A number of habitat specialists occur here, among them the palm warbler and Lincoln's sparrow. The LeConte's sparrow has been noted in open areas with high sedge cover. Other characteristic birds of the site include common yellowthroat, song sparrow, white-throated sparrow, Nashville warbler, sedge wren and purple finch. Mammals observed on or adjacent to the site in recent years include the timber wolf and moose. Black Lake Bog occupies portions of Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Ownership is primarily public, with Douglas County and the state of Minnesota the major landowners.
The site is managed by cooperative agreement as an interstate natural area. This stream originates in wetlands on the state border and flows about 18 miles to where it meets the Nemadji River. The 15-foot falls are a migratory barrier for trout, thus all brook trout upstream of the falls are thought to be from native populations. From the falls downstream about 12 miles until a town road crossing, the stream is classified a Class II brook and brown trout fishery, becoming a Class III trout fishery from that road crossing to where the creek empties into the Nemadji. The upper part of the creek flows through swampy areas and has a stream bed composed mainly of clay and silt.