People hiking on a green, rolling prairie alongside a pond at Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.
Minnesota Prairie Thanks to members and Minnesota’s Legacy Fund, TNC has helped protect more of the state’s prairies, forests and wetlands. © Richard Hamilton Smith

Stories in Minnesota

What a Legacy!

Minnesota’s Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment Is Crucial to Conservation

August 26, 2020

Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment
Minnesota Legacy Logo Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment © 2014 Legislative Coordinating Commission

The Nature Conservancy protected all of the properties shown on the map below with funding from Minnesota's Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2008.

Funding for the acquisitions was provided by the Outdoor Heritage Fund, which was created under the Legacy Amendment, through appropriations by the Minnesota Legislature as recommended by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.

All of these properties are open to the public for hiking, photography and bird-watching. The Minnesota State Constitution also requires all properties purchased with Outdoor Heritage Fund dollars to be open to hunting.

The Nature Conservancy works to manage and restore these lands to their natural condition prior to European settlement for the benefit of people, native plants and wildlife.

Learn more about the Clean Water & Legacy Amendment and the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.

Beaches Lake
The Nature Conservancy protected approximately 320 acres in Kittson County.
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Belgium Prairie
The Nature Conservancy protected 160 acres in Polk County within the Tallgrass Aspen Parkland landscape.
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Blazing Star Prairie
The Nature Conservancy protected approximately 1,088 acres in Clay County.
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Bluestem Prairie Addition
The Nature Conservancy protected approximately 656 acres in Clay County.
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Caribou Woodland
The Nature Conservancy protected approximately 160 acres in Kittson County adjacent to Caribou WMA.
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Chippewa Prairie Addition
The Nature Conservancy protected an approximately 240 acre-property in Swift County.
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Choice WMA
The Nature Conservancy protected 1,054 acres in the Root River watershed in Fillmore County.
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Devil's Playground
The Nature Conservancy protected approximately 317 acres in Kittson County within the Tallgrass Aspen Parkland landscape.
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Glacial Lakes
The Nature Conservancy protected an approximately 97 acre-property in Pope County.
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Lake Johanna Esker
Lake Johanna Esker is an approximately 806-acre property in Pope County protected by The Nature Conservancy.
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Marcoux Prairie
The Nature Conservancy protected 401 acres in Red Lake County.
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Mentor Prairie
The Nature Conservancy protected two non-contiguous properties totaling approximately 480 acres in Polk County.
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Ordway Prairie Addition
The Nature Conservancy protected an approximately 260-acre property in Pope County.
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Pelan Prairie
The Nature Conservancy protected approximately 240 acres in Kittson County within the Tallgrass Aspen Parkland landscape.
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Plover Prairie Addition
The Nature Conservancy protected an approximately 240 acre-property in Lac Qui Parle County.
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Regal Meadow Addition
The Nature Conservancy protected nearly 159 acres in Kandiyohi County.
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Rush Creek Woods WMA
The Nature Conservancy protected 274 acres in Fillmore and Houston counties.
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Seven Springs WMA
The Nature Conservancy preserved 272 acres in Fillmore County to protect springs and a trout stream connected to Forestville-Mystery Cave State Park.
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Skull Lake
The Nature Conservancy protected approximately 631 acres in Kittson County.
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Spring Prairie Preserve
Spring Prairie Preserve is an approximately 470 acre-property in Clay County protected by The Nature Conservancy.
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Twin Lakes
The Nature Conservancy protected 69 acres in Kittson County within the Tallgrass Aspen Parkland landscape.
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Twin Valley Prairie Addition
The Nature Conservancy protected 403 acres in Clay County.
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Tympanuchus Prairie
The Nature Conservancy protected approximately 160 acres in Polk County.
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Upper Manitou Forest Preserve Addition
The Nature Conservancy protected 240 acres of old-growth forest in Lake County northwest of Minnesota’s George H. Crosby Manitou State Park.
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Whitewater WMA Addition
The Nature Conservancy protected 44 acres in Winona County that have been added to the Whitewater Wildlife Management Area (WMA).
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RJ Dorer Forest: Rushford Sand Barrens Unit
The Nature Conservancy protected land totaling 143 acres in Fillmore and Houston counties that have been added to the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest.
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RJ Dorer Forest: Wet Bark Unit (North)
The Nature Conservancy protected land totaling 143 acres in Fillmore and Houston counties that have been added to the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest.
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RJ Dorer Forest: Wet Bark Unit (South)
The Nature Conservancy protected land totaling 143 acres in Fillmore and Houston counties that have been added to the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest.
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NTP NWR: Brandenburg Prairie Unit
The Nature Conservancy acquired 1,103 acres in Minnesota that have been added to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.
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NTP NWR: Forstrom Unit
The Nature Conservancy acquired 1,103 acres in Minnesota that have been added to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.
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NTP NWR: Hoffman Unit
The Nature Conservancy acquired 1,103 acres in Minnesota that have been added to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.
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NTP NWR: Mears Unit
The Nature Conservancy acquired 1,103 acres in Minnesota that have been added to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.
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NTP NWR: Pavia Unit
The Nature Conservancy acquired 1,103 acres in Minnesota that have been added to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.
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NTP NWR: Pell Creek Unit
The Nature Conservancy acquired 1,103 acres in Minnesota that have been added to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.
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NTP NWR: Spieker Unit
The Nature Conservancy acquired 1,103 acres in Minnesota that have been added to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.
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NTP NWR: Storm Unit
The Nature Conservancy acquired 1,103 acres in Minnesota that have been added to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.
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NTP NWR: Woolcott Unit
The Nature Conservancy acquired 1,103 acres in Minnesota that have been added to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.
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Properties acquired by The Nature Conservancy thanks to members and Minnesota's Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment

Legacy Acquisitions

Beaches Lake
Belgium Prairie
Blazing Star Prairie
Bluestem Prairie Addition
Caribou Woodland
Chippewa Prairie Addition
Choice WMA
Devil's Playground
Glacial Lakes
Lake Johanna Esker
Marcoux Prairie
Mentor Prairie
Norman T. Dahlman WMA Addition
Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge (Brandenburg Prairie Unit, Forstrom Unit, Hoffman Unit, Mears Unit, Pavia Unit, Pell Creek Unit, Spieker Unit, Storm Unit, Woolcott Unit)
Ordway Prairie Addition
Pelan Prairie
Plover Prairie Addition
Regal Meadow Addition
Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest Additions
Ringo Nest WMA Addition
Rush Creek Woods WMA
Schueler WMA
Seven Springs WMA
Skull Lake
Spring Prairie Preserve
Twin Lakes
Twin Valley Prairie Addition
Tympanuchus Prairie
Upper Manitou Forest Preserve Addition
Whitewater WMA Addition

 

Contact Information

For additional information on The Nature Conservancy’s Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment projects, contact Minnesota@tnc.org.

Questions about Minnesota’s Outdoor Heritage Fund or the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council can be sent to lsohc@lsohc.leg.mn.

The Outdoor Heritage Fund, as well as the other funds established as a result of Minnesota’s Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, is overseen by the Legislative Coordinating Commission (LCC). The Commission can be reached at lcc@lcc.leg.mn.

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