Minnesota Special Project Highlights

Straight River Marsh

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Straight River Marsh Project Brochure (256 KB)

The Straight River Marsh project in southern Steele County is comprised of a 1200 acre drained wetland basin and surrounding uplands for a total of approximately 5,000 acres. Presently there are 21 landowners participating in the program, who have enrolled nearly 1100 acres of land. There are 2 additional applications totaling 365 acres pending funding at this time. Additional landowners have shown an interest in the program, and it is anticipated that if funding continues, applications on several hundred acres will be submitted.

The Straight River Marsh area has historically been a major stopover point for waterfowl during spring migration. The restoration work that’s been completed thus far has already resulted in a large increase in the number of waterfowl utilizing the area, including a number of species that haven’t been seen in decades.  The documented return of the following species clearly verifies the restoration success: Tundra swan, Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Sandhill Crane, Canvasback, Redhead, Pintail, Scaup, Gadwalls, American Wigeons, Shovelers, Wood Ducks, Blue Winged Teal, Buffleheads, Common Goldeneye, Ruddy Duck, Mergansers, Herons, Egrets, Cormmorant, Snipe,  Plovers, Bald Eagles and Burrowing Owls.
 

Grass Lake Restoration Project

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Grass Lake Restoration Project Brochure (235 KB)

Glacial Ridge Project

    The Nature Conservancy Glacial Ridge Website

The Glacial Ridge WRP site is part of a 25,000 acre restoration project located in the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Ecoregion. It lies on the eastern set of beach ridges formed by Glacial Lake Agassiz. The beach ridges formed a very diverse prairie landscape where variable layers of sand, silt and clay, along with narrow beach ridges of coarse sands and gravel create a mosaic complex of wet to dry prairie types.  Groundwater seepage zones are a common feature-giving rise to calcareous fens and gently sloping wet prairies.  The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is the owner of this vast contiguous tract of land. The Nature Conservancy has approximately 7,600 acres enrolled in the WRP. There are also 9 landowners with approximately 4,000 additional acres neighboring the TNC property that have signed WRP applications and are waiting for acceptance into the WRP. TNC has applied for an additional 12,600 acres of WRP and is also waiting for acceptance into the
WRP.  The US Fish and Wildlife Service is in the process of  creating a new National Wildlife Refuge. The new Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge would include most of the 25,000 acres of TNC property.

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