It is an area where there are numerous lakes. There are over 400 lakes that are greater than 160 acres in size. The majority of these are found on end moraines and pitted outwash plains. Mixed forests of oaks, sugar maple, basswood, and other hardwoods were found in fire protected sites farther east. Tallgrass prairie grew on more level terrains within the subsection.
Tourism is important, especially in areas around lakes.
Windthrow was common in the sugar maple-basswood forests. This subsection had thousands of acres of wetlands before settlement that were heavily used by waterfowl. Waterfowl numbers are very low presently, so a major emphasis is to restore their habitat. Other concerns include lakeshore development and water quality issues. All rights reserved.