Cannon River Watershed Habitat Complex - Phase VI

The Cannon River Headwaters Habitat Complex Phase VI program acquired 69 acres of high-quality wetland,
prairie, remnant Big Woods forest, and shoreline habitat for fish, game and wildlife in the Cannon River Watershed.
The protection and creation/expansion of two large complexes (Gray Fox WMA and Murphy WMA) provides new
opportunities for public hunting, fishing, and wildlife observation.
The Cannon River Headwaters Habitat Complex Phase VI program was designed to address the following
problems: degradation and loss of quality and diversity of habitat in the prairie section of the State, degradation of
water quality in the Cannon River Watershed; and lack of available public lands for hunting and angling
opportunities, especially within an hour's drive for over half of the state's population.
The Phase VI program is a part of a multi-year conservation effort, focusing on the Cannon River Watershed, that
includes acquisition, protection, and restoration of core parcels of land that will contribute to a large complex of
restored prairies, grasslands, wetlands, lakeshore, and river shoreline. The Phase VI acquisitions were prioritized
toward protecting existing large wetland/upland complexes and rare communities (Big Woods forest, oak savanna,
tamarack swamp). In addition, landowner willingness to sell and the threat of conversion were also taken into
consideration. Protection of these lands provides critical habitat for game species, including migratory waterfowl
(mallards, canvasback, wood ducks, hooded mergansers, pintails, lesser scaup), upland birds (dove, turkey,
pheasant, and woodcock), white tail deer, and fish (northern pike, black crappies, bluegills, bullheads and walleye).
Protection will also provide access for a diversity of recreational experiences including duck, pheasant, turkey and
deer hunting, lake fishing, and wildlife observation. In addition, restoration work conducted by the MN DNR has
been focused on the degraded portions of the lands acquired and has included restoration of agricultural fields
near wetlands and lakes back to native habitat.
Specifically, two acquisitions were completed with Phase VI funding:
1. Gray Fox WMA - Rice County:
The Trust for Public Land acquired the Gray Fox WMA property on October 19, 2018 and conveyed the 78 acre
property to the DNR on April 23, 2019 to be managed as a new Wildlife Management Area. This property has
rolling topography of wetland and grassland habitat located in the upper reaches of the Cannon River Watershed
just west of Shields Lake (the headwaters of the Cannon River). It has great scenic views and natural beauty, and it
will provide much needed public access for dispersed wildlife-based recreation including hiking, hunting, trapping,
bird-watching, and general nature observation. The Trust for Public Land purchased this property for a total of
$406,000 using $69,021 of the Cannon River Phase VI acquisition funds (ML2016 OHF; allocated acreage 13), and
also $336,979 from Cannon River Phase V (ML2015 OHF; allocated acreage 65).
2. Murphy WMA Addition - Le Sueur County:
The Trust for Public Land acquired and conveyed 72 acres to the MN DNR on August 16, 2019 to be managed as an
addition to the Murphy Wildlife Management Area. Located directly on the Cannon River just north of Waterville,
this acquisition connects the two units of Murphy WMA, squares up boundaries, and provides improved public
access for quality outdoor recreation and hunting opportunities within an hour’s drive of the Twin Cities. The Trust
for Public Land purchased this property for a total of $375,000 using $292,407 in funds from Cannon River
Headwaters Habitat Phase VI (ML 2016 OHF; allocated acreage 56), and also $82,593 from Cannon River
Headwaters Habitat Phase VII (ML 2017 OHF; allocated acreage 16).