Allen Creek Wetlands includes a complex of wetlands including sedge meadow, wet-mesic prairie, and fen.    The natural area consists of two parcels, one of which is privately owned and closed to the public and the other which is DNR-owned and open to the public.  I have visited only the former, but the directions given here are for the latter for obvious reasons. Park on the side of Star School Road 0.4 miles west of CTH K and walk south into the site. Visits to the privately-owned parcel are possible through field trips organized by conservation groups.

I visited this natural area as part of a great field trip through all of the natural communities: sedge meadow, fen, and wet-mesic prairie.  It is striking to see the differences between the three and the results of groundwater and pH on the resident flora. A number of sedges that I am still working on ID’ing are found here as well as a range of rare and interesting plants including valerian, pale Indian plantain, violets, puccoons, swamp saxifrage, ragwort, and prairie blazing star. This is a true gem of a site and immense credit is due to the private landowners who invest their time and money in preserving this outstanding example of Wisconsin’s natural communities.  I look forward to the chance to revisit this site many times in the future and watch the management progress as well as the seasonal changes.

Sedge Meadow / Fen

Allen Creek

Sedge Meadow / Fen

Sedge Meadow / Fen

Sedge

Valerian

Swamp Saxifrage

Pale Indian Plantain

Marsh Marigold

Hoary Puccoon

More of my photos (and full-res) from Allen Creek Wetlands can be viewed here.

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