The Minnesota Land Trust was started in 1991 as the Washington County Land Trust, focused on the Twin Cities metro area in Washington County. Even as our mission expanded to encompass the whole state, we never lost sight of our founding mission and continue to work within the Twin Cities Metro to protect the best natural places before they are lost to growth and future development.
The Metro area contains a number of important species, such as River Otters (which are plentiful in the Fort Snelling area), Bald Eagles, white tailed deer, and Great blue herons. Three big river corridors and their tributaries flow through the metro area, including the Minnesota, Mississippi, and St. Croix rivers. The habitat within this area is under intense development pressure, and rising land values further imperil natural areas. We are building, adding onto, connecting and restoring complexes and corridors of protected habitat that include wetlands, prairies, forests and aquatic habitat.
As the population of Anoka County has rapidly grown, development has begun to encroach on important natural areas and habitat. Fortunately, conservation-minded individuals like Steve and Julie Gaffney along with their sons Lucas and Robert, have stepped up around the region to protect the lands and waters we all rely on. Recently the Gaffneys worked [...]
The Minnesota Land Trust’s Twin Cities Metro Conservation Program Area encompasses the rapidly growing Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan area that contains a majority of Minnesota’s increasingly diversifying population. The Minnesota Land Trust’s 2017-2027 goals for the Twin Cities Metro are to: Protect 5,000 acres of private lands Restore 1,500 acres of public and private lands [...]
Wilkinson Lake | Photo: Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization If you’ve ever poured yourself a refreshing glass of tap water in Saint Paul, chances are you’re drinking water that has passed through a Minnesota Land Trust protected property. While the Land Trust protects thousands of acres in the headwaters of the Mississippi River and [...]
By Josephine Marcotty The first find of the day — right next to the parking lot — was a tiny green caterpillar. After that they came thick and fast: a toad, another toad, deer prints in the mud, a snakeskin, and most thrilling of all, a tiny garter snake. It was the last day of [...]
Protect the land you love The Twin Cities region is home to a unique array of natural habitats, from oak savannas to Big Woods forests. The Minnesota and St. Croix rivers merge with the Mississippi here, creating important corridors for wildlife and migratory birds. The area also provides outstanding scenic and recreational opportunities for thousands [...]
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