WETLAND ASSESSMENT AND INVENTORY OF THE POKEGAMA CARNEGIE WELANDS STATE NATURAL AREA, DOUGLAS COUNTY, WISCONSIN

Abstract

The Pokegama Carnegie Wetland State Natural Area (SNA) is one of 590 properties designated as a state natural area in Wisconsin and has been infrequently studied. The Wisconsin Floristic Quality Assessment (WFQA) and the Wisconsin Wetland Plant Biotic Index (WWPBI), developed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) were used during the assessment of the wetland. plant community types found at the Pokegama Carnegie Wetland State Natural Area. ·.The·WFQA is a numerical value and was based on species diversity and composition. It was designed to compare the floristic quality between similar sites and for tracking changes at the same site over tiine. The WWPBI is a multi-metric index based on relative importance values (IV) (percent cover and frequency of occurrence) of nine community attributes based on taxonomic divisions.

·The two primary measurements of the WFQA are the Mean C and the Floristic Quality Index (FQI).·The alder thicket values had a Mean C of 5.42 (transects+ meander searches) and 5.34 (transects .only) with anFQI of 60,64 (transects+ meander searches) and 50.70 (transects only). The sedge meadow values had a Mean Cof 5.24 and q FQI of 45.37(Carex lacustris) and a Mean C of 6.24 and /=QI of 3'5.81 (Carex buxbaumii). These were exceptional values when compared to other wetland types surveyed in Wisconsin. The floristic quality assessment clearly indicated a wetland community of high value. Invasive species were infrequent arid most commonly observed in disturbed areas. However, some of the rare, threatened and endangered species were also found in these same disturbed areas.

The WWPB values for the alder thickets were in the moderate range in comparison. to other wetland types investigated in Wisconsin. This model was not as meaningful as the assessments discovered through the WFQA measurements described above. The characteristics of the alder thicket community did not match the vegetative conditions found in depression al wetlands for which th.is assessment tool was created.

The plant communities of the Pokegama Carnegie Wetland State Natural Area (alder thickets; boreal forest remnants, aspen forest groves and two types of northern sedge meadow) represent an outstanding natural resource/or the region and State. A total inventory across all community types included 318 taxa, representing 161 genera and 56 families.