Race Against Time

Lower Ice Age Campground Trees Down

I’ve heard a number of comments about the many trees being cut down at Devil’s Lake State Park. Yeah, it’s not pretty. Sadly, they simply have no choice in a losing battle against invasive Emerald Ash Borer. (Blame the bug, not the park!) There’s just not a lot they can do as these trees die off, become brittle and hazardous. I’ll tell you one thing though, some returning campers are going to be a bit surprised when they see their campsites, especially in the Lower Ice Age Campground!

Lower Ice Age Campground around sites 322, 323

I can’t say I envy the park staff right now. Here in the Baraboo / Wisconsin Dells area, we all know what it’s like to race toward the summer tourism season and feeling like you’ll never be ready! At Devil’s Lake, there are about 10 staff and only about half that can cut and move trees in between their other duties. There is wood stacking up everywhere. In some campgrounds, the trees were cut and just felled right into the brush beside the campsites. Northern Lights & Lower Ice Age Campground are slated to open on May 3rd, and right now, sections of the Lower Ice Age look like a war zone. (Upper Ice Age will open on May 10th)

I’m reminded of when the Devil’s Lake Friends group used to bundle and sell wood to raise money. They’d be having a heyday right now!

Whole trees cut, then pushed into the brush around campsites.

It’s going to take some time to clear up all of this wood and it’s going to take years for the park to recover from the damage caused by Emerald Ash Borer. In time, I expect many of the trees, especially in the picnic areas will be replaced and 50 years from now it will all be beautiful once again.

For the moment let’s give a shout out to the park’s new young rangers who are certainly earning their pay this year, and the season hasn’t even started! Oh, and if you’ve been reserving the same spot in the park’s Lower Ice Age campground for years, there’s a fair chance your site is going to have a lot more sun this summer.

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This Post Has 5 Comments

  1. We had those bugs come thru and destroy our elm trees,up in Adams county.We use the wood for our wood burner,,,,but its terrible to see a old elm tree get destroyed by these nasty bugs..I mean what purpose do they serve other then killing elms..Yea I know a lot of critters/birds eat the bug,,but there are other bug they can eat..I just don’t like seeing healthy trees get destroyed…that’s all.
    Off topic a bit,,I read a article about Beavers being gone from Devils lake?Any chance Devils Lake taking in a new FAMILY of beavers??Beaver kits stay w/Mom for up to 2 years,,so they would have to go as a family..There up here in Adams,,,,having a hay day,,building dams where they shouldn’t be by humans standards,,,and I hate to see thee entire family destroyed if Devils Lake could use them for their NATURAL RESOURCES,, to keep the marshes alive at devils lake..Who do I contact to ask such a question???Thank you ,,maryw,

    1. Interesting thought. I don’t know who in the DNR you could contact. I’ll see what I can find out. I’m sure there are regulations against moving wildlife into a park in that way, but yeah, I’d love to see beavers returned to Messenger Creek and Steinke basin. It would be fantastic to see those former wetlands recover and come back to life.

      1. The ,”family,” is using a road culvert for their dam,,,,can u see the problem,,,,Just give me a name,,and Ill do the work,,,THANK YOU,,,mary

  2. psss,,I know sometimes they do not like to do relocations because of existing animal colonies,,,Here,,this situation,,,there are no other beavers,,soo it might just work,,jmo,,maryw

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