| Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge | |
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IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
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| Location | Polk County, Minnesota, United States |
| Nearest city | Mentor, Minnesota |
| Area | 37,756 acres (152.79 km2) (Planned) |
| Established | October 12, 2004 |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Official website | |
Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge was created on October 12, 2004, the 545th National Wildlife Refuge in the United States. Its creation was the result of cooperation between at least 30 agencies or governmental entities.[1] The creation of the refuge was spearheaded by The Nature Conservancy, and the initial endowment of 2,300 acres (9.3 km2) of land was donated by the Conservancy. In light of its planned final size of 37,756 acres (153 km2), it is described by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as "the largest tallgrass prairie and wetland restoration project in U.S. history." [1]
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The Glacial Ridge NWR is located six miles (10 km) west of Mentor, Minnesota, or about twelve miles (19 km) east of Crookston, Minnesota.
From its original area of 2,300 acres (9 km2), the refuge is slated to grow to at least 37,756 acres (153 km2). Of this planned area 5,000 acres (20 km2) previously existed in an unplowed state, and a further 8,000 acres (32 km2) has been seeded with native prairie grasses. In addition, more than 100 wetlands have been restored. [2] The restoration of native tallgrass prairie is ongoing, and will require years of effort.
The following five items are the main objectives of the refuge: [3]
This prairie wetland complex hosts a great diversity of plant species. Of special interest is the federally threatened western prairie fringed orchid. Other communities found at the preserve include wet and mesic tallgrass prairie and gravel prairie, willow thickets, mixed prairie, sedge meadow, aspen woodlands and emergent marsh. Prairie species at Pembina Trail Preserve include prairie Junegrass, purple prairie clover, big and little bluestem and mat muhly.
When restored, Glacial Ridge will likely provide habitat for several of the same species present at Pembina Trail Preserve, which harbors more than 73 bird species, 35 butterfly species, 11 mammal species, three amphibian species and one reptile species. Birds like the sandhill crane, sharp-tailed grouse, upland sandpiper, northern harrier, marbled godwit, Wilson's phalarope, sora rail, marsh wren, and clay colored sparrow may soon find their habitat expanded at Glacial Ridge. In recent years, bald eagles, a peregrine falcon and a whooping crane have also been spotted. In 2007, a nesting pair of burrowing owls and their two owlets were sighted on a restored prairie. Whitetail deer, moose, and prairie grouse are present within the NWR. It has also become a major nesting and breeding area for waterfowl. The return of the greater prairie chicken is one of the goals of the refuge. [3] Hunting is permitted within the boundaries of the refuge.