Battling Buckthorn at Bibon Swamp: Bayfield County’s Largest Wetland

“Hey buckthorn! What are you doing in my swamp???” – Shrek (if he lived in Bibon Swamp)

While it may not be home to the famous green ogre, Bibon Swamp State Natural Area is home to some incredible species, like the northern parula, the palm warbler, and the State Threatened sheathed pondweed plant. NRF is helping to support the battle against invasive buckthorn, which threatens the habitat of these and many other species.

Bibon Swamp State Natural Area. Photo by Joshua Mayer

Special features of Bibon Swamp State Natural Area

Designated as a State Natural Area in 1992, Bibon Swamp is the largest wetland in Bayfield County, filling the basin of an extinct glacial lake drained by the White River. Bibon Swamp is also one of the last remaining high-quality natural communities in the region. A variety of ecosystems span its 14,000 acres — a wet-mesic conifer swamp filled with 150-year-old white cedar, a wet forest dominated by black ash, a northern sedge meadow, and coniferous peatlands. Additionally, 15 miles of the White River flows through Bibon Swamp. It is part of the longest stretch of high-quality trout water in Wisconsin inaccessible by public road. This Class 1 trout stream allows people to fish right from their canoes.

Throughout these quality habitats, the threat of invasive buckthorn lurks. Buckthorn outcompetes native plants, blocking sunlight from reaching other plants below.

Kayaker on the White River at Bibon Swamp. Photo by Joshua Mayer

Restoring habitat across Bayfield County

Thanks to support from the Boreal Waters Community Foundation (formerly Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation), a crew from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) cleared 25 acres of buckthorn at Bibon Swamp. By cutting and removing buckthorn along the White River, the riverbank habitat will improve and so will angler’s access to it. This is a partnership project between the Spooner Natural Heritage Conservation and Brule Fisheries with the WDNR and Bayfield County Forest.

Removing these buckthorn infestations will promote a resilient high-quality mosaic of habitat, restoring healthy plant communities and habitat for wildlife such as loons, swans, otters, trout, pike, and more. The restoration work done at this site will protect biodiversity for current and future generations, helping these species and the surrounding region be more resilient to a changing climate.

Close-up of common buckthorn. Photo by Joshua Mayer

Tribal connection to Bibon Swamp

Bibon Swamp’s name comes from a derivation of the Anishinaabe word, Biboon, meaning “winter.” This State Natural Area lies within the ceded territory of the Ojibwe people, where they have retained the right to hunt, fish, and gather. Parts of Bibon Swamp are classified as Native Community Management Areas where indigenous flora and fauna are protected to support pre-settlement biological diversity of the native ecosystems.

Grassy landscape at Bibon Swamp. Photo by Joshua Mayer

Before colonization, the inland lakes of northern Wisconsin were full of fish, turtles, and otters. Plants bloomed, filling the air with fragrant smells. The calls of bald eagles, trumpeter swans, common loons, and songbirds rang across the sky. Humans hiked, hunted, and paddled through the landscape. That is both the memory and the vision that guides this restoration project at Bibon Swamp State Natural Area.

Who’s living in the swamp?

Bibon Swamp is home to some rare and fascinating plants, such as bunchberry, twinflower, and small bishop’s cap. There are also several orchid species on the ground layer of the wet-mesic conifer swamp. Birds include Nashville, parula, and Canada warblers and winter wrens. Bibon Swamp offers nesting, migratory stopover, and wintering habitat for many species of birds and is considered one of Wisconsin’s Important Bird Areas.

A northern parula perched on a thin branch. Photo courtesy of Jeff Galligan

Palm warbler, yellow-bellied flycatcher, boreal chickadee, and sharp-shinned hawks roam the coniferous peatlands. Shrub swamps are filled with slender willow, red-osier dogwood, and speckled alder. Shrubs include leather-leaf, bog laurel and labrador-tea.

Bibon Swamp also offers a variety of outdoor recreation for visitors, including canoeing and kayaking, birding, primitive camping, and, of course, fishing on the Class 1 trout stream. In recent years, NRF has offered Field Trips to explore the diverse habitats of Bibon Swamp by both foot and boat. Be sure to check out our Field Trips program for a chance to visit the swamp with us in the future!

Kayakers on the White River in Bibon Swamp. Photo by Joshua Mayer

Nature’s flood control

In 2016, Bayfield County experienced 10 inches of rainfall in one night and Bibon Swamp collected 10 billion gallons of water. Because wetlands can absorb rainwater and slowly drain it, Bibon Swamp protected downstream communities from extreme flooding. Wetlands act as nature’s flood control and will be crucial in protecting communities from a changing climate.

The work done at Bibon Swamp was part of a larger project to restore 30 acres of rare and biodiverse habitat across three State Natural Areas in Bayfield County: Inch Lake, Lake Two Pines, and Bibon Swamp. The three sites lie within 12 miles of each other, creating a natural corridor through the heart of Bayfield County. The Foundation is grateful to the Boreal Waters Community Foundation for supporting this work. We are getting closer to our vision: a future where Wisconsin’s flourishing ecosystems are protected, sustained, and cherished by diverse communities.

A sign at Bibon Swamp that reads ‘Bibon Creek.’ Photo by Joshua Mayer

Written by Emma Schatz, Digital Communications Coordinator