Hastings Sand Coulee SNA

North Unit: 178 Acres

Center Unit: 6.75 acres

South Unit: 79 acres

North Unit (Stormwater Utility)
N44 42.428, W92 49.619

There are no maintained hiking trails. A maintained snowmobile trail, Dakota County Trails Snowmobile Trail 123, passes through the south unit.

No hunting

Minnesota DNR

Overview
Hastings Sand Coulee Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) was first designated in 2007 and greatly expanded in 2011. The Minnesota Biological Survey identified this site as “one of the most biologically important sites in Dakota County.” An unnamed intermittent stream, a tributary of the Vermillion River, runs through all three of the disconnected units of this SNA. The South Unit is a 79-acre dry prairie with scattered eastern redcedar. The North Unit is 178 acres and includes a more diverse mix of dry prairie, oak woodland, and former cropland being restored to prairie. The tiny, 6¾-acre Center Unit is an abandoned gravel pit. It is not accessible without crossing private property.

Seven state listed species have been seen on at least one of the units, including Lark Sparrow, regal fritillary, and kittentails. Ottoe Skipper, a threatened species, has also been reported here but has not been added to the county distribution map for the state.

History
On June 27, 2007, this site was designated Sand Coulee Scientific and Natural Area. In 2011 the Minnesota DNR acquired 185 acres of property in Hastings. The newly acquired land became the North and Central Units of Hasting Sand Coulee SNA.

Management
The Friends of the Mississippi River has done considerable work restoring this site. On the North Unit, this is especially apparent on the eastern slope. Following decades of fire suppression, what had once been a hill prairie had become bur oak woodland with a dense shrub understory. Most of the shrub layer in this section was removed in December, 2013. The following spring the area was reseeded with seeds harvested in the area. The large area of former cropland on the eastern half of the unit has been reseeded with prairie grasses and forbs. On the South Unit, buckthorn has been cut in the area bordering MN 361.

Parking

Wood Routed Sign

Other Prairie

Parking

Interpretive Sign

Boot Brush

North Entrance

Dry Barrens Prairie (Southern)

Dry Sand - Gravel Prairie (Southern)

Other Prairie

Intermittent Stream

Two bird species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:

Minnesota DNR Bird checklist

One insect species with conservation status in Minnesota has been seen here:

Two plant species with conservation status in Minnesota and one species on the watch list are found here:

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Plant List

One reptile species with conservation status in Minnesota has been seen here: