Glacial Ridge Refuge Joins System
Preserves Tallgrass Prairie and Wetlands in Northwest Minnesota
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Interior Secretary Gale Norton and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty unveiled the entrance sign to the new Glacial Ridge NWR during a press conference at the state capitol Oct. 12.
– Chuck Traxler/USFWS
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Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge in northwest Minnesota – the nation's 545th refuge – was officially created during a ceremonial press conference Oct. 12 at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul. Interior Secretary Gale Norton joined Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty in announcing the new refuge, which will eventually preserve more than 35,000 acres of northern tallgrass prairie and wetland habitat.
Launched with the donation of a 2,000-acre parcel by The Nature Conservancy, the refuge will advance the largest tallgrass prairie and wetland restoration project in U.S. history. Less than 1 percent of Minnesota's original prairie habitat still exists. A ceremony commemorating the formal transfer of the first donated parcel will be held Oct. 26 in Crookston, Minn.
The new refuge, designated during National Wildlife Refuge Week, will become a major waterfowl breeding and nesting area, providing habitat for declining grassland birds, greater prairie chickens, sandhill cranes, as well as the federally-endangered western prairie fringed orchid, among other species.
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The new Glacial Ridge NWR, MN, will become a major waterfowl breeding and nesting area. Eventually, the refuge will span 35,000 acres.
– Photo Credit: The Nature Conservancy
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Funding for additions to the refuge, estimated to be $3-$4 million over the next decade, will come from fees generated by Federal Duck Stamps, purchased by waterfowl hunters.
"Today's action reflects our commitment to work with partners so wetlands are preserved and wildlife protected," Interior Secretary Gale Norton said. "More outdoor enthusiasts will be able to enjoy the unique landscape Glacial Ridge has to offer."
"It has been one of the finest examples of partnership I've ever been associated with," said Ron Nargang, state director of The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota. "More than 30 entities have contributed to its success."
In addition to The Nature Conservancy, project partners include the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Waterfowl Association. The new refuge has the strong support of Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, Senators Norm Coleman and Mark Dayton and Representative Collin Peterson, as well as numerous Minnesota, Polk County and local leaders.
"From a state perspective, Glacial Ridge is a crown jewel of Minnesota's natural resources," said Governor Tim Pawlenty, who also proclaimed the week of October 10-17 as National Wildlife Refuge Week in Minnesota.
Over the last 30 years, much of the proposed refuge area has been drained or converted for agricultural purposes. The refuge seeks to restore up to 12,000 acres of wetlands and 14,000 acres of tallgrass prairie upland habitat. To date, the federal Wetland Reserve Program has provided funding to restore 13,000 acres of wetlands.
The Nature Conservancy owns 24,140 of the 35,000 acres that will eventually make up the refuge. The remaining acres are owned by private landowners and/or managed by the State of Minnesota. The Nature Conservancy will donate most of its property to the USFWS.
Efforts to preserve the area began in August 2000 with The Nature Conservancy's purchase of the 24,140 acres and continued when the USFWS issued a Preliminary Project Proposal that authorized the Service to study the area.
Glacial Ridge Refuge is located near Crookston, in Minnesota's Polk County. For now, the new refuge will be managed by staff from Rydell NWR, just eight miles south.
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