Description
The Nature Conservancy preserved 337 acres in Fillmore County to protect springs and a trout stream connected to Forestville-Mystery Cave State Park.
The property, which also includes bluff and native prairie, is now owned and managed by Minnesota DNR as Seven Springs Wildlife Management Area.
Seven Springs WMA helps protect groundwater and surface water to the South Branch of the Root River, a coldwater stream that flows to nearby Forestville-Mystery Cave State Park.
The acquisition of Seven Springs WMA was completed under TNC’s Southeast Minnesota Protection and Restoration Program.
Funding for the property was provided by the Outdoor Heritage Fund, which was created under the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, through an appropriation by the Minnesota Legislature as recommended by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.
Seven Springs WMA is open to the public for hiking, photography and bird-watching. The Minnesota State Constitution requires property purchased with Outdoor Heritage Fund dollars to be open to the public taking of fish and game during the open season. Hunting, trapping and fishing is allowed on this property in accordance with DNR Wildlife Management Areas rules published in the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Handbook.
