Partnership adds bluffs and river frontage to metro nature preserve

A quarter mile of scenic Mississippi River frontage has been permanently protected and added to the Pine Bend Bluffs Scientific and Natural Area (SNA).

The 32-acre parcel, located in Inver Grove Heights, includes tall bluffs with sweeping views of the river and towering white pines, some nearly three feet in diameter. It will be added to the 224-acre SNA, which is open to the public for recreational activities such as hiking and wildlife watching.

For a rapidly growing community like Dakota County to still have such a relatively untouched example of our natural heritage is pretty amazing, says Peggy Booth, supervisor of the DNRs SNA program. For it to be protected like this is a testament to the value the people of Dakota County and Minnesota put on nature.

The $890,000 acquisition included $384,000 of Land and Water Conservation Account (federal funds allocated by the DNR), $161,000 from the Metro Conservation Corridors program, $266,000 from Dakota County and $78,400 from the DNRs Reinvest in Minnesota Matching Funds Program.