Habitat Protection

We partner with organizations and landowners to preserve land, restore critical habitat, and increase public access.

  • Protection

    Most of southeast Minnesota, including the Cannon River watershed, is privately owned and used for development or farming, resulting in habitat loss and challenges to water quality. Our work in protecting and restoring natural habitats in the watershed helps support biodiversity and environmental health. It contributes to the overall quality of life for both wildlife and humans, as healthy habitats provide essential ecosystem services such as clean water, fresh air, and flood control. We protect habitat by connecting with residents interested in preserving their land and our partners, Trust for Public Land, to acquire the land for habitat restoration and public use. 

  • Restoration

    Minnesota has experienced a loss of around 50% of its wetlands, 40% of its forests, and more than 98% of its prairies due to development and agriculture. This loss has led to decreased biodiversity and worsened water quality. We are actively engaged at the local level to help mitigate these effects in our watershed by partnering with Great River Greening for community-based stewardship. Some habitat restoration efforts involve removing invasive species, sowing seeds, and planting trees, which help these ecosystems become more stable and resilient and can assist wildlife populations in recovering and growing, giving them a better chance of survival.

  • Public Access

    While safeguarding natural habitats is vital, having convenient access to nature nearby can greatly enhance our physical and mental well-being. Spending time outdoors improves cognitive functions, including thinking and reasoning, and participating in outdoor activities can alleviate stress and anxiety. Although much of the watershed is rural, it is accessible within an hour’s drive for 3.4 million people. Even though public ownership accounts for less than 5% of the land in this area, these outdoor spaces offer hunting, fishing, hiking, and other recreational opportunities, allowing over half of all Minnesotans to connect with nature.

Story Highlight: A Family’s Journey to Conservation

The Prairie Creek Wildlife Management Area, Koester Prairie site, was established in 2014. Since then, we have partnered with the Minnesota DNR and Friends of Prairie Creek to secure grant funding for continuous habitat restoration. We sat down with Craig Koester to learn more about his family’s journey to conservation.

Our Partnership and the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC)

We are part of a long-term collaborative conservation project to acquire and restore land for protection and public access. Our partnership involves our organization, a local partner with community ties, Trust for Public Land for land acquisition expertise, and Great River Greening for restoration experience. Together, we protect and restore specific parcels of land that contribute to larger forests, prairies, wetlands, lakeshores, and river shorelines. So far, we have protected 18 areas in the Cannon River watershed, totaling over 3,100 acres, and have restored or improved 498 acres, with more work in progress.

This work is supported through funding from the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, which was established by the legislature to provide annual funding recommendations to the legislature from the Outdoor Heritage Fund. The Outdoor Heritage Fund, one of four funds created by the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment, receives one-third of the money raised by the tax increase.

Protection & Restoration Sites

  • Prairie Creek WMA: Koester Prairie

    The Koester Prairie site features native prairie, the most endangered ecosystem in North America, as well as oak savanna, another rapidly vanishing habitat. It is home to numerous species of native plants, birds, and mammals.

    Learn More or Visit

  • Prairie Creek WMA: Engeseth-Rinde

    The Engeseth-Rinde site was added in 2015 and is being restored from agricultural uses to feature oak savannah, prairie, and wetlands.  Don Nelson, the former owner of the site, donated the land to be used for conservation, education, and research.

    Learn More or Visit

  • Big Woods Heritage WMA

    Big Woods Heritage WMA features rolling upland mixed forest, grassy knolls, and wetland habitat. It is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including colonial-nesting waterfowl, other water birds, and Blanding’s turtles.  

    Learn More or Visit

  • Sunktokeca Creek WMA

    Sunktokeca Creek WMA spans around 200 acres and features marshland and previously farmed areas slated for prairie restoration. Its nearly flat terrain supports a diverse range of environments, including ponds, wetlands, grasslands, woodlands, and brush.

    Learn More or Visit

  • Cannon River Trout Lily WMA

    The Cannon River Trout Lily WMA covers 134 acres of mostly flat land with steep bluffs and ravines. Former farmland with remnants of maple-basswood "Big Woods", it is being restored to prairie while protecting the federally endangered dwarf trout lily, the rarest plant in the state.

    Learn More or Visit

  • Cannon River Turtle Preserve SNA

    This SNA safeguards a section of the Cannon River downstream of Welch, not far from where it merges with the Mississippi River. The sandbars and nearby uplands provide potential nesting habitats for turtles, and portions of this SNA are designated as sanctuary areas during certain seasons.

    Learn More or Visit

  • Murphy WMA

    Murphy WMA is 200 acres and features a varied landscape of wetlands, grasslands, and forests. It is managed to support habitats for songbirds, game birds, deciduous and hardwood forest species, as well as wildlife from brushlands, grasslands, and wetlands. 

    Learn More or Visit

  • Little Cannon River AMA

    Divided by the Little Cannon River, a designated trout stream by the DNR, this AMA features a blend of riverbank, mature forests, and agricultural fields to be restored to their natural state. This land acquisition provides anglers with access and an opportunity for streambank restoration.

    Learn More or Visit

  • Sakatah WMA: In-Yan Bo-Sda-Ta Wa-Kpa

    Spanning about 160 acres, this WMA features "Big Woods", prairie, and wetlands; all are carefully managed to support habitats for a diversity of wildlife species. The hill on the western edge offers stunning views of the area and its surroundings.

    Learn More or Visit

  • Phelps Lake WMA

    This WMA lies on the west shore of Phelps Lake and Sand Creek headwaters. It features rolling terrain with grasslands, forests, and wetlands. Management focuses on protecting wetlands and shorelines while preserving diverse habitats for migratory and resident wildlife.

    Learn More or Visit

Our Partners in Habitat Protection

Are you interested in preserving your land?

We are working with Minnesota Residents to protect tomorrow’s landscape, one acre at a time.

In Steele County, Don and Sue Redman took important steps to protect 153 acres of land near the Straight River, helping establish the Medford Wildlife Management Area. Their commitment to conservation has improved access to hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing, while also creating opportunities to restore critical habitat for a nearby threatened species.

Through our habitat protection program, you can safeguard the resources on your property while creating public access for all Minnesotans. Please contact our team to learn more.

Questions?

Contact Anna Holman (she/her), our
Conservation Program Manager, Habitat

anna@cleanriverpartners.org
(507) 200-8219