Explore Minnesota s Prairies A guide to selected prairies around the state. By Peter Buesseler ECAUSE I'M the Depart- ment of Natural Re- sources state prairie biologist, people of- Bten ask me where they can go to see a prairie. Fortunately, Minnesota has established an outstanding system of prai- rie preserves. No state in the upper Midwest surpasses Minnesota in terms of acre- age and variety of tallgrass prairie protected. There is Among the prairies to explore are spectacular probably native prairie closer bluffland prairies located just a few hours south to you than you think. of the Twin Cities along the Mississippi River. When is the best time to visit a prairie? From the first pasque Read about the different prairie flowers and booming of prairie chick- regions and preserves described be- ens in April, to the last asters and low, then plan an outing with family bottle gentians in October, the prairie or friends. The most important thing is a kaleidoscope of color and change. is not when or where to go—just go! So don't worry. Every day is a good The following abbreviations are day to see prairie. used in the list of prairie sites: SNA 30 THE MINNESOTA VOLUNTEER means the prairie is a state scientific wildlife refuge. My personal favorites and natural area; TNC means the are marked with an asterisk (*). Have prairie is owned by The Nature Con- fun exploring your prairie heritage. servancy, a private, nonprofit conser- Red River Valley vation organization; WMA means the During the last ice age (10,000 to site is a state wildlife management 12,000 years ago), a great lake area; and NWR stands for national stretched from Wheaton, Minn., to the JULY-AUGUST 1990 31 Our Prairie Heritage sandy beach ridges of Glacial Lake Agassiz. Crookston Today, some of Minnesota's largest MALMBERG PRAIRIE tracts of prairie are found along this PEMBINA TRAIL ridge-and-swale topography. The PRESERVE/ YMPANUCHUS crests of the ridges support dry sand MA prairie and gravel prairie (a type of AGASSIZ DUNES dry limestone prairie), dominated by FRENCHMAN'S BLUFF I short and mid-height grasses. The O lower slopes support moist upland and wet lowland prairies. This is one of the last places one can hear the reso- • FELTON PRAIRIE nant booming of prairie chickens. Moorhead * Pembina Trail Preserve SNA- TNC, Tympanuchus WMA: 9 miles west of Mentor on County Road 45. Several thousand acres of moist and wet tallgrass prairie. Prairie chickens, ROTHSAY WMA moose. Agassiz Dunes SNA-TNC: 1 mile south and mile west of Fertile on O Breckenridge Highway 32. Dry sand prairie, sand savanna, dunes. Red River Malmberg Prairie SNA-TNC: 9 Valley miles west of Crookston on County Road 9, then 2 miles south on County Northwest Minnesota prairie sites. Road 56. Only tallgrass prairie on Agassiz Lake basin. northern end of Lake Winnipeg in Frenchman's Bluff SNA-TNC: 4 Manitoba. This lake, called Glacial miles east of Syre on Highway 113, Lake Agassiz, occupied what is now then 1'/io miles north on County Road known as the Red River Valley. In the 36. Gravel prairie on glacial hill. central part of the Red River Valley Bluestem Prairie SNA-TNC (Buf- lies the old lake plain, a nearly level falo River State Park): 11 miles east of stretch of rich, silty soils formed un- Moorhead on Highway 10, then 1 mile der water 300 feet deep. On the east- south on Highway 9, then 1 mile east ern edge of the valley, low, steplike on County Road 79. Two beach rises and wet swales mark former ridges; gravel, moist, and wet prairie. Rare plants, prairie chickens. Peter Buesseler is DNR prairie biologist, * Felton Prairie (Bicentennial Prai- Fergus Falls. rie and Blazing Star units SNA-TNC): 32 THE MINNESOTA VOLUNTEER KEITH WENOT Once widespread, moist upland prairies are now one of the rarest ecosystems in the Midwest. Because of their deep, fertile soil, most of these prairies have been plowed and planted. Indian grass and big bluestem dominated these tallgrass prairies. Purple prairie clover (right) blooms from July to September. DAN RUDA Our Prairie Heritage DAN RUDA The burrowing owl (right), a state endangered bird, was reintroduced to its original prairie habitat in 1985. Native prairie and the rare species they shelter are the subjects of intensive inventory by the Minnesota County Biological Survey. DNR field biologist Robert Dana (top right) surveys Rothsay Prairie Wildlife Management Area. Large prairie preserves in the western part of the state harbor the Dakota skipper, a state threatened butterfly (far right). Dense prairie grasses shelter the banded arigope (center). Wet lowland prairies, such as this one in western Minnesota (below), serve as breeding grounds for rare bird species, such as sandhill cranes. Here prairie blazing star is in full bloom. THE NATURE CONSERVANCY . - At*. W..« ..i,, •'' R HAMILTON SMITH Before European settlement, prairie burned every three or four years. To maintain native prairie, the Nature Conser- vancy periodically burns its preserves, such as Staffanson Prairie (above) in Douglas County. Fire rejuvenates prairie plants, reducing litter buildup and releasing nutri- ents back into the soil. Following a fire, big bluestem (left) may reach heights of 6 feet or more. Minnesota River Valley Coteau des Prairies Prairie preserves to see in south-central and southwestern Minnesota. 2 miles south of Felton on Highway miles north on gravel road. More than 9, then 3 miles east on County Road 4,000 acres of moist and wet prairies. 108 to gravel road, continue '/< mile to Prairie chickens. SNA sign. Chestnut-collared long- Minnesota River Valley spurs, upland sandpipers, and rare From the boulder-strewn terraces butterflies. overlooking the Minnesota River Val- Rothsay WMA: 4 miles west of ley, it is apparent that the present river Rothsay on County Road 26, then 2 is too small to have carved out this JULY-AUGUST 1990 37 Our Prairie Heritage deep, broad valley. It was, in fact, emergent wetlands, potholes. created by Glacial River Warren, Yellow Bank Hills SNA: 1 mile east which once drained tremendous vol- of Nassau on County Road 24. West- umes of water from Glacial Lake ern hill prairie. Agassiz through southern Minnesota. Ottawa Bluffs TNC: 1 mile east of Prairie remnants can be found on St. Peter on Highway 99, then 4 miles some of the steep valley slopes, boul- north on County Road 23. Dry lime- der-covered abandoned channels of stone prairie. Woodlands, panorama Glacial River Warren, and coarse soils of Minnesota River Valley. of the Big Stone Moraine. Prairie also Kasota Prairie TNC: 1 mile south remains among the granitic outcrops of St. Peter on Highway 22, then exposed in the river valley between southwest on County Road 21 New Ulm and Ortonville. Rock knobs through Kasota, 3/4 mile south on rise up here as much as 100 feet from County Road 21, then 1 '/> miles west the valley floor. The rocky soils sup- on County Road 101. Dry limestone port pincushion cactus, buffalo grass, prairie on the former terrace of Gla- and other plants resembling those cial River Warren. growing in arid regions of the Great Tauer Prairie SNA: 3 miles north of Plains. The granitic outcrops shelter Hanska on County Highway 13, then the state's rarest lizard—the five-lined 2 miles west on County Road 22, then skink. '/« mile north on gravel road. Moist * Chippewa Prairie TNC, Lac qui upland prairie. Parle WMA: 2 xh miles north of Milan Alexandria Moraine on Highway 59, then 2 miles west on One of Minnesota's most scenic prai- gravel road. Western hill prairie, a rie regions, the Alexandria Moraine is kind of dry limestone prairie, over- dotted with small lakes surrounded looking Lac qui Parle. by prairie hills and oak ridges. Most Big Stone NWR: 1 miles south- prairie remnants in this region are east of Ortonville on Highway 7, then gravel prairies found on the crests and south on gravel road at wildlife ref- side slopes of morainic hills. uge sign. Rock outcrops. Cactus, Ordway Prairie TNC: 7 miles east buffalo grass, five-lined skink. of Brooten on County Highway 8, Bonanza Prairie SNA (Big Stone then 3 miles south on Highway 104. Lake State Park): 14 miles northwest Park at the historical marker. Mosaic of Ortonville on Highway 7, then x/i of woods, prairie, hills, marshes. mile west. Western hill prairie, oak * Glacial Lakes State Park: 2 miles savanna. south of Starbuck on Highway 29, Prairie and Victory WMAs: 1 mile then 2 miles south on County High- north of Ortonville on Highway 75, way 41. Gravel prairie. Rolling prai- then 2 miles east on County Road 12 rie hills, lakes, ponds, marshes. to parking area. Moist to wet prairie, Strandness Prairie TNC: 1 mile 38 THE MINNESOTA VOLUNTEER Mississippi River Bluffs Wabasha KELLOGG-WEAVER DUNES BEAVER NATURAL AREA- WHITEWATER WMA Twin Cities Metro Area Southern Oak Barrens Selected prairie sites to visit in the southeastern part of the state. south of Lowry on Highway 114, then manding view of Lake Christina from xh mile east on gravel road, then 1 'A the summit. miles south on gravel road to park- Staffanson Prairie TNC: 1'/: miles ing area. Gravel prairie. north of Kensington on County Road Seven Sisters Prairie TNC: 3 miles 1, then 2 miles west on gravel road, 1 east of Ashby on State Highway 78. mile north on gravel road, then west Park in the gravel pit at the base of on field road to northeastern corner the hill. Gravel prairie with a com- of preserve.