Field Trip

Hardwood-Conifer Swamp

Mill Creek Swamp

Three Rivers State Game Area

Dr. Tyler Bassett

Michigan Natural Features Inventory

Saturday August 2, 2025, 10 AM

Hardwood-conifer swamps are groundwater-fed wetland forests that are often found on peaty soils near headwater streams. Primarily found in northern Michigan, they are rare in southwestern Michigan. Coniferous trees in southern Michigan are mostly restricted to swamps and other low-lying landscape positions. Mill Creek Swamp in Three Rivers State Game Area is a fine example of a relatively undisturbed, species-rich hardwood-conifer swamp. Dominant and common tree species include red maple (Acer rubrum), yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), blue beech (Carpinus caroliniana), white pine (Pinus strobus), tamarack (Larix laricina). Black ash (Fraxinus nigra) was common in the canopy prior to the introduction of the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis). The shrub and ground layers are diverse, and include spicebush (Lindera benzoin), smooth highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), swamp goldenrod (Solidago patula), cucumber-root (Medeola virginica), bishop’s-cap (Mitella diphylla), showy lady’s-slipper (Cypripedium reginae), and cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea).

 Swamps are wet and muddy, so rubber boots are recommended. While on a trail the hiking will be moderate, but in the swamp, it will be slow and muddy. Insect repellent, sunscreen, water as well as suitable clothing are suggested. The trip difficulty level is rated moderate but may be difficult in places.

 Tyler Bassett is a Botanist and Plant Ecologist with the Michigan Natural Features Inventory. He has 20 years of experience studying the plants and plant communities of the Upper Midwest. His work, in part, aims to document and conserve these species, and to restore, expand, and reconnect the diminishing fragments of habitat that they require for persistence. He holds a B.S. in Biology from Western Michigan University, and a Ph.D. in Plant Biology, and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior from Michigan State University.

 Directions: Three Rivers State Game Area is in Cass & St. Joseph Counites. We will meet at the Shell Station in Jones MI and carpool to the site.  The address is 10729 M-60, Jones MI 49061. From the Kalamazoo area, take US-131 south to the Three Rivers area. Turn right (west) on to M-60.  In about 10 miles the Shell station is on your left (south). The coordinates are 41.90379731791837, -85.79371710914597.

2025 Field Trip Schedule

Meetings

Meetings occur in November, January, February, March & April, on the 3rd Monday of the month at the People’s Church, 1758 10th St. N, Kalamazoo MI 49009. Socializing begins at 6:30 PM and the presentation starts at 7:00 PM.

2025 Southwestern Chapter Officers

Executive Committee: Joe Trapp, Michael Dombos, Abbie Bristol, Wayne Roussel

Secretary / Treasurer: Wayne Roussel

Useful Links

Michigan Botanical Society

The Great Lakes Botanist https://journals.publishing.umich.edu/glbot/

The Michigan Botanist (1962-2006) https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000497763

Winter Wildflowers: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~ldnum/WinterWildflowers%281973%29dblpgs.pdf

University of Michigan Herbarium https://michiganflora.net/home.aspx

State of Michigan

Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/services

Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) https://www.michigan.gov/dnr

Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) https://www.michigan.gov/egle

MSU Extension Service https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/

 W.K. Kellogg Biological Station (KBS)  https://www.kbs.msu.edu/

 Kellogg Bird Sanctuary http://birdsanctuary.kbs.msu.edu/

Conservation

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (SWMLC) https://swmlc.org/

Michigan Nature Association (MNA) https://www.michigannature.org/

Chikaming Open Lands https://chikamingopenlands.org/

The Nature Conservancy https://www.nature.org/en-us/

Michigan Audubon https://www.michiganaudubon.org/

Land Conservancy of West Michigan https://naturenearby.org/

Michigan Wetlands Association https://miwetlands.org/

Michigan Prescribed Fire Council https://www.firecouncil.org/

Wild Flower Association of Michigan https://wildflowersmich.org/

Michigan Lakes and Stream Association (MLSA) https://mymlsa.org/

Kalamazoo River Watershed Council (KRWC) https://kalamazooriver.org/

Conservation Districts

Michigan Association of Conservation Districts https://www.macd.org/

Allegan Conservation District https://www.allegancd.org/

Barry Conservation District https://www.barrycd.org/

Berrien Conservation District https://www.berriencd.org/

Calhoun Conservation District https://www.calhouncd.org/

Cass Conservation District https://cassccdistrict.org/

Kalamazoo Conservation District https://www.kalamazooconservation.org/

St Joseph Conservation District https://stjoecountycd.com/

Van Buren Conservation District https://vanburencd.org/

Invasive Species & Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMA)

Michigan Invasive Species https://www.michigan.gov/invasives/take-action/local-resources/view-cisma-locations-as-a-list

Midwest Invasive Species Information Network (MISIN) https://www.misin.msu.edu/

Barry, Calhoun & Kalmazoo CISMA contact: bckcisma@gmail.com

SW x SW Corner CISMA https://vanburencd.org/invasive-species/

Southern Michigan IST https://stjoecountycd.com/smist-cisma#:~:text=Southern%20Michigan%20Invasive%20Species%20Team,a%20multitude%20of%20regional%20partners.

West Michigan CISMA https://wmconservation.net/

Nature Centers

Kalamazoo Nature Center https://naturecenter.org/

Pierce Cedar Creek Institute https://cedarcreekinstitute.org/

Whitehouse Nature Center https://www.albion.edu/about/our-campus/whitehouse-nature-center/

Sarett Nature Center https://sarett.org/

Native Plants & Gardens

Kalamazoo Area Wild Ones (KAWO) https://kalamazoo.wildones.org/

Hidden Savanna Nursery https://www.hiddensavanna.com/

Adjacent

Michigan Entomological Society https://www.michentsoc.org/

Indiana Native Plant Society https://indiananativeplants.org/