Twin Valley Prairie SNA

 

 

About

Ownership

The Nature Conservancy logo Minnesota DNR logo
 

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

 

Links

Minnesota DNR

The Nature Conservancy

 

Overview

Minnesota DNR’s Twin Valley Prairie SNA is part of the larger The Nature Conservancy preserve, which goes by the same name. It is bordered on the east by Neal WMA.

 

History

In 2014, a 160-acre section was transferred to the Minnesota DNR and is now part of Neal WMA.

 

Management

 

 

Comments

 

Location

Size

Total: 339 acres

SNA: 250 acres

 

Driving Directions

Get driving directions from Google Maps to this destination from any address, and send those directions to your phone.

  Area and County
    County   Norman County
    Region   Northwest Minnesota

Parking

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

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

 

Maps

Detail Map (MN DNR) GeoPDF

 

Printable Map(s) with GPS coordinates

Printable map    
Activities

Hiking

Birding

Nature photography

Cross country skiing

Snowshoeing

 

Trails

No maintained trails

 

Hunting and Fishing

No hunting

Ecology

Ecological Classification

  Ecological Classification
Ecological Province Ecological Province  

Prairie Parkland Province

 
Ecological Section Ecological Section  

Red River Valley

 
Ecological Subsection Ecological Subsection  

Red River Prairie

 
Land Type Association    

Barnesville Beach Complex

 
         

Native Plant Communities*

 

Cattail - Sedge Marsh (Northern)

Cattail - Sedge Marsh (Prairie)

Dry Sand - Gravel Prairie (Northern)

Mesic Prairie (Northern)

Wet Prairie (Northern)

Wet Saline Prairie (Northern)

 
* Source: The Minnesota Biological Survey, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological Resources    
     

Natural Features

   

 

 

 

 

 

Visitor Photos
 

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Dan W. Andree

Twin Valley Prairie SNA  

Twin Valley Prairie SNA

Tallgrass Prairie...

Twin Valley Prairie SNA 8-11-22. Looks like possible light rain showers moving in. Really pretty prairie.

 

 

MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
Twin Valley Prairie SNA   Twin Valley Prairie SNA

West parking

 

West parking

     
Twin Valley Prairie SNA   Twin Valley Prairie SNA

South parking

 

Wood routed sign

     
Twin Valley Prairie SNA   Twin Valley Prairie SNA

Dry Sand - Gravel Prairie (Northern)

 

Wet Saline Prairie (Northern)

     
Twin Valley Prairie SNA   Twin Valley Prairie SNA

Wet Saline Prairie (Northern)

 

Other prairie

 

Camera

Slideshows

 

 
 

 

slideshow

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Visitor Sightings
 

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Dan W. Andree

Insects and Arachnids

American copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)

common sawflies (Dolerus spp.)

goldenrod crab spider (Misumena vatia)

grass sheathminer fly (Cerodontha dorsalis)

great spangled fritillary (Argynnis cybele)

monarch (Danaus plexippus)

Peck’s skipper (Polites peckius)

regal fritillary (Argynnis idalia)

white-banded crab spider (Misumenoides formosipes)

 

black swallowtail

regal fritillary

white-banded crab spider

Plants

black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima)

large yellow lady’s slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens)

marsh pea (Lathyrus palustris)

northern bog violet (Viola nephrophylla)

prairie violet (Viola pedatifida)

silverweed (Argentina anserina ssp. anserina)

tall cottongrass (Eriophorum angustifolium ssp. angustifolium)

violet wood sorrel (Oxalis violacea)

wood betony (Pedicularis canadensis ssp. canadensis)

 

violet wood sorrel

wood betony

MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings

Visits

8/17/2010

8/1/2013

8/13/2019

Birds

Five 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)

Nelson’s Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni)

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)

 

Canada Goose

Red-winged Blackbird

Insects and Arachnids

Four insect and arachnid species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:

Endangered

Dakota skipper (Hesperia dacotae)

Poweshiek skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek)

Special Concern

Pawnee skipper (Hesperia leonardus pawnee)

regal fritillary (Argynnis idalia)

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Insects List

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 (Argynnis cybele)

monarch (Danaus plexippus)

regal fritillary (Argynnis idalia)

twelve-spotted skimmer (Libellula pulchella)

willow pinecone gall midge (Rabdophaga strobiloides)

 

great spangled fritillary

twelve-spotted skimmer

willow pinecone gall midge

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)   plains pocket gopher

Plants

Two plant species with conservation status in Minnesota are found here:

Special Concern

great blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata)

small white lady’s slipper (Cypripedium candidum)

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey Vegetation Releves 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

   

 

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 (Anemonastrum canadense)

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 selfheal (Prunella vulgaris ssp. vulgaris)

common sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)

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)

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)

heart-leaved golden alexanders (Zizia aptera)

hybrid cattail (Typha × glauca)

Indian hemp (Apocynum cannabinum)

Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans)

intermediate bellflower (Campanula intercedens)

Kalm’s lobelia (Lobelia kalmii)

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis ssp. pratensis)

leadplant (Amorpha canescens)

Leiberg’s panic grass (Dichanthelium leibergii)

little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

marsh pea (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)

panicled aster (Symphyotrichum lanceolatum)

perennial sow thistle (Sonchus arvensis)

plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides ssp. acanthoides)

prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya var. pycnostachya)

prairie cordgrass (Sporobolus michauxianus)

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 meadow-rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)

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 var. 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)

tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)

timothy (Phleum pratense ssp. 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 prairie clover (Dalea candida var. candida)

white sage (Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana)

white sweet clover (Melilotus albus)

wild licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota)

wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

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)

Anemonastrum canadense (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 intercedens (intermediate_bellflower)

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 (wild 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 pea)

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)

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 ssp. pratense (timothy)

Poa pratensis ssp. pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass)

Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen)

Prunella vulgaris ssp. vulgaris (common selfheal)

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 (little bluestem)

Scirpus pallidus (pale bulrush)

Setaria pumila ssp. pumila (yellow foxtail)

Solidago altissima var. gilvocanescens (shorthair goldenrod)

Solidago gigantea (giant goldenrod)

Solidago nemoralis (gray goldenrod)

Solidago ptarmicoides (prairie goldenrod)

Solidago riddellii (Riddell’s goldenrod)

Solidago rigida ssp. rigida (stiff goldenrod)

Sonchus arvensis (perennial sow thistle)

Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass)

Sphenopholis obtusata (prairie wedge grass)

Spiraea alba var. alba (narrow-leaved meadowsweet)

Sporobolus heterolepis (prairie dropseed)

Sporobolus michauxianus (prairie cordgrass)

Symphoricarpos occidentalis (wolfberry)

Symphyotrichum ericoides var. ericoides (white heath aster)

Symphyotrichum lanceolatum (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 (purple 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)

 

American bugleweed

bird’s-foot trefoil

black-eyed Susan

Canada anemone

Canadian milkvetch

chicory

common selfheal (ssp. vulgaris)

common sneezeweed

Culver’s root

dotted blazing star

perennial sow thistle

field thistle

fringed loosestrife

intermediate bellflower

leadplant

Maximilian’s sunflower

mountain death camas (var. elegans)

New England aster

northern bedstraw

northern plains blazing star

prairie onion

prairie rose

purple prairie clover

red osier dogwood

Riddell’s goldenrod

showy milkweed

silky aster

silverleaf scurfpea

spotted Joe Pye weed

swamp milkweed

tall cinquefoil

toothed evening primrose

Virginia mountain mint

yellow goat’s beard

yellow sweet clover

 

 

Binoculars

 

Created: 8/19/2010

Last Updated:

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