Minnesota - Glacial Ridge: A Prairie Reborn | The Nature Conservancy

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Minnesota

Glacial Ridge: A Prairie Reborn

Putting Glacial Ridge’s prairies and wetlands back together is paying off for wildlife and people.

View a slideshow

Glacial Ridge, wildflowers -- John Gregor [SPLASH]

Prairie restored by The Nature Conservancy make up the core of Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge. © John Gregor/ColdSnap Photography

Twelve years ago, The Nature Conservancy undertook an ambitious project: converting thousands of acres of low-quality farmland to native tallgrass prairie and wetland in northwest Minnesota. That effort became the largest prairie-wetland restoration in U.S. history and created what is now Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge.

Features

Features

Glacial Ridge, prairie -- John Gregor [COLLECTION_THUMB]

Prairie restored by The Nature Conservancy make up the core of Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge. © John Gregor/ColdSnap Photography

A Big Gamble

Glacial Ridge is the largest-prairie wetland restoration in U.S. history. Learn more

Glacial Ridge, reconstruction -- John Gregor [COLLECTION_THUMB]

Reconstructing Glacial Ridge’s prairies and wetlands was a monumental undertaking. © John Gregor/ColdSnap Photography

Reconstructing the Prairie

Reconstructing Glacial Ridge’s prairies and wetlands was a monumental undertaking. Read more

Glacial Ridge, sunset -- John Gregor [COLLECTION_THUMB]

The Nature Conservancy restored Glacial Ridge with the help of more than 30 partners including the Natural Resources Conservation Service. © John Gregor/ColdSnap Photography

A Prairie for Everyone

The Nature Conservancy restored Glacial Ridge with the help of more than 30 partners including the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Explore

Minnesota Glacial Ridge Slideshow [COLLECTION_THUMB]

Glacial Ridge is the largest prairie-wetland restoration in U.S. history. © John Gregor/ColdSnap Photography

Glacial Ridge Project Slideshow

A landmark effort to restore prairie, wetlands and life in northwestern Minnesota. View slideshow

Read More

Lion in Maasai Mara, Kenya, Africa. © Kenneth K. Coe

Close Encounters with Nature

Whether scary or exciting, nature has a way of sneaking up on you. See stories

Arden O’Connor. © Lajla LeBlanc

Nature Matters

Hear some of nature's success stories and see how nature matters to us all. Watch videos

Experience Great Places Online

WOPA080818_D104 2010-09-16 240x160

Elakala Falls in Blackwater State Park of West Virginia. The Conservancy works within the Blackwater River watershed. "Best Places We Protect" finalist. © Troy and Rusty Lilly

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Explore Related Content

Glacial Ridge Project

When the project started in 2000, only about 3,000 acres of the more than 24,000 acres purchased was native prairie. Visit the prairie

Places We Protect

We have more than 50 preserves in Minnesota. Learn more