Poor conifer swamp is a nutrient-poor, forested peatland characterized by acidic, saturated peat, and the prevalence of conifer trees, Sphagnum mosses, and ericaceous shrubs. The community is found in depressions in glacial outwash and sandy glacial lakeplains and in kettles. Poor conifer swamps occasionally occur on floating mats on the margins of lakes and ponds. Fire occurs naturally during drought periods and creates even-aged, often monospecific, stands of Picea mariana (black spruce). 

 Waterloo State Recreation Area is the largest state park in the lower peninsula and contains numerous natural communities such as Poor Conifer Swamp, Rich Tamarack Swamp, Bog, Southern Hardwood Swamp, Dry Southern & Dry-Mesic Southern Forest, Prairie Fen, Wet Prairie and Southern Wet Meadow. On this trip, we’ll start at the Cassidy Road trail head parking lot. The itinerary includes several sites before and after a noon lunch break.  Don’t forget to pack lunch!  

 Swamps are wet and muddy, so rubber boots are recommended. While on a trail the hiking will be moderate, but in the swamps, 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.

 Tony Reznicek is a retired curator of vascular plants at the University of Michigan Herbarium where he maintains the Michigan Flora website (https://michiganflora.net/). He has researched extensively and published numerous papers on plant systematics (especially the sedges) and natural history of the Great Lakes region. He has a strong interest in rare and disjunct species.

 Directions: Waterloo State Recreation Area in Jackson and Washtenaw counties.  The Cassidy Road parking lot is approximately 16500 Cassidy Rd Chelsea, MI 48118.  The trip takes about 90 minutes. From Kalamazoo take I-94 east to exit 153, Clear Lake Rd. Turn left (north) on to Clear Lake Rd. In the town of Waterloo, turn right (east) on to Waterloo Rd. In about 1.2 miles, turn left (north) on to Roe Rd. In about 1.6 miles, turn right (east) on to Cassidy Rd.  In about 1.4 miles the parking lot will be on your left (northside).  The coordinates are 42.366171473163675, -84.08868403393369

 Carpooling: If you are interested in carpooling, we will meet at the Park’n Ride lot at Oakland Rd and I-94. We will depart at 8:00 AM.

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/