North Woods Native Plant Society Outing
Upper Manitowish River and Johnson Creek (near Boulder Junction, WI.)
Saturday June 10, 2017, 9 am central. (Alternate storm/wind date: Sun., June 11).
Look for an e-mail Friday evening to confirm trip on Sat. as scheduled, changed
to Sun., or cancelled due to severe weather. Light rain will not deter us. The trip
will likely go on as planned unless high winds or severe storms are likely. If you
plan to join us, please send your email and phone number to Rod by Friday
morning (June 9) so that we may contact you in case of postponement or
cancellation.
Leaders: Rod Sharka (715-547-6493 or [email protected]); Quita Sheehan
(botanist, Vilas Co. Conservation Specialist).
Upper Manitowish River/Johnson Creek is an expansive wetland complex that drains
the 3,376 acre Johnson Creek Macrosite that contains an unusual concentration of
softwater springs, spring-fed headwater streams, and associated wetland communities.
The Johnson Creek Macrosite is one of four important macrosites on the Northern
Highlands-American Legion State Forest, as identified by the Wisconsin Bureau of
Endangered Resources. We intend to put in the Manitowish River just downstream of
Johnson Creek area that drains this entire complex into the upper Manitowish River,
and will explore as much of the area as the group desires and paddling conditions allow.
Note: This outing will involve a round trip of perhaps 6+ miles of paddling as a
group, although there is the potential of covering much more than that. The total
distance is up to the group and conditions. Paddling will be on quiet, relatively
shallow water with little discernible current, but some paddling experience is
recommended.
Items to bring: Canoe/kayak (bring your own), paddles, wearable pfd’s (Cushions do
NOT meet WI water safety laws); hat; sun glasses, sunscreen; bug dope; trail snacks,
water, camera, binoculars, hand lens, field guides, zip lock baggies and/or plastic tubs
for specimen collecting. Also bring a sack lunch for your shore lunch.
Directions: From the Boulder Junction, WI area, take Co. Hwy. M to Co. Hwy. K east
approx. 3.8 miles to Nixon Lake Rd. Follow Nixon Lake Rd. north approx. 1.5 miles to
where it crosses Nixon Creek. We will gather there before proceeding to our launch site.
See accompanying map.