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f* MINNESOTA 



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General description: The state of Minnesota lies in an east to west transitional 



Z region between forest and prairie. Within the eastern forested section there is 



— also a transition from deciduous to coniferous forest as one moves northward 



^ toward the Canadian border. 



Wetlands reported in a 1955 inventory by the Fish and Wildlife Service 

 totaled 5,000,000 acres, including marshes, swamps, and bogs (USDI 1955). In 

 the western part of the state, the prairie potholes represent the most significant 

 wetland type. As one moves from the southern to the northern part of the 

 forested region of the state, the swamp hardwood forests are replaced by the ex- 

 tensive peatlands (Heinselman 1963, 1970) and coniferous bogs (Janssen 

 1967). Ecologically, these peatlands represent a unique wetland type in North 

 America. 



Status of the wetlands: In the prairie pothole country the major threat is 

 drainage for agricultural use. In 1961 the Fish and Wildlife Service reported that 

 approximately 20,000 waterfowl-habitat acres were drained by the Soil Conser- 

 vation Service between 1955-58 (USDI 1961). This is still the most serious 

 threat to the thousands of small potholes in the western prairie section of the 

 state. 



Within the forested region, especially in the northern peatlands, cutting, road 

 construction, and drainage are potential encroachments on some of the most 

 remote wilderness wetlands in North America. 



Source of data: Information has been furnished by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

 Service, the Minnesota Department of Conservation, and ecologists with the 

 U.S. Forest Service and at the state universities. 



Recommendations: Wetland data from the three major vegetation regions of the 

 state have been received. In the western prairie region, three areas have been 

 reported. Two are sizeable tracts — Waubun Prairie (640 acres) and Hellickson 

 Prairie Tract (400 acres). The Waubun Prairie may be adequately protected 

 under state ownership. It represents one of the finest wet prairie areas in close 

 proximity to the Itasca Biological Station and is frequently used as an outdoor 

 ecological laboratory. The Hellickson Tract, under private ownership, is under 

 lease to the Fish and Wildlife Service. It represents a tract that should be given 

 the very highest priority as a potential Natural Landmark. The third, Allie John- 

 son Unit (40 acres) exhibits the typical prairie pothole terrain. In the vicinity of 

 this unit, sizeable areas near Pelican Lake and Lake Christina should be in- 

 vestigated, especially at the junction of the Otter Tail, Grant, and Douglas 

 County borders. 



North of the University of Minnesota is the Cedar Creek Natural Area owned 

 by the university. An outstanding mosaic of wetlands exists within the area, in- 

 cluding the famous Cedar Creek Bog where Lindemann ( 1941 ) carried out his 

 classical ecological studies. Although adequately protected, national recognition 

 would add to the future status of this research area. Some habitat management 

 occurs within the tract but the wetlands are probably not affected. 



Among the northern peatlands the Lake Agassiz Peatlands Natural Area has 

 already been designated as a Natural Landmark. Of the other three reported, 

 two — Lost River Peatlands and North Black River Peatlands— occur in the 

 vicinity of Lake Agassiz. Both have been studied by Heinselman ( 1963, 1970), 

 who indicates that the exact acreage of these extensive areas is yet to be deter- 

 mined. The Upper Red Lake Peatlands, which lie to the southwest, are as- 



