Land Conservation: Protecting

FMR works closely with landowners, public and private, to permanently protect land critical to the health of our metro Mississippi River ecosystem.

We often walk through each step of the land protection journey together — developing applications and proposals, soliciting partnerships, explaining sometimes confusing processes and simply being available to answer questions along the way. 

FMRs landowner outreach and assistance efforts have led to the permanent protection of over 1,200 acres of land and the establishment of three new Scientific and Natural Areas: Pine Bend Bluffs SNA, Hastings Sand Coulee SNA, and Chimney Rock SNA. 

FMR also played a key role in the protection of nearly 300 acres of floodplain in east Hastings that became a part of the Gores Pool Wildlife Management Area and Aquatic Management Area and over 200 acres of forest now known as Hampton Woods Wildlife Management Area. 

(The ribbon cutting for Hampton Woods WMA is depicted in the photo above, along with current and past FMR staff, the landowners, and project partners Dakota County and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.)