List of Wisconsin state forests facts for kids
A Wisconsin state forest is a special area of land in Wisconsin that is covered in trees. These forests are looked after by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. They are managed for many reasons, like having fun outdoors, protecting water and animal homes, and growing trees in a smart way so there are always enough.
All together, these state forests cover about 471,329 acres (1,907 square kilometers). That's a lot of land! Even though they are state forests, some private lands are mixed in with them. Wisconsin's state forests are often listed with Wisconsin's state parks, which are also great places to visit.
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What are Wisconsin State Forests?
Wisconsin state forests are large areas of land that are mostly covered in trees. They are managed to help nature and to give people places to enjoy the outdoors. The main goal is to keep the forests healthy for a long time. This means they protect the land, water, and animals that live there. They also make sure there are trees for wood products, but they do it in a way that doesn't harm the forest for the future.
Why are State Forests Important?
State forests are super important for many reasons!
- Outdoor Fun: They offer lots of ways to have fun outside. You can go hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, or even cross-country skiing in many of them.
- Protecting Nature: These forests help keep our water clean and provide homes for many different animals and plants. They are like big natural parks where wildlife can thrive.
- Sustainable Trees: They are managed to grow trees for wood. This is done carefully so that new trees are always growing to replace the ones that are harvested. This helps the economy and makes sure we always have wood.
Explore Wisconsin's State Forests
Wisconsin has many amazing state forests, each with its own special features. Here are some of them:
- Black River State Forest
* Located in Jackson County. * It covers about 67,070 acres (271.4 square kilometers). * It was established in 1957 and is near the Black River.
- Brule River State Forest
* Found in Douglas County. * It's about 40,882 acres (165.4 square kilometers) big. * This forest was established way back in 1907. * It's home to the Bois Brule River and is close to Lake Superior. * This forest is famous for Cedar Island Lodge, also called "the Summer White House," where presidents have stayed! It's popular for canoeing and cross-country skiing.
- Coulee Experimental State Forest
* Located in La Crosse County. * This forest is used for experiments to learn more about trees and forest management.
- Flambeau River State Forest
* Spans Sawyer and Price counties. * It's a large forest, about 90,147 acres (364 square kilometers). * Established in 1930, it's located along the Flambeau River.
- Governor Knowles State Forest
* Found in Burnett and Polk counties. * It covers about 19,753 acres (79.9 square kilometers). * This forest was established in 1970 and is next to the St. Croix River. * It helps protect the beautiful Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway.
* Located right in Milwaukee County. * It's smaller, about 237 acres (0.95 square kilometers). * Established in 1979, it's near Lincoln Creek. * This is a special green space and a place for environmental education right inside the city of Milwaukee.
- Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit
* Found in Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, and Washington counties. * It's about 29,268 acres (118 square kilometers). * Established in 1936, it has many kettle lakes, which are lakes formed by glaciers.
- Lapham Peak Unit, Kettle Moraine State Forest
* Located in Waukesha County. * It's about 1,006 acres (4.07 square kilometers). * Established in 1985, this unit is known for its observation tower.
- Loew Lake Unit, Kettle Moraine State Forest
* Found in Washington County. * It covers about 1,090 acres (4.41 square kilometers). * Established in 1987, it's near the Oconomowoc River and Loew Lake.
- Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit
* Spans Waukesha, Walworth, and Jefferson counties. * It's about 22,300 acres (90.2 square kilometers). * Like the Northern Unit, it was established in 1936 and has many kettle lakes.
- Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest
* Located in Iron, Vilas, and Oneida counties. * This is the largest state forest, covering about 223,283 acres (903 square kilometers)! * It was established in 1925 and has countless lakes and streams.
- Peshtigo River State Forest
* Found in Marinette and Oconto counties. * It's about 9,200 acres (37.2 square kilometers). * Established in 2001, it's located along the Peshtigo River.
- Pike Lake Unit, Kettle Moraine State Forest
* Located in Washington County. * It's about 678 acres (2.74 square kilometers). * Established in 1960, it's named after Pike Lake.
- Point Beach State Forest
* Found in Manitowoc County. * It's about 2,903 acres (11.7 square kilometers). * Established in 1938, it's right on the shore of Lake Michigan.
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