Mound Spring Prairie SNA
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465 Acres Located from Gary, South Dakota E on MN County Road 4 for 1/2 mile, then 1 mile S on gravel road, turn W and park on S side of road. Yellow Medicine County Twp 115 Rng 46W Sec 17 Type: Prairie Grasslands ECS Subsection: Coteau Moraines |
Description:
Located on the border with South Dakota, Mound Spring Prairie preserves one of the largest remaining prairie complexes on the Prairie Coteau of southwestern Minnesota. A diverse dry prairie is found on the hills of this site. Typical grasses include sideoats grama, little bluestem, Indian grass, blue grama and porcupine grass. Wildflowers to look for include purple coneflower, scarlet gaura, locoweed, rough blazing-star, prairie phlox, and heart-leaved alexanders. A species of white prairie clover (Dalea candida var. oligophylla), a species of special concern, can be observed here at the easternmost edge of its range. It has only been documented in six counties in Minnesota, all of which border South Dakota. The site was named for the interesting domed seepage wetlands occurring in the low swales. These "mound springs" are a rare wetland called a calcareous seepage fen. They occur where cold water, rich in alkaline minerals, flows out at seepages. A deep bouncy peat occurs on these seepages that has an interesting assemblage of wetland plants.
Bird List 
