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Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council

The Nature Conservancy

Your Outdoor Heritage Fund at Work

Click the photo cards to view highlights of The Nature Conservancy's habitat protection, restoration, and enhancement work
supported by the Outdoor Heritage Fund.



People walk on protected prairie in Minnesota.

Minnesota’s Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment is Crucial to Conservation

Statewide, Minnesota

Photo © Richard Hamilton Smith

A Legacy of Conservation in Minnesota

Statewide, Minnesota

Video © The Nature Conservancy

Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge

Purple coneflower blooms in Minnesota.

Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge

Western Minnesota

Photo © Chris Helzer

Blazing star flowers bloom on Minnesota prairie.

The Nature Conservancy, Pheasants Forever, DNR, USFWS Team Up to Protect 1,900 Acres in Clay County

Clay County, Minnesota

Photo © Richard Hamilton Smith

Prairie grasses and flowers bloom at the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.

Stories in Minnesota: Connected and Protected Grasslands

Western Minnesota

Photo © Richard Hamilton Smith

Topeka Shiner habitat restoration.

The Other Side of Prairie Life: How a tiny fish made a big comeback in southwest Minnesota’s prairies

Western Minnesota

Photo © Joe Dickie/TNC

Endangered Species Makes a Remarkable Recovery

Rock County, Minnesota

Video © The Nature Conservancy

Northern Forests Habitat

A young bull moose leaps through water.

Minnesota Moose Habitat Collaborative

Northeast Minnesota

Photo © Frank A. Wyzwywany

Visitors explore the Sawmill Creek area within the protected Wolf Ridge area easement.

Wolf Ridge and The Nature Conservancy Protect 928 Acres on Minnesota’s North Shore

Lake County, Minnesota

Photo © The Nature Conservancy

TNC's Upper Manitou Preserve in Minnesota. Land was previously owned by Arctic explorer Will Steeger.

Upper Manitou Forest Preserve Addition

Funded by Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program

Lake County, Minnesota

Photo © Derek Montgomery

Southeast Minnesota Protection and Restoration

Moon Valley WMA: An Investment in Minnesotans' Future

Olmsted County, Minnesota

Video © The Nature Conservancy

Aerial view of Moon Valley WMA.

Moon Valley Wildlife Management Area

Olmsted County, Minnesota

Photo © Jennifer Busch

Big bluestem at Sheepberry Fen.

Weaver Dunes Addition

Wabasha County, Minnesota

Photo © Richard Hamilton Smith

Echinacea flowers in bloom.

McCarthy Lake Wildlife Management Area Addition

Wabasha County, Minnesota

Photo © Richard Hamilton Smith

Close-up of a wild turkey.

Whitewater Wildlife Management Area Addition

Winona County, Minnesota

Photo © Harvey Payne

Aerial photo of Schueler WMA with forest and coldwater stream.

Schueler Wildlife Management Area

Fillmore & Winona Counties, Minnesota

Photo © David Ruff/TNC

River and bluffs at Seven Springs WMA.

Seven Springs Wildlife Management Area

Fillmore County, Minnesota

Photo © John Gregor

A fisherman on Vesta Creek within Choice WMA.

Choice Wildlife Management Area

Fillmore County, Minnesota

Photo © Derek Montgomery

Timber rattlesnake, which can be found within Richard J. Dorer Memorial State Forest.

Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest Additions

Fillmore & Houston Counties, Minnesota

Photo © Derek Montgomery

Aerial view of Rush Creek Woods WMA.

Rush Creek Woods Wildlife Management Area

Fillmore & Houston Counties, Minnesota

Photo © John Gregor

Minnesota Prairie Recovery Program

Flowering prairie plants at hole-in-the-mountain Prairie.

Hole-in-the-Mountain Prairie Addition

Lincoln County, Minnesota

Photo © Richard Hamilton Smith

Minnesota prairie flowers blooming.

Plover Prairie Addition

Lac Qui Parle County, Minnesota

Photo © Richard Hamilton Smith

Prairie landscape at Chippewa Prairie.

Chippewa Prairie Addition

Swift County, Minnesota

Photo © Bruce Leventhal

Ruddy duck on water surface.

Ringo Nest Wildlife Management Area Addition

Kandiyohi County, Minnesota

Photo © Don DeBold

Minnesota prairie flowers blooming.

Leif Mountain Addition

Kandiyohi County, Minnesota

Photo © Richard Hamilton Smith

Regal fritillary butterfly on prairie plants.

Regal Meadow Addition

Kandiyohi County, Minnesota

Photo © Chris Helzer/TNC

Waterfowl in a wetland.

Norman T. Dahlman Wildlife Management Area Addition

Stearns County, Minnesota

Photo © Kent Mason

Rare Dakota skipper butterflies have been seen at Roscoe Prairie.

Roscoe Prairie Scientific and Natural Area

OHF-funded Habitat Enhancement

Stearns County, Minnesota

Photo © Layne Kennedy

Aerial view of Lake Johanna Esker Preserve.

Lake Johanna Esker Preserve

Pope County, Minnesota

Photo © Richard Hamilton Smith

Purple coneflower blooms in Minnesota.

Ordway Prairie Preserve

Pope County, Minnesota

Photo © Mark Godfrey/TNC

Oak savanna at Glacial Lakes Preserve.

Glacial Lakes Savanna

Pope County, Minnesota

Photo © Richard Hamilton Smith

View of Sheepberry Fen with rolling hills, oak savanna, and grassland habitat.

Sheepberry Fen Preserve

OHF-funded Habitat Enhancement

Pope County, Minnesota

Photo © Richard Hamilton Smith

A close-up of blazing star flowers in bloom.

The Nature Conservancy, Pheasants Forever, DNR, USFWS Team Up to Protect 1,900 Acres in Clay County

Clay County, Minnesota

Photo © Richard Hamilton Smith

Landscape at Spring Prairie Preserve.

Spring Prairie Preserve

Clay County, Minnesota

Photo © Richard Hamilton Smith

Tallgrass prairie grasses on Bluestem Prairie Preserve.

Bluestem Prairie Preserve Addition

Clay County, Minnesota

Photo © Richard Hamilton Smith

Wildflowers at sunset in Bluestem Prairie Preserve.

Twin Valley Prairie Addition

Clay County, Minnesota

Photo © Richard Hamilton Smith

Regal fritillary butterfly on prairie plants.

Blazing Star Prairie Addition

Clay County, Minnesota

Photo © Chris Helzer/TNC

Western prairie fringed orchid.

Mentor Prairie Preserve

Polk County, Minnesota

Photo © Shan Cummingham

Male prairie chicken.

Tympanuchus Prairie

Polk County, Minnesota

Photo © Bruce Leventhal

Prairie smoke in bloom in Polk County, Minnesota.

Agassiz Dunes Addition

Polk County, Minnesota

Photo © John Gregor/ColdSnap Photography

Sharp-tailed grouse.

Belgium Prairie Preserve

Polk County, Minnesota

Photo © Richard Hamilton Smith

Prairie habitat with diverse plant life at Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge.

Glacial Ridge Project

OHF-funded Habitat Enhancement

Polk County, Minnesota

Photo © John Gregor

Monarch butterflies on prairie plants.

Marcoux Prairie Preserve

Red Lake County, Minnesota

Photo © Richard Hamilton Smith

Prairie grasses in bloom.

Wallace C. Dayton Wildlife Area Addition

Marshall County, Minnesota

Photo © John Gregor/ColdSnap Photography

Aspen stand in Tallgrass Aspen Parkland.

Caribou Woodland Preserve

Kittson County, Minnesota

Photo © John Gregor

Aspen stand in Tallgrass Aspen Parkland.

Beaches Lake Preserve

Kittson County, Minnesota

Photo © John Gregor

Aspen stand in Tallgrass Aspen Parkland.

Devil's Playground Prairie

Kittson County, Minnesota

Photo © John Gregor

Aerial view of Tallgrass Aspen Parkland.

Skull Lake

Kittson County, Minnesota

Photo © John Gregor

Moose in Tallgrass Aspen Parkland in Minnesota.

Pelan Prairie

Kittson County, Minnesota

Photo © Scott Copeland

American bittern in marsh habitat.

Twin Lakes

Kittson County, Minnesota

Photo © Robert Payne

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