Lost Valley Prairie SNA

200 Acres Located from the Twin Cities, S on US Hwy 61 to MN Hwy 95, then N on MN 95 to Co Rd 78, then E on Co Rd 78 to Nyberg Avenue, then .5 mi N on Nyberg. Park at the end of the road. Washington County Twp 27N Rng 20W Sec 28 & 29 Type: Deciduous Woods ECS Subsection: St. Paul-Baldwin Plains & Moraines

Description:

This bluff prairie contains a series of limestone ridges and dry swales, or lowlands, where a rich collection of native prairie grasses thrives on the ridge crests and upper slopes. The dominant native grass is little bluestem, followed by prairie drop-seed, side-oats grama, hairy grama, Indian grass, and big bluestem. Lost Valley Prairie is one of the few sites in the state where rock sandwort is found. This small plant is circumpolar in range and generally found much further north. Hill's thistle also occurs here in the dry, sandy soil; because it grows only in a few small, remote locations, its declining range is cause for concern. Restoration activities include planting former agricultural fields to prairie vegetation from seeds collected on site and removing invading trees and shrubs by cutting. Regular use of prescribed fire is also used to enhance the prairie community. Enjoy of the many prairie wildflowers, including prairie smoke, puccoon, bird's foot violets, yellow star grass, blue-eyed grass, and beard-tongue.

Bird List

Plant List