Worknight in the Rare Prairie [FULL]
Sorry! This event has reached capacity and we are no longer taking registration. Please consider signing up for our July 9th prairie restoration at Pine Bend Scientific & Natural Area instead!
Or, to receive biweekly notices of all upcoming FMR events, sign up for Mississippi Messages to the right.
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With its tall grass and wildflowers, the Sand Coulee offers a different kind of beauty. With less than 1 percent of Minnesota native prairie remaining, this highly protected preserve is no less than an oasis in a desert of wildlife habitat — 14 rare plant and animal species call the Coulee home. Plus, with its deep prairie root systems, the Coulee helps filter pollutants from runoff waters before they can enter the nearby Vermillion and Mississippi Rivers.
On this summer evening, volunteers will work with FMR Restoration Ecologist Karen Schik and FMR Registrar and Events Assistant Amy Kilgore to help halt the spread of cow vetch and spotted knapweed, encroaching plants deemed by the Department of Natural Resources as a threat to the health of this important area. Together, volunteers and staff will remove a patch of the weedy invasives, helping to protect the prairie's threatened native plant species and improving wildlife habitat in just a couple hours.
Due to its ecological and historical importance the Sand Coulee has been afforded the highest level of natural area protection in the state. As an SNA or Scientific & Natural Area this nature preserve is open to the public for birdwatching, hiking and other low-impact activities, but there are no paved trails, bathrooms, or other buildings.
As always, training, gloves, tools and guidance will be provided.
Ready to register?
Sorry! This event has reached capacity and we are no longer taking registration. However, you may be interested in the July 9th prairie restoration at Pine Bend Scientific & Natural Area.
If you'd like to be notified of future Sand Coulee and Vermillion Stewards restoration and education events, contact FMR Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator sue rich at srich@fmr.org, or sign up for our biweekly e-newsletter "Mississippi Messages".
More information
- About the Sand Coulee from the FMR volunteer manual and the MN Department of Natural Resources
- Photos sets from 2014 and 2013 summer worknights in the rare prairie.
- About the importance of protecting tallgrass prairie, the most endangered ecosystem in North America (related educational poster)
Thank you event partners MN Department of Natural Resources and City of Hastings. Program support and funding provided by Vermillion Watershed Joint Powers Organization, Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund and the Outdoor Heritage Fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature.