Sedge Meadows, Bogs and Swamps: Field Trip to Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve
Steve Eggers
On Saturday June 28th, a group of 13 composed of MNNPS and MN Wetland Professionals Association
members explored some of the wetland jewels at CCESR, which is located in Anoka and Isanti Counties and the
Anoka Sand Plain. Dire forecasts of thunderstorms and heavy rain had been made starting the two days
leading up to that Saturday, but during the field trip the weather was pleasant with alternating periods of sun
and clouds.
Our first stop was the south shore of Fish Lake and its adjacent expanse of sedge meadow. We observed aquatic vegetation including large-leaved pondweed (Potamogeton amplifolius), water shield (Brasenia schreberi), white and yellow water lilies (Nymphaea odorata and Nuphar variegata, respectively) and wild rice (Zizania palustris). Wire-grass sedge (Carex lasiocarpa) dominated the sedge meadow, which also included Canada blue-joint grass (Calamagrostis canadensis), tussock sedge (Carex stricta), mad-dog skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata) and invading cattails (Typha spp.). Along the sand ridge separating the sedge meadow and lake we found winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) in full bloom. We walked back through an oak savanna, managed with prescribed burns, and were treated with a colorful white/yellow display of flowers of northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) and puccoon (Lithospermum carolinense). This is ideal habitat for red- headed woodpeckers, a species in decline, and as if on cue one did a fly-by. We stopped at two, small, isolated wetland basins within the savanna. The first was a seasonal basin dominated by long-scaled tussock sedge (Carex haydenii). Canada blue-joint grass and woolgrass (Scirpus cyperinus) were present as well. Barbara Delaney explained how the periodically exposed soil along the margins of these seasonal wetlands is prime habitat for some of the rare plant species of the Anoka Sand Plain. The second isolated wetland basin was very different floristically although it was only a stone’s throw away. It appeared to be more acidic as evidenced by the dominance of bog sedge (Carex oligosperma) and presence of leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata) and royal fern (Osmunda spectabilis).
Next it was off to Cedar Bog Lake and an easy hike along a boardwalk through a high quality northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) swamp. Due to the wet spring, 2014 was one of the worst years in memory for mosquitoes just about anywhere in Minnesota, but they were inexplicably absent this day even in the dark confines of the cedar swamp. We did the yellow birch test – cut twigs have the scent and flavor of wintergreen – although I was reprimanded for breaking off too large a piece of a twig (no collecting allowed on CCESR without a permit). Halberd-leaved tearthumb (Persicaria arifolia) and poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) were observed on the walk in. The boardwalk terminated at an open water pond fringed with water willow (Decodon verticillatus). We were struck by the silence as if it invited contemplation of glacial time.
Our last stop was another boardwalk – Beckman Lake Bog. High water levels had submerged most of the boardwalk so it was somewhat tricky navigating the bog. No one slipped and got into difficulty that I saw. Beckman Lake Bog is a floating mat with characteristic species of acid bogs. We observed the Sphagnum-moss mat and bog sedge, poor sedge (Carex magellanica), tawny cottongrass (Eriophorum virginicum), three-way sedge (Dulichium arundinaceum), bog buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata), pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea) and sundew (Drosera rotundifolia). A few small cranberries (Vaccinium oxycoccus) were in bloom – the flowers have flared-back petals like shooting stars. Other members of the heath family observed were leatherleaf, Labrador tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum) and bog rosemary (Andromeda polifolia). This was the conclusion of the field trip and the timing could not have been better. Skies were darkening to the west and winds were starting to whip up. The forecasted thunderstorms were rolling in.
Reprinted March 1, 2015 with permission from Steve Eggers.
Steve Eggers
Our first stop was the south shore of Fish Lake and its adjacent expanse of sedge meadow. We observed aquatic vegetation including large-leaved pondweed (Potamogeton amplifolius), water shield (Brasenia schreberi), white and yellow water lilies (Nymphaea odorata and Nuphar variegata, respectively) and wild rice (Zizania palustris). Wire-grass sedge (Carex lasiocarpa) dominated the sedge meadow, which also included Canada blue-joint grass (Calamagrostis canadensis), tussock sedge (Carex stricta), mad-dog skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata) and invading cattails (Typha spp.). Along the sand ridge separating the sedge meadow and lake we found winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) in full bloom. We walked back through an oak savanna, managed with prescribed burns, and were treated with a colorful white/yellow display of flowers of northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) and puccoon (Lithospermum carolinense). This is ideal habitat for red- headed woodpeckers, a species in decline, and as if on cue one did a fly-by. We stopped at two, small, isolated wetland basins within the savanna. The first was a seasonal basin dominated by long-scaled tussock sedge (Carex haydenii). Canada blue-joint grass and woolgrass (Scirpus cyperinus) were present as well. Barbara Delaney explained how the periodically exposed soil along the margins of these seasonal wetlands is prime habitat for some of the rare plant species of the Anoka Sand Plain. The second isolated wetland basin was very different floristically although it was only a stone’s throw away. It appeared to be more acidic as evidenced by the dominance of bog sedge (Carex oligosperma) and presence of leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata) and royal fern (Osmunda spectabilis).
Next it was off to Cedar Bog Lake and an easy hike along a boardwalk through a high quality northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) swamp. Due to the wet spring, 2014 was one of the worst years in memory for mosquitoes just about anywhere in Minnesota, but they were inexplicably absent this day even in the dark confines of the cedar swamp. We did the yellow birch test – cut twigs have the scent and flavor of wintergreen – although I was reprimanded for breaking off too large a piece of a twig (no collecting allowed on CCESR without a permit). Halberd-leaved tearthumb (Persicaria arifolia) and poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) were observed on the walk in. The boardwalk terminated at an open water pond fringed with water willow (Decodon verticillatus). We were struck by the silence as if it invited contemplation of glacial time.
Our last stop was another boardwalk – Beckman Lake Bog. High water levels had submerged most of the boardwalk so it was somewhat tricky navigating the bog. No one slipped and got into difficulty that I saw. Beckman Lake Bog is a floating mat with characteristic species of acid bogs. We observed the Sphagnum-moss mat and bog sedge, poor sedge (Carex magellanica), tawny cottongrass (Eriophorum virginicum), three-way sedge (Dulichium arundinaceum), bog buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata), pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea) and sundew (Drosera rotundifolia). A few small cranberries (Vaccinium oxycoccus) were in bloom – the flowers have flared-back petals like shooting stars. Other members of the heath family observed were leatherleaf, Labrador tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum) and bog rosemary (Andromeda polifolia). This was the conclusion of the field trip and the timing could not have been better. Skies were darkening to the west and winds were starting to whip up. The forecasted thunderstorms were rolling in.
Reprinted March 1, 2015 with permission from Steve Eggers.
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