Blazing Star Prairie Addition Preserve

Blazing Star Prairie Addition Preserve, North Unit

The Nature Conservancy

In 2012 The Nature Conservancy (TNC) acquired through their Prairie Recovery Program a 320-acre tract in Clay County. The tract is adjacent to the Blazing Star Prairie, a unit of Felton Prairie Scientific and Natural Area that is owned by TNC. They designated the new tract Blazing Star Prairie Addition Preserve Preserve. In 2016 TNC acquired a nearby 344.38-acre tract and this became the North Unit of Blazing Star Prairie Addition Preserve Preserve. In 2017 TNC acquired 423 acres in three additional tracts, all adjacent to the North Unit.

Prior to the acquisition of the South Unit, small portions of the site were grazed, farmed, or hayed. The remaining 245 acres were set aside under the Conservation Reserve Program. Since acquiring the site, The Nature Conservancy has removed trees from the northwest corner, removed a shelterbelt along the road on the north boundary, and installed all new perimeter fencing. The site was grazed in 2013 and in 2016 to 2019 and will be rested in 2020. Prescribed burns were conducted in 2013 and 2017.

320 acres

N47 4.614, W96 24.420

No maintained trails

All hunting and trapping. See Hunting and Trapping Regulations (MN DNR) for details.