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Redwood Falls, Minn. —
“If you want to see what this part of Minnesota looked like 200 years ago, before the white man came, this is some of the best of the best,” said Jeff Zajac last week.
Zajac, area wildlife manager for the Minnesota DNR, was standing on a granite bluff overlooking the Minnesota River about 10 miles northwest of Redwood Falls.
“The area of land that’s never been plowed in Minnesota is way below one percent,” said Zajac.
The Cedar Rock Wildlife Management Area was purchased by the DNR from Bob Starr in 1971, and includes areas of original prairie, that have never been touched for ag purposes.
“There’s a reason this land has never been plowed,” Zajac said. Usually, the soil is just a few inches deep, with a solid layer of granite just underneath.
As Zajac toured the Cedar Rock lands, he pointed out large areas of exposed Morton gneiss poking out between the plant life.
Zajac said the DNR often winds up with “poorer” land to turn into wildlife management areas.
Of course, it depends on what your definition of “poorer” is. If your goal is appreciating the native Minnesota landscape, wildlife management areas provide some of the richest areas around.
The DNR owns about 640 acres near Cedar Rock, but the DNR is also cooperating with other landowners to restore privately owned land to its original state.
“Four other land owners in this area are also doing exciting things here,” Zajac said, mentioning one who is cutting down stands of recent cedar trees to bring his land closer to the nearly treeless state it was decades ago.
“We’ve identified about four dozen native flowers in this field, and about 12 native grasses,” said Zajac, standing in a privately-owned field near the DNR’s Cedar Rock land.
He pointed out some spiky purple flowers growing nearby.
“Those are prairie blazing star. They’re a good indicator you’re on land that’s never been plowed.”
When native grasses and flowers bloom, the DNR will send people out to pick seeds, often by hand, to replant in nearby areas.
Two types of grass life grow near Cedar Rock. “Exotic” grasses were brought over from Europe for various purposes, and “native” grasses are what were here before.
Through a process of early-season burn offs and cattle grazing, the DNR has a long-term plan to eliminate the exotic grasses, and leave just the native.
“If you want to see what this part of Minnesota looked like 200 years ago, before the white man came, this is some of the best of the best,” said Jeff Zajac last week.
Zajac, area wildlife manager for the Minnesota DNR, was standing on a granite bluff overlooking the Minnesota River about 10 miles northwest of Redwood Falls.
“The area of land that’s never been plowed in Minnesota is way below one percent,” said Zajac.
The Cedar Rock Wildlife Management Area was purchased by the DNR from Bob Starr in 1971, and includes areas of original prairie, that have never been touched for ag purposes.
“There’s a reason this land has never been plowed,” Zajac said. Usually, the soil is just a few inches deep, with a solid layer of granite just underneath.
As Zajac toured the Cedar Rock lands, he pointed out large areas of exposed Morton gneiss poking out between the plant life.
Zajac said the DNR often winds up with “poorer” land to turn into wildlife management areas.
Of course, it depends on what your definition of “poorer” is. If your goal is appreciating the native Minnesota landscape, wildlife management areas provide some of the richest areas around.
The DNR owns about 640 acres near Cedar Rock, but the DNR is also cooperating with other landowners to restore privately owned land to its original state.
“Four other land owners in this area are also doing exciting things here,” Zajac said, mentioning one who is cutting down stands of recent cedar trees to bring his land closer to the nearly treeless state it was decades ago.
“We’ve identified about four dozen native flowers in this field, and about 12 native grasses,” said Zajac, standing in a privately-owned field near the DNR’s Cedar Rock land.
He pointed out some spiky purple flowers growing nearby.
“Those are prairie blazing star. They’re a good indicator you’re on land that’s never been plowed.”
When native grasses and flowers bloom, the DNR will send people out to pick seeds, often by hand, to replant in nearby areas.
Two types of grass life grow near Cedar Rock. “Exotic” grasses were brought over from Europe for various purposes, and “native” grasses are what were here before.
Through a process of early-season burn offs and cattle grazing, the DNR has a long-term plan to eliminate the exotic grasses, and leave just the native.
The DNR has worked out sharecropping arrangements with local farmers to grow crops on some of the land, and let animals graze on the rest.
“Cattle grazing actually helps restore the land,” said Zajac. “They eat the newer grasses, and allow the native plants to grow.”
Zajac emphasized the wildlife management areas are public land, and anyone who wants can walk through them at any time.
However, the DNR doe have restrictions, such as no camping, no fire, and no horses allowed. It’s a good idea to give the DNR a call if you have questions.
The areas are worth the visit.
“This is as nice a little piece of prairie as you’re going to find nowadays,” said Zajac, of the area around Cedar Rock. “This piece here is just about the same as it was 200 years ago.”
