What is Natural Area Registry?
The Natural Area Registry acknowledges that many of Minnesota's finest natural areas occur on public lands not designated as Scientific and Natural Areas. The Registry is a way to recognize natural features of statewide ecological and geological significance on any public land in Minnesota. This voluntary agreement protects areas containing native plant communities, rare species and other outstanding natural features.
Nominating and developing an agreement
Nominated sites are reviewed using information compiled in an ecological evaluation to determine if the site qualifies and if protection through this method is acceptable to all parties. Registration of a site only happens between the land manager and the Scientific and Natural Area Program if all parties approve the agreement. These are non-binding voluntary agreements.
A registry agreement includes:
- Maps identifying the site
- Explanation of the place's significance
- Information on natural features such as native plant communities
- Identifying and recommending management actions
The Scientific and Natural Area Program requests updates from the land manager at least once every other year. Information is kept current on:
- Site conditions
- Significant management activities
- Natural disturbances
- Planned future management
- Changes affecting the registry's natural features
Current Natural Area Registry
Map of Natural Area Registry Sites in Minnesota
- List of Natural Area Registry Sites
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Natural Area Registry Manager County Beaver Creek WMA MN DNR Wildlife Division Fillmore Bena Bog MN DNR Forestry Division Cass Cartney WMA MN DNR Wildlife Division Mower Central Park City of Bloomington Hennepin Dinosaur Island MN DNR Wildlife Division Mille Lacs Expandere WMA MN DNR Wildlife Division Cottonwood Felton WMA MN DNR Wildlife Division Clay Hemingway Creek Cold Slope Forest MN DNR Forestry Division Winona Jeffers Petroglyphs Minnesota Historical Society Cottonwood John A. Latsch State Park MN DNR Parks and Trails Division Winona Kemen WMA MN DNR Wildlife Division Lac Qui Parle Kibler WMA MN DNR Wildlife Division Lac Qui Parle Kimberly Marsh WMA MN DNR Wildlife Division Aitkin Lake Agnes Northern Hardwoods MN DNR Forestry Division Cook Larson Lake Bog MN DNR Forestry Division Beltrami Leroy to Rose Creek Right-of-Way MN Dept. of Transportation District 6 Mower Money Creek Bluff Forest MN DNR Forestry Division Houston Nerstrand Woods Trout Lily MN DNR Parks and Trails Division Rice Oxbow County Park Olmsted County Olmsted Palisade Head Scenic Overlook MN DNR Parks and Trails Division Lake Pipestone National Monument National Park Service Rock Prairie Marshes WMA MN DNR Wildlife Division Lyon Prairie WMA MN DNR Wildlife Division Big Stone Reno North MN DNR Forestry Division Houston Reno South MN DNR Forestry Division Houston Richter Woods County Park LeSueur County LeSueur Salt Lake WMA MN DNR Wildlife Division Lac Qui Parle Sioux Nation WMA MN DNR Wildlife Division Yellow Medicine Siseebakwet Lake Itasca County Itasca Soudan Iron Formation MN DNR Parks and Trails Division St. Louis South Fowl Lake Cliff MN DNR Forestry Division Cook Spirit and Hennepin Islands US Fish and Wildlife Service Mille Lacs Spring Creek WMA MN DNR Wildlife Division Becker Stumpages Rapids Hubbard County Hubbard Victory WMA MN DNR Wildlife Division Big Stone Whitewater WMA MN DNR Wildlife Division Winona Yellow Birch Natural Area MN DNR Parks and Trails Division Cook Zumbro Bottoms MN DNR Forestry Division Wabasha