Locality: Crex Meadows State Wildlife Area
Abstract: Crex Meadows Wildlife Area is a 30,000-acre property of wetlands, brush prairies, and forests scattered across a gently rolling landscape. It is located in western Burnett County. Crex Meadows is part of the Northwest Wisconsin Pine Barrens. The "Barrens" extends from northern Polk County to southern Bayfield County and covers 1,500 square miles. This large, sandy plain was left when the glacier retreated about 13,000 years ago. The southern portion of the "Barrens", where Crex is located, contains huge marshes. These marshes are "left-overs" from when the glacier carved out an ancient lake called Glacial Lake Grantsburg. When Euro-Americans first arrived, the sandy soil produced scattered red and jack pines, brush and a variety of prairie grasses and flowers. Naturally occurring wildfires maintained these plant communities. Since wildfires were no longer common after settlement, the landscape grew into an oakjack pine forest. Beginning in the mid-1800s, settlers tried to farm the sandy soil, but most soon gave up. The lack of wildfires and clearing of the land for farming resulted in the near elimination of brush prairie. Large-scale drainage of wetlands in the 1890s, caused a decline in the number of nesting and migrant waterfowl and other wetland animals.
Notes: Most species in this list were collected as part of the 2018 Wisconsin Botanical Foray.
