Hastings Sand Coulee Restoration

The 126 acres to be permanently protected through this grant contain a remnant calcareous fen, one of the rarest types of wetland in the United States. Located northwest of Redwood Falls in the Minnesota River Valley, this excellent wetland site includes five species of state-listed rare plants and important wildlife habitat. According to the Minnesota DNR Fact sheet on Calcareous Fens, "Calcareous fens are rare and distinctive wetlands characterized by a substrate of non-acidic peat and are dependent on a constant supply of cold, oxygen-poor groundwater rich in calcium and magnesium bicarbonates". With only two calcareous fens still in existence in Redwood County, it is essential to permanently protect and maintain the remaining habitat. Through a combined effort of three local landowners, the Redwood Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR)we are submitting a grant for a perpetual Re-invest in Minnesota (RIM) easement.