Scientific and Natural Area Acquisition

Overall Project Outcome and Results
Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) dollars from this appropriation contributed toward the acquisition of six sites protecting a total of 673 acres (211.3 acres using ENRTF dollars; 461.7 acres using other funds) with rare features and native plant communities. These acquisitions resulted in three new Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) units within the State Outdoor Recreation System - Chimney Rock SNA (Dakota County), Clinton Falls Dwarf Trout Lily SNA (Steele County), and Lester Lake SNA (Hubbard County) - plus additions to three existing SNAs - Franconia Bluffs SNA (Chisago County), Lake Alexander Woods SNA (Morrison County), and St. Wendel Tamarack Bog SNA (Stearns County).

About the sites:

• The 77-acre new Chimney Rock SNA acquisition included a landowner donation and funding from Dakota County and the Department's rare species mitigation funds (pro-rated at 44.6 acres for this appropriation). Chimney Rock SNA is named for its unique geological feature of statewide significance and contains four rare plant species.
• The 21-acre Clinton Falls Dwarf Trout Lily SNA contains the world's largest population of the Minnesota endemic species of dwarf trout lily which straddles and is riparian to the Straight River.
• The new 440-acre Lester Lake site - jointly managed as an SNA and an Aquatic Management Area (320 acres designated as SNA and 120 acres designated as AMA) - was acquired through the Trust for Public Land with funding support from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, Kabekona Lake Association and Foundation, and Reinvest in Minnesota (pro-rated at 30.3 ENRTF acres for this appropriation). This site fully contains the undisturbed 70-acre Lester Lake, forested and sedge meadow native plant communities, and habitat for state special concern red-shouldered hawk and white adder's mouth orchid.
• Additions to existing SNAs include various native forest communities at the 35-acre Franconia Bluffs SNA, Parcel 2 (prorated at approximately 15.4 acres ENRTF), a 40-acre addition to Lake Alexander Woods SNA, and a 60-acre addition to the St. Wendel Tamarack Bog.