Bailey Point Nature Preserve

Where is Bailey Point Nature Preserve?

This city of Elk River park is located where the Elk River meets the Mississippi River. While Bailey Point is only 24 acres, the preserve contains several distinct habitats, including floodplain and terrace forests along the Elk River, and savanna, wet and mesic prairie in the uplands. 

Bailey Point sits east of William H. Houlton Conservation Area across the Elk River. The proximity of these two sites creates 360 acres of contiguous habitat right in the heart of Elk River. A nearby chain of islands in the Mississippi River is part of a Scientific and Natural Area managed by the Minnesota DNR. 

The public is welcome to visit Bailey Point Nature Preserve. (See Elk River's website for more info.)

Our work here takes place on Indigenous homelands.

What's special about Bailey Point Nature Preserve?

Bailey Point Nature Preserve's variety of habitats draws many wildlife species to nest, rest and forage within its 24 acres. As a nature preserve in the middle of a bustling city, people have the chance to experience nature up close.

A pair of eagles maintains a massive nest in a large cottonwood tree in the middle of the preserve, and wide, mowed trails lead to two nest viewing locations. The eagles have consistently reared chicks, and you can often hear the fledglings near the nest calling to their parents for food. The bounty of fish in the nearby rivers has fed many nestlings and fledglings over time, and a serene fishing spot at the southern tip of the preserve offers anglers a chance to grab a fish too.

White-tailed deer, red-tailed hawks, red foxes, indigo buntings, belted kingfishers and great blue herons are also drawn to Bailey Point. The trees in the floodplain have telltale chew marks of beavers, who have taken down many trees just across the river at William H. Houlton Conservation Area.

Smaller creatures also call Bailey Point home. Dragonflies, damselflies, eastern tiger swallowtails and monarch butterflies flutter above the flowers and grasses in the center of the preserve. We always keep our eyes peeled for rusty-patched bumble bees among all the bees drinking nectar and gathering pollen. Bailey Point is included in a habitat zone where the rusty-patched bumble bee is likely to be found, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service data.

The rolling topography within the preserve creates a variety of soil moisture conditions, which in turn support a diversity of plant life. Blue flag iris, wild garlic and Bebb's sedge live in the low-lying wet areas, while rough blazing star, spiderwort and purple prairie clover make showy purple displays in the upland prairie.

Our work at Bailey Point Nature Preserve

Many of the animals and plants that make this place special have found their way back as we've worked with partners to improve habitat. In the past, this land was home to county fairgrounds and a golf course, among other uses. Weedy plants and trees had diminished the site's habitat value. In 2016, we partnered with the city of Elk River to create a natural resources management plan for Bailey Point, which continues to guide our work there to this day.

Initial restoration began in 2018 and included removing encroaching trees and shrubs in the grassland and returning fire to suppress weedy plants and reinvigorate the soil. Elk River Parks has been instrumental in removing invasive woody plants like buckthorn and honeysuckle in the floodplain, which opens windows to view the river and creates an understory where animals can move freely.

Eventually, we seeded native plants chosen for various soil moisture conditions. We sowed water-loving grass and sedge seeds where the Elk River flows over its banks in wet years. These vital floodplains prevent damage to homes downstream, filtering and trapping sediment during high water conditions. We also planted native prairie seed in higher and drier areas away from the river. Over time, the diversity of plants has grown, supporting a variety of grassland birds and pollinators.

A restoration often takes years to resemble historical native plant communities. Our ongoing work includes maintaining a regular fire regime by conducting prescribed burns every three or four years and enhancing the grassland through seeding and planting.

In 2022, after several years of spring flooding took its toll on a sandy bank on the southwest corner of Bailey Point, the city partnered with the Sherburne County Soil and Water Conservation District, with funding provided by FMR, to pursue a streambank stabilization project. This project reshaped and reinforced the bank's slope; deep-rooted grasses and wildflowers planted as part of the project hold the sandy bank in place.

The dedication of these partners has restored and preserved Bailey Point for future generations of wildlife and people. We'll keep this momentum by hosting annual community volunteer events at Bailey Point in 2026. 

Find out more and get involved

• Volunteer with us to restore places like this.
• Check out other prairie wonderlands and learn about the importance of cottonwoods in our floodplains.
• Contact FMR project lead Laura Domyancich-Lee.

Partners and funders for our work at Bailey Point Nature Preserve

This work was made possible by the City of Elk River Parks and Recreation Department, the Sherburne County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Lessard Sams Outdoor Heritage Fund, and our generous volunteers and donors like you!