covers the eastern portion of the park.

Description: Powers Bluff Maple Woods features a mature southern mesic forestperched on a 300 foot high monadnock, an isolated remnant hill made of erosionresistant quartzite. The 1.6 billion-year-old bluff is round-shaped due to the durability ofthe quartzite, which has resisted erosion. This contrasts with other less durablesandstone bluffs in the area that have weathered parallel to their vertical planes givingthem very steep slopes. Dominant trees are sugar maple, yellow birch, and bitternuthickory with scattered red oak, white ash, and basswood. The understory is quite openand there is little herbaceous groundcover due to the low light levels. Some commonspecies include plantain-leaved sedge, blue cohosh, maidenhair fern, and bloodroot. Theforest floor is strewn with boulders and two boulder trains extend southeast andsouthwest from the bluff suggesting that glacial ice moved over and around the bluff fromat least two different directions. On the south end are quartzite outcrops with columbineand common polypody fern. Also present is little goblin moonwort (Botrychium mormo), aWisconsin endangered plant. This tiny fern is associated with nutrient rich sites andsometimes does not appear above the leaf litter of the forest floor. Birds found are typicalmesic forest species including least flycatcher, eastern wood pewee, red-eyed vireo,ovenbird, and scarlet tanager. The site may still harbor the rare woodland vole (Microtuspinetorum), which was present here in the past. Powers Bluff Maple Woods is owned byWood County and was designated a State Natural Area in 1976.

Mead Conifer BogsState Natural Area (No. 373)

Location: Within George Mead Wildlife Area. Wood, Portage, and Marathon Counties.East Unit: T25N-R6E, Sections 5, 6, 7. T26N-R6E, Sections 31, 32. West Unit: T25N-R5E, Sections 2, 3, 10. 932 acres.Access: From the junction of Highway 10 and S in Milladore, go north on S 6.2 miles tothe Wildlife Management Area Headquarters. Get a map and directions to the sites.Three parking areas provide access. To access the western portion: From theheadquarters, go south on S 0.8 mile to a parking area on the west side of the road. Forthe eastern portion: Go south on S 0.75, then east on County Line Road about 0.8 mileto a parking area at the end. Alternatively, go south 2.75 miles, then east on H 2 miles,then north on Plum Lane to a parking area at the end of the road.

Description: Mead Conifer Bogs are extensive areas containing northern wet forestdominated by black spruce and tamarack. Both species are reproducing well. The center

Appendix 5-C



of the tract is dominated by black spruce, which is gradually replaced by largertamaracks at the perimeter. The groundcover is a firm carpet of sphagnum mossdominated by leather-leaf and cotton-grass. Poison sumac is abundant. Other speciesinclude bog birch, bog-rosemary, Labrador-tea, blueberry, bogbean, yellow blue-bead-lily, bogbean, pitcher plant, bunchberry, Canada mayflower, and royal, cinnamon, andinterrupted fern. Alder-dogwood shrub-carr dominates on the eastern edge near theuplands. Animal life includes bog lemming, Sandhill crane, American redstart, commonyellowthroat, and Nashville warbler. Also present is the northern harrier (Circuscyaneus), a species that requires large expanses of open habitat. Mead Conifer Bogs isowned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2002.

Owl Creek Fen SavannaState Natural Area (No. 521)

Location: Within the Wood County Forest. T22N-R3E, Sections 12, 13, 14. T22N-R4E,Sections 7, 18. 814 acres.Access: No direct access. From the intersection of Highway 80 and Main Street inPittsville, go east on Main Street (Lincoln Road) 3.1 miles, then south on Hemlock Road1.5 miles. Park where the road turns east. Walk southwest 1.3 miles into the site.Description: Owl Creek Fen Savanna is a large peatland complex that supports adiversity of natural features including central poor fen, tamarack swamp, alder thicket,and upland islands of pine and oak. Of note are unique savanna-like stands of open-grown aspen situated in a wet meadow dominated by blue-joint grass. Central Poor Fensare acidic, low nutrient wetlands dominated by sedges including Carex oligosperma, C.lanuginosa, and C. utriculata. Found within the Central Sand Plains of Wisconsin, theyoften intergrade with Tamarack Swamp. Other characteristic species include three-waysedge, fowl manna grass, swamp-candles, cotton-grass, bog goldenrod, swampmilkweed, bulblet water hemlock, and blue-flag iris. Birds include sandhill crane, purplefinch, black-and-white warbler, and golden-winged warbler. Owl Creek Fen Savanna isowned by Wood County and was designated a State Natural Area in 2006.

Skunk Creek WoodsState Natural Area (No. 522)

Location: Within the Wood County Forest. T22N-R2E, Sections 15, 16. 66 acres.Access: From the intersection of Highways 80 and 54 in Dexterville, go west on 54 5.8miles, then continue west on Peterson Road 1.4 miles and park (near where the roadturns south). Walk north into the site. The woods are west of Skunk Creek.

Description: Skunk Creek Woods features a northern dry-mesic forest situated within alarge expansive peatland. Medium to large red oak and white pine dominate the canopy.Associated trees include white oak, black cherry, mountain ash, and paper birch. Yellowbirch, sugar maple, red maple, and eastern hop-hornbeam are also present. Commonshrubs are huckleberry, northern bush-honeysuckle, American fly-honeysuckle, maple-leaved viburnum, and sweet fern. The groundlayer contains many dry-mesic associatedspecies. Plants noted include wild columbine, wild sarsaparilla, big-leaf aster, three-leaved goldthread, Canada bunchberry, wild strawberry, American starflower,partridgeberry, naked miterwort, round-leaved shin-leaf, rosy twisted stalk, Canada

Appendix 5-C



mayflower, and nodding trillium. Breeding birds include broad-winged hawk, black-billedcuckoo, red-headed woodpecker, pileated woodpecker, great-crested flycatcher, yellow-throated vireo, black-throated green warbler, pine warbler, ovenbird, and scarlet tanager.Rare and uncommon species found here include the state-threatened red-shoulderedhawk (Buteo lineatus), golden-winged warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera), and the four-toed salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum). Skunk Creek Woods is owned by WoodCounty and was designated a State Natural Area in 2007.

Red Oak BottomsState Natural Area (No. 523)

Location: Within the Wood County Forest. T22N-R4E, Section 17. 25 acres.Access: No direct public access. From the intersection of Highway 80 and 54 nearly onemile south of Dexterville, go east on 54 4.4 miles, then north on Hemlock Trail 1.6 milesto the railroad tracks. Walk west 1.2 miles to Hemlock Creek. Walk north into the site.

Description: Situated along Hemlock Creek, Red Oak Bottoms supports an old-growthfloodplain forest, which contains an unusual abundance of red oak in the canopy. Whilelarge floodplain forests occasionally have a red oak component, it is quite unique to havered oak co-dominant in these situations. Along with silver maple, this one and three-quarter mile reach of the creek supports basswood and some swamp white oak. The 35-mile Hemlock Creek is a soft-water stream that flows in a southerly direction and joinsthe Yellow River south of Babcock. Sand, gravel, and rubble are the dominant bottomtypes, but boulders, bedrock, and silt are also present. Fish include walleye, northernpike, bluegill, rock bass, bullheads, perch, and pumpkinseed. Migrating ducks use thecreek and mallard, teal, and wood ducks nest along the stream. The large maple and redoaks provide important habitat for the state-threatened red-shouldered hawk (Buteolineatus) and numerous cavities offer nesting sites for prothonotary warblers and browncreepers. Red Oak Bottoms is owned by Wood County and was designated a StateNatural Area in 2007.

Hiles WetlandsState Natural Area (No. 524)

Location: Within the Wood County Forest. T22N-R2E, Sections 8, 9, 15-17, 20-22. 561acres.Access: From the intersection of Highways 80 and 54 in Dexterville, go west on 54 5.8miles, then continue west on Peterson Road 1.3 miles and park. Follow Skunk Creeksouth into the site. Or continue west on Peterson Road another 0.4 miles to a small turn-around. Park and walk west into the site.

Description: Hiles Wetlands is a large complex of tamarack poor fen and sedge meadow,which have seen relatively little human disturbance as compared with other similarcommunity types in this area. The wet meadow contains an abundance of blue-jointgrass, manna grass, and prairie cord grass. Other species include swamp milkweed,boneset, spotted Joe-Pye-weed, northern bugleweed, sensitive fern, wool-grass, andgrass-leaved goldenrod. The wilderness aspect of this site adds to its ecological

Appendix 5-C



significance. Hiles Wetlands is owned by Wood County and was designated a StateNatural Area in 2006.

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