Lauterman Lake State Natural Area

Lauterman Lake features an older growth mesic hardwood forest with a hemlock component situated on rich silt loam soils on rolling pitted outwash plain. The site's rich silt loam soils combined with good drainage supports an unusual concentration of good quality hardwood stands. The site is divided into three natural divisions: east of Lauterman Lake has rolling topography; the section between Lauterman Lake and Little Porcupine Lake is more rugged with hummocks and steep slopes; and the north end of an extensive braided esker system enters the complex to the south of Little Porcupine Lake. The braided esker system is dominated by sugar maple with yellow birch, basswood, and hemlock. Understory species include rock elm and eastern hop hornbeam. The richest stands are found to the south of Little Porcupine Lake in the flat area bordering the lacustrine zone. Here Virginia water-leaf and wood nettle are abundant in the understory and coarse woody debris is relatively common. Other species include wild licorice, maidenhair fern, wild leek, large-flowered bellwort, bloodroot, and blue cohosh. This site is an important landscape link between the Whisker Lake Wilderness and Kieper Creek Special Management and Old Growth Area. Lauterman Lake is owned by the US Forest Service and was designated a State Natural Area in 2007.