Open Vistas for Grassland Birds

The Phasianus Complex is located in central McLeod County and contains 621 acres of permanently protected public hunting land; 517 acres of USFWS WPA and 50 acres of MN DNR WMA. The USFWS and DNR are partnering with the local PF chapter on a four-phase enhancement/restoration project on restored prairie and wetland habitats. Phase I, Winter, WPA; Cutting trees in and around the wetland basins over frozen ground (because of very wet conditions this year). Phase II, June, WPA; After a spring prescribed burn and some cutting of stumps to prevent tire damage, an application of Milestone herbicide on the Canada thistle (and sprouting cottonwood) will be done. Phase III, Summer, WMA (some WPA); A MCC crew will be cutting and treating all WMA trees and some WPA re-sprouts. Phase IV, September, WPA; A 12.5 acre wet-mesic prairie restoration. All phases of this project (except on the WMA) will be followed up USFWS monitoring and long-term maintenance.