Pine Island Savanna encompasses one the largest floodplain savanna in the state. Located along the Wisconsin River and spanning the Columbia-Sauk Counties border, portions of the site are accessible from land, while the highest quality savanna is located on an island.  A boat launch and parking area are both found along Levee Road between CTH T and I-39.

A field trip brought me to this site on a drizzly, 40ºF day in late April.  As part of the field trip, we planted swamp white oaks in several areas along the shoreline in an effort to restore the site to its former glory.  A quick boat trip across the river took us to the island and the wonderful savanna.  Damp though it was, it maintained an air of majesty about it.  Amidst the open terrain, a mallard nest was found.  Red-shouldered hawk calls echoed in response to the recordings played by the trip leader.  Were this a warmer year, more flowering species may have been observed.  Such as it was, however, lands this site on my list of places to revisit.  Scattered areas of dry, sandy prairie are located on the island and I would like to explore these as well as the greater savanna in more detail when the climate is a bit more, let’s say, temperate.

Savanna

Savanna

Mussel Shell

Island Shoreline

Island Shoreline

Mallard Nest with Eggs

Savanna

Tree Planting

More of my photos (and full-res) from Pine Island Savanna can be viewed here.

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