The property includes approximately 26 acres of dry-mesic woods located on the Niagara Escarpment. These types of forests are considered vulnerable in Wisconsin due to a fairly restricted range, relatively few populations or occurrences, recent and widespread declines, threats, or other factors.
The extensive oak forests of southwestern Wisconsin have proven to be of high importance to migrating birds as the peak spring migration periods for many of these birds is somewhat synchronized with the flowering of the oaks, opening of the oak leaf buds, and the appearance of a major hatch of caterpillars—an important food source for insectivores such as the wood warblers, vireos, gnatcatchers, and others needing to replenish their energy reserves after their long journeys.
Dry-mesic woods are characterized by northern red oak (Quercus rubra), white oak (Q. alba), red maple (Acer rubrum), and sometimes American basswood (Tilia americana). Associates include shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), bitternut-hickory (C. cordiformis), black cherry (Prunus serotina), butternut (Juglans cinerea), and American elm (Ulmus americana). In the easternmost parts of southern Wisconsin, American beech (Fagus grandifolia) is sometimes a component of Southern Dry-mesic Forest. A land survey completed in 2000 revealed four native red cedar trees growing on the CSA portion of the ledge, the only conifer native to the escarpment.
Multiple uncommon ecological communities are found on the escarpment which provide suitable habitat for numerous uncommon species.
The forested portion of the property is a favored type of home to species such as Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescent), Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea), Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina), Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus), Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornate), and Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus).
CSA collaborates with the US Forest Service to make a long-term assessment of the woodlands. Every seven years the Forest Service measures trees in four sites: three in the woodlands and one in the prairie. The information gathered from these four sites is used to extrapolate information about the health of the surrounding 640 acre environment from the health of the trees in the CSA woodlands.
In addition to measuring the height and circumference of select trees, the understory plants within a 12-foot radius of the tree, such as tree saplings, flowers, and mushrooms, are also used to assess health of the ecosystem. Trees marked with white paint were assessed in 2023 as part of the seven-year cycle.