Moquah Barrens - Wisconsin
Located on the Washburn Ranger District of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, the Moquah Barrens features pine barrens with jack and red pine, red oak, red maple, quaking aspen, large-toothed aspen, and white birch. The USFS set aside this area in the 1930's as a research site to study natural successions on sandy soils in the absence of fire.
Frequent fires historically maintained the "barrenness" of the barrens, but decades of fire suppression have led to the development of dense forest stands with woody vegetation.
The shrub layer is dominated by serviceberry, dewberry, sweet fern blueberry, hazel, honeysuckle, and sand cherry, making it a great habitat for diverse species of wildlife. This area provides the avid wildflower enthusiast with some of the best viewing opportunities in Northern Wisconsin.
The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest manages this area and records vegetation changes over time. It was designated a State Natural Area in 1970 and is recognized as an established Research Natural Area.
In 2009, the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest completed a 22,000 acre management plan for the Moquah Barrens (Northwest Sands Restoration Project) outlining objectives for restoring the forest structure, plant and animal species composition, and fire regime to the landscape in support of the unique and globally imperiled pine barrens ecosystem. The restoration activities to accomplish these objectives include the use of prescribed burns, timber harvests, invasive species removal, native seed planting and ongoing monitoring.
Read more about land management in the Moquah Barrens here: www.fs.usda.gov/detail/cnnf/landmanagement/resourcemanage...
These photos were taken October 25, 2022 as part of a field trip with the Northern Research Station's Communications and Science Delivery team to learn more about land management in Wisconsin.
Photo taken October 25, 2022 by Danika Thiele. Credit: U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station.
Moquah Barrens - Wisconsin
Located on the Washburn Ranger District of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, the Moquah Barrens features pine barrens with jack and red pine, red oak, red maple, quaking aspen, large-toothed aspen, and white birch. The USFS set aside this area in the 1930's as a research site to study natural successions on sandy soils in the absence of fire.
Frequent fires historically maintained the "barrenness" of the barrens, but decades of fire suppression have led to the development of dense forest stands with woody vegetation.
The shrub layer is dominated by serviceberry, dewberry, sweet fern blueberry, hazel, honeysuckle, and sand cherry, making it a great habitat for diverse species of wildlife. This area provides the avid wildflower enthusiast with some of the best viewing opportunities in Northern Wisconsin.
The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest manages this area and records vegetation changes over time. It was designated a State Natural Area in 1970 and is recognized as an established Research Natural Area.
In 2009, the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest completed a 22,000 acre management plan for the Moquah Barrens (Northwest Sands Restoration Project) outlining objectives for restoring the forest structure, plant and animal species composition, and fire regime to the landscape in support of the unique and globally imperiled pine barrens ecosystem. The restoration activities to accomplish these objectives include the use of prescribed burns, timber harvests, invasive species removal, native seed planting and ongoing monitoring.
Read more about land management in the Moquah Barrens here: www.fs.usda.gov/detail/cnnf/landmanagement/resourcemanage...
These photos were taken October 25, 2022 as part of a field trip with the Northern Research Station's Communications and Science Delivery team to learn more about land management in Wisconsin.
Photo taken October 25, 2022 by Danika Thiele. Credit: U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station.