Agassiz Dunes SNA

336 Acres Located from Fertile 1 mile S on MN Hwy 32, then 0.4 miles to parking lot. Norman and Polk County Twp 146N Rng 44W Sec 05 Type: Prairie Grasslands ECS Subsection: Red River Prairie

Description:

The undulating sand at Agassiz Dunes SNA is a part of the only dunefield in Minnesota associated with Glacial Lake Agassiz. Deposits from the Sand River formed a delta here from 12,000 to 9,000 years ago, after which the wind sculpted a succession of dunes, some of which are visible today as fossils among the secondary dunes and modern blow outs. A relict of the Sand River can still be found a mile north of this SNA. Today this site features a mosaic of plant community types--oak savanna with its old gnarly bur oaks; aspen thickets; and dry prairie, with big and little bluestem. Low dunes are covered with short-grass prairie; prescribed burns are restoring tallgrass prairie in the open areas. Blowout pioneer plants include sand reed grass, creeping juniper, and silky prairie clover. Situated on the border between prairie and forest, Agassiz Dunes contains both eastern and western species such as lesser spiked sedge, bent grass, Indian ricegrass, and skeleton weed. Through the rustling of the grasses, listen for the vesper sparrow, rare upland sandpiper, and lark sparrow. Visit this site in late summer to view blooming blazing stars, purple coneflowers, and sunflowers; and don't be startled when a white-tailed jack rabbit suddenly bounds away from your path. *ownership in part or in whole by The Nature Conservancy

Bird List

Plant List