Minnesota Scientific and Natural Areas Program
Natural Area Registry

South Fowl Lake Natural Area Registry site.

What is Natural Area Registry?

The Natural Area Registry acknowledges that many of Minnesota's finest natural areas occur on public lands not designated as Scientific and Natural Areas. The Registry is a way to recognize natural features of statewide ecological and geological significance on any public land in Minnesota. This voluntary agreement protects areas containing native plant communities, rare species and other outstanding natural features.

Nominating and developing an agreement

Nominated sites are reviewed using information compiled in an ecological evaluation to determine if the site qualifies and if protection through this method is acceptable to all parties. Registration of a site only happens between the land manager and the Scientific and Natural Area Program if all parties approve the agreement. These are non-binding voluntary agreements.

A registry agreement includes:

  • Maps identifying the site
  • Explanation of the place's significance
  • Information on natural features such as native plant communities
  • Identifying and recommending management actions

The Scientific and Natural Area Program requests updates from the land manager at least once every other year. Information is kept current on:

  • Site conditions
  • Significant management activities
  • Natural disturbances
  • Planned future management
  • Changes affecting the registry's natural features

Current Natural Area Registry

Map of Natural Area Registry Sites in Minnesota

List of Natural Area Registry Sites
Natural Area RegistryManagerCounty
Beaver Creek WMAMN DNR Wildlife DivisionFillmore
Bena BogMN DNR Forestry DivisionCass
Cartney WMAMN DNR Wildlife DivisionMower
Central ParkCity of BloomingtonHennepin
Dinosaur IslandMN DNR Wildlife DivisionMille Lacs
Expandere WMAMN DNR Wildlife DivisionCottonwood
Felton WMAMN DNR Wildlife DivisionClay
Hemingway Creek Cold Slope ForestMN DNR Forestry DivisionWinona
Jeffers PetroglyphsMinnesota Historical SocietyCottonwood
John A. Latsch State ParkMN DNR Parks and Trails DivisionWinona
Kemen WMAMN DNR Wildlife DivisionLac Qui Parle
Kibler WMAMN DNR Wildlife DivisionLac Qui Parle
Kimberly Marsh WMAMN DNR Wildlife DivisionAitkin
Lake Agnes Northern HardwoodsMN DNR Forestry DivisionCook
Larson Lake BogMN DNR Forestry DivisionBeltrami
Leroy to Rose Creek Right-of-WayMN Dept. of Transportation District 6Mower
Money Creek Bluff ForestMN DNR Forestry DivisionHouston
Nerstrand Woods Trout LilyMN DNR Parks and Trails DivisionRice
Oxbow County ParkOlmsted CountyOlmsted
Palisade Head Scenic OverlookMN DNR Parks and Trails DivisionLake
Pipestone National MonumentNational Park ServiceRock
Prairie Marshes WMAMN DNR Wildlife DivisionLyon
Prairie WMAMN DNR Wildlife DivisionBig Stone
Reno NorthMN DNR Forestry DivisionHouston
Reno SouthMN DNR Forestry DivisionHouston
Richter Woods County ParkLeSueur CountyLeSueur
Salt Lake WMAMN DNR Wildlife DivisionLac Qui Parle
Sioux Nation WMAMN DNR Wildlife DivisionYellow Medicine
Siseebakwet LakeItasca CountyItasca
Soudan Iron FormationMN DNR Parks and Trails DivisionSt. Louis
South Fowl Lake CliffMN DNR Forestry DivisionCook
Spirit and Hennepin IslandsUS Fish and Wildlife ServiceMille Lacs
Spring Creek WMAMN DNR Wildlife DivisionBecker
Stumpages RapidsHubbard CountyHubbard
Victory WMAMN DNR Wildlife DivisionBig Stone
Whitewater WMAMN DNR Wildlife DivisionWinona
Yellow Birch Natural AreaMN DNR Parks and Trails DivisionCook
Zumbro BottomsMN DNR Forestry DivisionWabasha

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