Prairie Coteau SNA

329 Acres Located 10 miles NE of Pipestone on MN Hwy 23. Parking lot on the W (across railroad tracks). Pipestone County Twp 108N Rng 44W Sec 29 Type: Prairie Grasslands ECS Subsection: Inner Coteau

Description:

Prairie Coteau is one of the most important and stunning prairies in southwestern Minnesota. It occupies an area of steep slopes and valleys which cut through the Bemis glacial moraine. George Catlin called this area the Couteaus des Prairies, or highland of the prairies. Deep stony till deposited from 18,000 to 12,000 years ago lies exposed on eroded slopes, while the flat ridge tops are covered by loess. Despite former grazing, two rare communities--the southwestern dry hill prairie and dry sand-gravel prairie--survive here. The rolling topography bears dry prairie vegetation on the higher elevations, while wet prairie species flourish in the lowlands. Rare animal species inhabiting this prairie include the Dakota skipper and Ottoe skipper, among at least 40 other butterfly species. More than 60 species of grasses, sedges, and rushes can be found here, with over 200 wildflower species. Disturbed areas of this SNA are being actively managed to reduce the presence of non-native species and to convert old fields to native vegetation. To observe fragile prairie flowers in bloom, visit in late spring to see puccoon and prairie smoke; in summer, look for wood lilies and prairie phlox; and in late summer, for blazing stars, asters, goldenrods and sunflowers.

Plant List