St. Wendel Tamarack Bog SNA
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647 Acres Located 10 miles NW of St. Cloud on Co Rd 4. Park on the shoulder of the road. Stearns County Twp 125N Rng 29W Sec 9 & 16 Type: Deciduous Woods ECS Subsection: Hardwood Hills |
Description:
St. Wendel Tamarack Bog SNA is one of the top two sites for Significant Biological Diversity in Stearns County (Minnesota County Biological Survey, 1999). The site is a large wetland complex, which encompasses one of the largest remaining blocks of native vegetation in the county. This SNA supports the best and largest example of Minerotrophic Tamarack Swamp in central Minnesota. In addition to the extensive tamarack stands, the project area also contains: rare Mixed Hardwood Seepage Swamp, and unique Calcareous Seepage Fen which supports a population of the State Threatened Carex sterilis (sterile sedge). Significant acreage of Rich Fen, Wet Meadow, Mixed Hardwood Swamp, and Shrub Swamp also occur. Two shallow lakes, each named "Swamp Lake", with rich aquatic vegetation complete the natural mosaic of the large wetland complex.
The Hardwood Hills ECS Subsection defines the transition zone between the forests to the northeast and the prairies to the southwest in this part of the state.
Bird List 
