Twin Valley Prairie SNA

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			Norman County
			Northwest Minnesota

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Size

339 acres total, 250 acres (SNA)

Maps


Printable Map with GPS coordinates

Parking

West Parking (County Road 28)
N47 11.266, W96 21.867

South Parking (County Road 39)
N47 10.823, W96 21.249

Hiking Trails

No maintained trails

Hunting

No hunting

Ecological Classification

Province

Prairie Parkland Province

Section

Red River Valley

Subsection(s)

Red River Prairie

Land Type Association(s)

Barnesville Beach Complex

Native Plant Communities¹

Cattail - Sedge Marsh (Northern)

Cattail - Sedge Marsh (Prairie)

Dry Sand - Gravel Prairie (Northern)

Mesic Prairie (Northern)

Wet Prairie (Northern)

Wet Saline Prairie (Northern)

Ownership

This site is owned by The Nature Conservancy and managed in part by the Minnesota DNR

Links

Minnesota DNR

The Nature Conservancy

Comments

Cooperative Management
The SNA (yellow on the street map above) is part of the larger The Nature Conservancy preserve (red), which goes by the same name. It is bordered on the east by Neal WMA. In 2014, a 160-acre section was transferred to the Minnesota DNR and is now part of Neal WMA.

Visits

8/17/2010

8/1/2013

8/13/2019


Visitor Photos

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos

West Parking


South Parking


Wood Routed Sign


Dry Sand - Gravel Prairie (Northern)


Wet Saline Prairie (Northern)


Other Prairie

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Slideshows

slideshow


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Visitor Observations

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Dan W. Andree

Insects and Arachnids	black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) great spangled fritillary (Speyeria cybele)


MinnesotaSeasons.com Observations

Birds	Large numbers of Sandhill Cranes gather here during their migration south every year.

	Four bird species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:
	Threatened	Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)

	Special concern	Greater Prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)

	Minnesota DNR Bird checklist eBird Field Checklist

	Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) Greater Prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis)

Insects and Arachnids	Two insect species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:
	Endangered	Dakota skipper (Hesperia dacotae)

	Special concern	regal fritillary (Speyeria idalia)

	American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) Carolina grasshopper (Dissosteira carolina) dog day cicada (Neotibicen canicularis) dogbane saucrobotys moth (Saucrobotys futilalis) goldenrod bunch gall midge (Rhopalomyia solidaginis) goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis) great spangled fritillary (Speyeria cybele) monarch (Danaus plexippus) regal fritillary (Speyeria idalia) twelve-spotted skimmer (Libellula pulchella) willow pinecone gall midge (Rabdophaga strobiloides)

Mammals	Two mammal species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:
	Special concern	moose (Alces americanus) prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster)

	Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Mammals List

	plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius)

Plants	Two plant species with conservation status in Minnesota are found here:
	Special concern	blanket flower (Gaillardia aristata) small white lady’s slipper (Cypripedium candidum)

	Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Plant List

	Plants frequently found in: Cattail - Sedge Marsh (Northern) MRn83a Cattail - Sedge Marsh (Prairie) MRp83a Dry Sand - Gravel Prairie (Northern) UPn12b Mesic Prairie (Northern) UPn23b Wet Prairie (Northern) WPn53c Wet Saline Prairie (Northern) WPn53d

	Common Name Scientific Name American bugleweed (Lycopus americanus) arctic brome (Bromus kalmii) Baltic rush (Juncus balticus var. littoralis) bastard toadflax (Comandra umbellata ssp. umbellata) Bebb’s willow (Salix bebbiana) big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi) bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus var. corniculatus) black bindweed (Fallopia convolvulus) black medick (Medicago lupulina) black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima) Canada anemone (Anemone canadensis) Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis var. canadensis) candle anemone (Anemone cylindrica) chicory (Cichorium intybus) common blue violet (Viola sororia) common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale) common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) common sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) common strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum) curly dock (Rumex crispus) curly-cup gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa) dotted blazing star (Liatris punctata var. punctata) dwarf false indigo (Amorpha nana) falsegold groundsel (Packera pseudaurea var. semicordata) fen grass of Parnassus (Parnassia glauca) field sagewort (Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata) field sow thistle (Sonchus arvensis) Flodman’s thistle (Cirsium flodmanii) four-flowered yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia quadriflora) foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum ssp. jubatum) freeway sedge (Carex praegracilis) fringed brome (Bromus ciliatus) fringed loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata) giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) giant sunflower (Helianthus giganteus) golden alexanders (Zizia aurea) grass-leaved goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia) gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) grooved yellow flax (Linum sulcatum var. sulcatum) harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) heal-all (Prunella vulgaris var. vulgaris) heart-leaved golden alexanders (Zizia aptera) hybrid cattail (Typha × glauca) Indian hemp (Apocynum cannabinum) Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) Kalm’s lobelia (Lobelia kalmii) Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis ssp. pratensis) leadplant (Amorpha canescens) Leiberg’s panic grass (Dichanthelium leibergii) little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium) marsh vetchling (Lathyrus palustris) mat muhly (Muhlenbergia richardsonis) Maximilian’s sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani) narrow-leaved cattail (Typha angustifolia) narrow-leaved hawkweed (Hieracium umbellatum) narrow-leaved meadowsweet (Spiraea alba var. alba) narrow-leaved purple coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia) New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) northern plains blazing star (Liatris ligulistylis) pale bulrush (Scirpus pallidus) plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides ssp. acanthoides) prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya var. pycnostachya) prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) prairie goldenrod (Solidago ptarmicoides) prairie lettuce (Lactuca ludoviciana) prairie onion (Allium stellatum) prairie rose (Rosa arkansana) prairie wedge grass (Sphenopholis obtusata) purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea var. purpurea) purple-stem aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum var. puniceum) pussy willow (Salix discolor) quackgrass (Elymus repens) quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea ssp. sericea) redtop (Agrostis gigantea) reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) Riddell’s goldenrod (Solidago riddellii) rough bentgrass (Agrostis scabra) rough blazing star (Liatris aspera) sandbar willow (Salix interior) Sartwell’s sedge (Carex sartwellii) scratchgrass (Muhlenbergia asperifolia) Scribner’s panic grass (Dichanthelium oligosanthes ssp. scribnerianum) seaside arrowgrass (Triglochin maritima) shorthair goldenrod (Solidago altissima ssp. gilvocanescens) showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila) sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula var. curtipendula) silky aster (Symphyotrichum sericeum) silverleaf scurfpea (Pediomelum argophyllum) slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus) slender willow (Salix petiolaris) slim-stem reedgrass (Calamagrostis stricta) smooth brome (Bromus inermis) smooth scouring rush (Equisetum laevigatum) spiked muhly (Muhlenbergia glomerata) spotted Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium maculatum) spotted water hemlock (Cicuta maculata) stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida ssp. rigida) stiff sunflower (Helianthus pauciflorus ssp. subrhomboideus) swamp betony (Pedicularis lanceolata) swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata ssp. incarnata) tall cinquefoil (Drymocallis arguta) tall meadow-rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum) tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) timothy (Phleum pratense) toothed evening primrose (Oenothera serrulata) tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa) Virginia mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum) western ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata ssp. corymbosa) white camas (Anticlea elegans ssp. glauca) white heath aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides var. ericoides) white panicled aster (Symphyotrichum lanceolatum) white prairie clover (Dalea candida var. candida) white sage (Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana) white sweet clover (Melilotus albus) wild licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) wolfberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) yellow foxtail (Setaria pumila ssp. pumila) yellow goat’s beard (Tragopogon dubius) yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis) Achillea millefolium (common yarrow) Agrostis gigantea (redtop) Agrostis scabra (rough bentgrass) Allium stellatum (prairie onion) Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed) Amorpha canescens (leadplant) Amorpha nana (dwarf false indigo) Andropogon gerardi (big bluestem) Anemone canadensis (Canada anemone) Anemone cylindrica (candle anemone) Anticlea elegans ssp. glauca (white camas) Apocynum cannabinum (Indian hemp) Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata (field sagewort) Artemisia dracunculus (tarragon) Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana (white sage) Asclepias incarnata ssp. incarnata (swamp milkweed) Asclepias speciosa (showy milkweed) Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed) Astragalus canadensis var. canadensis (Canadian milkvetch) Bouteloua curtipendula var. curtipendula (sideoats grama) Bromus ciliatus (fringed brome) Bromus inermis (smooth brome) Bromus kalmii (arctic brome) Calamagrostis stricta (slim-stem reedgrass) Campanula rotundifolia (harebell) Carduus acanthoides (plumeless thistle) Carex praegracilis (freeway sedge) Carex sartwellii (Sartwell’s sedge) Cichorium intybus (chicory) Cicuta maculata (spotted water hemlock) Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle) Cirsium flodmanii (Flodman’s thistle) Comandra umbellata ssp. umbellata (bastard toadflax) Cornus sericea ssp. sericea (red osier dogwood) Dalea candida var. candida (white prairie clover) Dalea purpurea var. purpurea (purple prairie clover) Deschampsia cespitosa (tufted hairgrass) Dichanthelium leibergii (Leiberg’s panic grass) Dichanthelium oligosanthes ssp. scribnerianum (Scribner’s panic grass) Drymocallis arguta (tall cinquefoil) Echinacea angustifolia (narrow-leaved purple coneflower) Elymus repens (quackgrass) Elymus trachycaulus (slender wheatgrass) Equisetum laevigatum (smooth scouring rush) Eragrostis spectabilis (purple lovegrass) Erigeron strigosus (prairie fleabane) Euthamia graminifolia (grass-leaved goldenrod) Eutrochium maculatum (spotted Joe Pye weed) Fallopia convolvulus (black bindweed) Fragaria virginiana (common strawberry) Fraxinus pennsylvanica (green ash) Galium boreale (northern bedstraw) Glycyrrhiza lepidota (wild licorice) Grindelia squarrosa (curly-cup gumweed) Helenium autumnale (common sneezeweed) Helianthus giganteus (giant sunflower) Helianthus maximiliani (Maximilian’s sunflower) Helianthus pauciflorus ssp. subrhomboideus (stiff sunflower) Hieracium umbellatum (narrow-leaved hawkweed) Hordeum jubatum ssp. jubatum (foxtail barley) Juncus balticus var. littoralis (Baltic rush) Lactuca ludoviciana (prairie lettuce) Lathyrus palustris (marsh vetchling) Liatris aspera (rough blazing star) Liatris ligulistylis (northern plains blazing star) Liatris punctata var. punctata (dotted blazing star) Liatris pycnostachya var. pycnostachya (prairie blazing star) Linum sulcatum var. sulcatum (grooved yellow flax) Lobelia kalmii (Kalm’s lobelia) Lotus corniculatus var. corniculatus (bird’s-foot trefoil) Lycopus americanus (American bugleweed) Lysimachia ciliata (fringed loosestrife) Lysimachia quadriflora (four-flowered yellow loosestrife) Medicago lupulina (black medick) Melilotus albus (white sweet clover) Melilotus officinalis (yellow sweet clover) (Muhlenbergia asperifolia) (scratchgrass) Muhlenbergia glomerata (spiked muhly) Muhlenbergia richardsonis (mat muhly) Oenothera serrulata (toothed evening primrose) Solidago riddellii (Riddell’s goldenrod) Packera pseudaurea var. semicordata (falsegold groundsel) Parnassia glauca (fen grass of Parnassus) Pedicularis lanceolata (swamp betony) Pediomelum argophyllum (silverleaf scurfpea) Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass) Phleum pratense (timothy) Poa pratensis ssp. pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass) Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen) Prunella vulgaris var. vulgaris (heal-all) Pycnanthemum virginianum (Virginia mountain mint) Rosa arkansana (prairie rose) Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima (black-eyed Susan) Rumex crispus (curly dock) Salix bebbiana (Bebb’s willow) Salix discolor (pussy willow) Salix interior (sandbar willow) Salix petiolaris (slender willow) Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium (little bluestem) Scirpus pallidus (pale bulrush) Setaria pumila ssp. pumila (yellow foxtail) Solidago altissima ssp. gilvocanescens (shorthair goldenrod) Solidago gigantea (giant goldenrod) Solidago nemoralis (gray goldenrod) Solidago ptarmicoides (prairie goldenrod) Solidago rigida ssp. rigida (stiff goldenrod) Sonchus arvensis (field sow thistle) Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass) Spartina pectinata (prairie cordgrass) Sphenopholis obtusata (prairie wedge grass) Spiraea alba var. alba (narrow-leaved meadowsweet) Sporobolus heterolepis (prairie dropseed) Symphoricarpos occidentalis (wolfberry) Symphyotrichum ericoides var. ericoides (white heath aster) Symphyotrichum lanceolatum (white panicled aster) Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England aster) Symphyotrichum puniceum var. puniceum (purple-stem aster) Symphyotrichum sericeum (silky aster) Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale (common dandelion) Thalictrum dasycarpum (tall meadow-rue) Tragopogon dubius (yellow goat’s beard) Triglochin maritima (seaside arrowgrass) Typha × glauca (hybrid cattail) Typha angustifolia (narrow-leaved cattail) Ulmus pumila (Siberian elm) Vernonia fasciculata ssp. corymbosa (western ironweed) Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver’s root) Viola sororia (common blue violet) Zizia aptera (heart-leaved golden alexanders) Zizia aurea (golden alexanders)