Little Willow Drumlin State Natural Area

Little Willow Drumlin features a mosaic of upland and wetland communities including the headwaters of Little Willow Creek, a tributary of the Willow River. The uplands are dominated by a rich, mesic sugar maple-basswood forest (AViO) grading through transitional hemlock (TMC) into mixed white cedar-black ash. The core uplands have a mature canopy structure with gaps and include large diameter (16-24 inch) sugar maple, basswood, white ash and red oak with scattered hemlock. Coarse woody debris and snags are scattered throughout. The ground flora is typical of rich (AViO) northern forest. The conifer swamp is dominated by white cedar (12-16 inch) and black ash and typifies northern wet forest. Rare and uncommon plants include Assiniboine sedge, spreading wood fern, and American ginseng. Other notable attributes include numerous ephemeral ponds and the site's remote nature. Little Willow Drumlin is owned by the US Forest Service and was designated a State Natural Area in 2007.