Protecting Our Habitats: A Call to Action for Our Community

In southeast Minnesota, including the Cannon River watershed, much of our landscape is privately owned and used for development or agriculture. This has led to significant habitat loss and deteriorating water quality—a reality that affects us all. However, there are still opportunities to address these challenges and make meaningful improvements to our environment.

The natural habitats of southeast Minnesota are remarkable and diverse. Our ‘big woods’ regions are home to hardwoods like red oak and sugar maple, providing essential shelter for wildlife such as white-tailed deer and wild turkeys. While the vast prairies have shrunk over the years, they still burst with wildflowers and grasses that support vital pollinators like the rusty patch bumblebee and birds like the western meadowlark. Wetlands, often overlooked, serve as natural filters for our water and breeding grounds for migratory birds like wood ducks and trumpeter swans.

Pictured: Western Meadowlark perched on a fence in Minnesota. Photo by Mike Budd/USFWS.

These ecosystems are essential not only for biodiversity but also for the quality of life for all who live here. They provide critical services, including clean water, fresh air, and flood control. Unfortunately, a large portion of these habitats has been lost in our watershed, and there is a critical need to protect existing habitats and restore them when possible. 

But there is still hope for our environment, and our community can play a vital role in making a difference. A local nonprofit organization, Clean River Partners, is actively working alongside Trust for Public Land and Great River Greening on a long-term conservation program. Their goal? To acquire and restore land for public use. Recently, this collaboration led to the successful opening of two state wildlife management areas (WMAs) in Rice and Steele counties.

The Medford WMA in Steele County protects 153 acres next to the Straight River, preserving essential habitats for wildlife, including a nearby threatened species. On this property, we are reclaiming land used for gravel mining and agriculture and restoring it to prairie, native vegetated wetlands, and riparian forests. By safeguarding this land, we help prevent habitat loss, improve water quality, and provide excellent recreational opportunities.

The Sakatah WMA - In-Yan Bo-Sda-Ta Wa-Kpa Unit in Rice County encompasses 164 acres near the Cannon River. This region is crucial for connecting various sections of the 'big woods' ecosystem and offers the opportunity to restore historic wetlands and grassland areas by breaking up tiles from previous agricultural use, while also creating waterfowl breeding habitats. The landscape in this part of Minnesota features prairie pothole wetlands and lies along the Mississippi Flyway, an important route for migratory birds traveling across the United States.

Pictured: Jennifer Grommes from Great River Greening at the Medford WMA Dedication event last summer. Photo by Hannah Robb.

These improvements were made possible thanks to the generosity of previous landowners who chose to protect their properties for public use. Once habitat restoration is complete, stewardship of the land will be transitioned to a public entity, such as the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Interested landowners in the Cannon River Watershed can learn more about the program and process by contacting Clean River Partners' Conservation Program Manager, Anna Holman, at anna@cleanriverpartners.org or (507) 200-8219. 

But selling land for conservation isn’t the only way you can help. Our newly opened WMAs are undergoing habitat restoration, and we need volunteers to assist. Participating in restoration activities, such as removing invasive plants, hand-seeding, and planting native species, provides an excellent opportunity to connect with nature, learn new skills, and contribute to the health of our ecosystems. 

We encourage everyone to get involved. Great River Greening is hosting restoration events in June at both locations. On Friday, June 6, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., participate in a native planting event at the Sakatah WMA. Then, on Saturday, June 21, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., come to the Medford WMA for a hand-seeding event.

Pictured: Judith Altobell, a volunteer and former landowner, and Ollin Montes from Great River Greening at a planting event at the Sakatah WMA last fall. Photo by Clean River Partners.

These natural areas not only support wildlife and biodiversity but also provide recreational opportunities. Access to nature is crucial for our physical and mental well-being, offering a respite from the stresses of daily life. Although less than 5% of the land in our area is publicly owned, these spaces allow us to enjoy activities such as hunting, fishing, wildlife watching, and more.

The urgent need for collective action is clear. There are many ways each of us can make a meaningful impact in the fight against habitat loss in Minnesota—whether that involves selling land for public use, volunteering with a local environmental organization, or simply making the effort to enjoy and appreciate our public natural spaces. Together, we can protect and restore the incredible habitats that make southeast Minnesota so special.

Funding for the Cannon River Watershed Habitat Protection and Restoration program was provided by the Outdoor Heritage Fund, as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature and recommended by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC), to restore, protect, and enhance Minnesota's wetlands, prairies, forests, and habitats for fish, game, and wildlife.