Stickley Lodge Getaway
(920) 680-7095 (text or leave message)
email: [email protected]
See Main Cabin Website: www.stickleylodgegetaway.weebly.com
Wild and Scenic River: Cisco Branch
Information from 'Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive River Management Plan':
Ontonagon River, Cisco Branch – Recreational Segment Wildlife
This river branch comes from the Cisco Chain, Cisco Lake (just down Cisco Lake Road from the cabin driveway, some areas are quiet on the river while others are waterfalls, etc.). Bald eagles are abundant in this part of the Forest due to the numerous lakes and rivers. This segment supports a white sucker run at the outlet of Cisco Lake that is an important spring food source for bald eagles and other predators. Gray wolves are also common along this segment, with several pack territories encompassing parts of this reach. Other wildlife of interest includes an RFSS dragonfly – the rapids clubtail. Of particular importance is the beaver population, which created and maintains several large impoundments in this reach. Several beaver-created impoundments below the dam perform an important water-storage function. The beaver impoundments are protecting many values, including fisheries, aquatic wildlife, and hydrology. The importance of these beaver impoundments makes it essential that the beaver colonies remain active and viable in the reach. These qualities make wildlife values outstandingly remarkable.
Ontonagon River, Cisco Branch – Scenic Segment Scenery
This segment, from County Road 527, meanders through a largely forested environment dominated by northern hardwoods. A diversity of tree species includes white pine, hemlock, aspen, swamp conifers, and lowland hardwoods, Chapter 2 River Values Comprehensive River Management Plan 2-16 Ottawa National Forest Wild and Scenic Rivers especially maple. There are interesting falls, rapids, and races in this segment, most notably Kakabika Falls and Wolverine Falls. Kakabika Falls is secluded and drops 50 feet through a narrow gorge of black rock for a distance of 300 feet (many S curves and rocky cliff areas, pathway goes through beautiful woods with moss, Cedars and more, to a quiet area over pebbles, this is the waterfalls just west of the cabin off of 527). The water is characteristically amber from the natural tannins produced in the wetlands. The river has high special interest in that it varies from steep sides to a broad meandering valley. The outstandingly remarkable character of the river varies through its course as it begins with high velocity white water and gradually slows toward the north to a smooth meander.
Fish
Fish communities present in this segment transition from cool-water species in the upstream area (smallmouth bass, northern pike) to cold-water species (brook trout) downstream. This occurs because of the input of groundwater (that lowers stream temperature) to the downstream area. Just downstream from Kakabika Falls, a major feeder stream (Tenderfoot Creek) enters and provides colder water and potentially the best brook trout spawning conditions of any of the Cisco Branch tributaries. Further downstream, numerous springs also lower the water temperature and provide suitable habitat for trout in the Cisco Branch. These habitat qualities are considered outstandingly remarkable.
Wildlife
This segment has outstandingly remarkable wildlife populations. Wood turtles are present in the middle and upper portion of this segment. The wide floodplain forests, alder/willow swales, and off-channel wetlands are important breeding areas for amphibians and waterbirds. Thermal cover and winter browse for deer are important habitat components. Numerous gravel bars and eroding banks provide nesting habitat for wood turtles in the middle portion of this segment. The river corridor provides connectivity across the landscape for numerous riparian and migratory species. Riparian forests within this corridor are very productive wildlife habitats, important to invertebrates and vertebrates of many taxa.
The Cisco Branch goes on and then there is the West Branch (see maps, etc.)
Ontonagon River, Cisco Branch – Recreational Segment Wildlife
This river branch comes from the Cisco Chain, Cisco Lake (just down Cisco Lake Road from the cabin driveway, some areas are quiet on the river while others are waterfalls, etc.). Bald eagles are abundant in this part of the Forest due to the numerous lakes and rivers. This segment supports a white sucker run at the outlet of Cisco Lake that is an important spring food source for bald eagles and other predators. Gray wolves are also common along this segment, with several pack territories encompassing parts of this reach. Other wildlife of interest includes an RFSS dragonfly – the rapids clubtail. Of particular importance is the beaver population, which created and maintains several large impoundments in this reach. Several beaver-created impoundments below the dam perform an important water-storage function. The beaver impoundments are protecting many values, including fisheries, aquatic wildlife, and hydrology. The importance of these beaver impoundments makes it essential that the beaver colonies remain active and viable in the reach. These qualities make wildlife values outstandingly remarkable.
Ontonagon River, Cisco Branch – Scenic Segment Scenery
This segment, from County Road 527, meanders through a largely forested environment dominated by northern hardwoods. A diversity of tree species includes white pine, hemlock, aspen, swamp conifers, and lowland hardwoods, Chapter 2 River Values Comprehensive River Management Plan 2-16 Ottawa National Forest Wild and Scenic Rivers especially maple. There are interesting falls, rapids, and races in this segment, most notably Kakabika Falls and Wolverine Falls. Kakabika Falls is secluded and drops 50 feet through a narrow gorge of black rock for a distance of 300 feet (many S curves and rocky cliff areas, pathway goes through beautiful woods with moss, Cedars and more, to a quiet area over pebbles, this is the waterfalls just west of the cabin off of 527). The water is characteristically amber from the natural tannins produced in the wetlands. The river has high special interest in that it varies from steep sides to a broad meandering valley. The outstandingly remarkable character of the river varies through its course as it begins with high velocity white water and gradually slows toward the north to a smooth meander.
Fish
Fish communities present in this segment transition from cool-water species in the upstream area (smallmouth bass, northern pike) to cold-water species (brook trout) downstream. This occurs because of the input of groundwater (that lowers stream temperature) to the downstream area. Just downstream from Kakabika Falls, a major feeder stream (Tenderfoot Creek) enters and provides colder water and potentially the best brook trout spawning conditions of any of the Cisco Branch tributaries. Further downstream, numerous springs also lower the water temperature and provide suitable habitat for trout in the Cisco Branch. These habitat qualities are considered outstandingly remarkable.
Wildlife
This segment has outstandingly remarkable wildlife populations. Wood turtles are present in the middle and upper portion of this segment. The wide floodplain forests, alder/willow swales, and off-channel wetlands are important breeding areas for amphibians and waterbirds. Thermal cover and winter browse for deer are important habitat components. Numerous gravel bars and eroding banks provide nesting habitat for wood turtles in the middle portion of this segment. The river corridor provides connectivity across the landscape for numerous riparian and migratory species. Riparian forests within this corridor are very productive wildlife habitats, important to invertebrates and vertebrates of many taxa.
The Cisco Branch goes on and then there is the West Branch (see maps, etc.)
Email us your pictures of your adventures. Share your enjoyment, relaxation, special moments with others.
Variety of river areas on the Cisco Branch of the Ontonagon for siteseeing, relaxing and just enjoying.
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