Conchu LakeMaking Connections
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Full image approximately 2 miles square |
Description
Conchu is a small, but very deep lake, just inside the BWCAW boundary, 15¾ miles northwest of Forest Center, and 11 miles ENE of Ely. Barely ½ mile across and covering but 51 acres, it drops to a depth of 66'. Just over a half mile of twisting, boggy stream runs down to Conchu from Greenstone to the north, while a short 20 rod overland portage connects with the North Kawishiwi River to the south. Conchu has no apparent outlet other than seepage down to the Kawishiwi.Field research by Heinselman suggests that the forests surrounding Conchu were probably made up of stands of Red and White Pine dating back to 1796 and earlier, before being logged off (1898-1912) by the St. Croix Lumber Company of Winton. An area immediately to the south and west of the lake was not logged. The uncut forest dates from fires of 1864 and 1894. These trees were almost certainly deemed too small to be worth cutting at the time of the early logging.. The Independence Day windstorms of 1999 did no significant damage in the Conchu area.
Campsites
Conchu supports one established campsite, on the south shore near the Kawishiwi River portage.Planning Considerations
Conchu provides an ideal location for a secluded overnight stay at a small lake while traveling the North Kawishiwi route. A day trip bushwhacking up to Greenstone may also appeal to some; or perhaps up to Uranus or Lark.Wildlife
Conchu provides some fishing opportunities not often found in the BWCA. It supports populations of the ubiquitous White Sucker (Catostomus commersoni), but also Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides), and Splake (Salvelinus fontinalis x S. namaycush), a naturally occuring hybrid of the Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) and Brook Trout. Brook Trout were stocked annually from 1992 through 1995Notes and Comments
A gem if you're in the neighborhood.
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