Chamberlain Woods SNA
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302 Acres Located from LeSueur 3 miles S on Co Hwy 36, then 0.25 miles W on LeSueur County Twp 111N Rng 26W Sec 21 & 22 Type: Deciduous Woods ECS Subsection: Big Woods |
Description:
Chamberlain woods protects a mosaic of vegetation types fronting
the Minnesota River. Horace F. and Esther Chamberlain personally
acquired parcels of woodland totaling 254 acres, then gifted them to the
state SNA program. Giant cottonwood, basswood, and elm trees
dominate the seasonally wet floodplain forest next to the river. The
uplands support remnants of oak savanna, while slopes closer to the
river support species typical of the deciduous forest. A series of "point bars" mark the old banks of
the river, capturing a visual history as the river route has changed. A variety of bird species including
the Acadian flycatcher and bald eagle have been observed on the site. The best times to visit are in
the spring, to observe the dynamics of the river in this floodplain forest, and in fall, when the area is
open and dry enough to walk for over a mile and a half along the river's edge.
Bird List
