What a Legacy!
Minnesota’s Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment Is Crucial to Conservation
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.
Belgium Prairie
The Nature Conservancy protected 160 acres in Polk County within the Tallgrass Aspen Parkland landscape.
Blazing Star Prairie
The Nature Conservancy protected approximately 1,088 acres in Clay County.
Bluestem Prairie Addition
The Nature Conservancy protected approximately 656 acres in Clay County.
Caribou Woodland
The Nature Conservancy protected approximately 160 acres in Kittson County adjacent to Caribou WMA.
Chippewa Prairie Addition
The Nature Conservancy protected an approximately 240 acre-property in Swift County.
Choice WMA
The Nature Conservancy protected 1,054 acres in the Root River watershed in Fillmore County.
Devil's Playground
The Nature Conservancy protected approximately 317 acres in Kittson County within the Tallgrass Aspen Parkland landscape.
Glacial Lakes
The Nature Conservancy protected an approximately 97 acre-property in Pope County.
Lake Johanna Esker
Lake Johanna Esker is an approximately 806-acre property in Pope County protected by The Nature Conservancy.
Marcoux Prairie
The Nature Conservancy protected 401 acres in Red Lake County.
Mentor Prairie
The Nature Conservancy protected two non-contiguous properties totaling approximately 480 acres in Polk County.
Ordway Prairie Addition
The Nature Conservancy protected an approximately 260-acre property in Pope County.
Pelan Prairie
The Nature Conservancy protected approximately 240 acres in Kittson County within the Tallgrass Aspen Parkland landscape.
Plover Prairie Addition
The Nature Conservancy protected an approximately 240 acre-property in Lac Qui Parle County.
Regal Meadow Addition
The Nature Conservancy protected nearly 159 acres in Kandiyohi County.
Rush Creek Woods WMA
The Nature Conservancy protected 274 acres in Fillmore and Houston counties.
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.
Skull Lake
The Nature Conservancy protected approximately 631 acres in Kittson County.
Spring Prairie Preserve
Spring Prairie Preserve is an approximately 470 acre-property in Clay County protected by The Nature Conservancy.
Twin Lakes
The Nature Conservancy protected 69 acres in Kittson County within the Tallgrass Aspen Parkland landscape.
Twin Valley Prairie Addition
The Nature Conservancy protected 403 acres in Clay County.
Tympanuchus Prairie
The Nature Conservancy protected approximately 160 acres in Polk County.
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.
Whitewater WMA Addition
The Nature Conservancy protected 44 acres in Winona County that have been added to the Whitewater Wildlife Management Area (WMA).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
NTP NWR: Myers Unit
The Nature Conservancy acquired 2,227 acres in Minnesota that have been added to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.
NTP NWR: Okke Unit
The Nature Conservancy acquired 2,227 acres in Minnesota that have been added to the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.
Florian Preserve
TNC protected 135 acres in the Tallgrass Aspen Parkland landscape comprised of grasslands and beach ridge wetlands that provide habitat for a variety of wildlife.
McCarthy Lake WMA Addition
The Nature Conservancy protected 146 acres in Wabasha County, including sand prairie and dune habitat for grassland nesting birds and Blanding’s turtles.
Agassiz Dunes Addition
The Nature Conservancy protected approximately 120 acres of native prairie and grasslands in Polk County that provide essential habitat for grassland birds and prairie pollinators.
Hole-in-the-Mountain Prairie Addition
TNC protected 199 acres in Lincoln County that includes native prairie, an oak-basswood forest & coulee, providing habitat for prairie butterflies & grassland birds.
Leif Mountain Addition
TNC protected 54 acres in Kandiyohi County, including a dry gravel hill prairie rated as outstanding by the Minnesota Biological Survey as well as woodlands and wetlands.
Weaver Dunes Addition
The Nature Conservancy protected approximately 146 acres in Wabasha County, including sand prairie and dune habitat for grassland nesting birds and Blanding’s turtles.
Properties acquired by The Nature Conservancy thanks to members and Minnesota's Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment
Legacy Acquisitions
- Agassiz Dunes Addition
- Beaches Lake
- Belgium Prairie
- Blazing Star Prairie Addition
- Bluestem Prairie Addition
- Caribou Woodland
- Chippewa Prairie Addition
- Choice WMA
- Devil's Playground
- Glacial Lakes Savanna
- Hole-in-the-Mountain Prairie Addition
- Lake Johanna Esker
- Leif Mountain Addition
- Marcoux Prairie
- McCarthy Lake WMA Addition
- Mentor Prairie
- Norman T. Dahlman WMA Addition
- Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge
- 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
- Wallace C. Dayton Wildlife Area Addition
- Weaver Dunes 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.