Des Moines River SNA

246 acres

Christianna Bridge Public Water Access and Picnic Area
N43 47.572, W95 5.494

The parking lot at Christianna Bridge Public Water Access and Picnic Area is at the southwest corder of Des Moines River SNA.

County Road 79
N43 47.835, W95 4.505

There are no maintained trails.

No hunting

Minnesota DNR

What’s in a Name?
The official designation of this site is “Des Moines River SNA.” The wood routed sign on County Road 79; the informational sign in the Christianna Bridge Public Water Access and Picnic Area; and the Minnesota DNR Website; all used the name “Des Moines River Prairie SNA.” The Minnesota DNR has recently changed the name on the Website and will be using the designated name on new printed materials.

Land Acquisition
Part of this SNA was acquired by the Minnesota DNR with the help of a grant from the National Park Service’s Land and Water Conservation Fund (LAWCON).

Des Moines River State Water Trail
The parking area for this site is the Christianna Bridge Public Water Access, a canoe and boat access and picnic area for Des Moines River State Water Trail. The water trail begins 39 miles north at Talcot Lake and ends at the Minnesota/Iowa border 29 miles to the south.

Management
2008 to 2011: Management of the site has involved the removal of invasive trees and shrubs and an annual prescribed burn each spring. Old fields have been replanted with seeds collected elsewhere on the site.

2012: Seeds were collected on the southern part of the site. Fire breaks were mowed in several areas. Ongoing projects include the removal and control of wild parsnip and bird’s-foot trefoil.

2013: A prescribed burn was conducted on approximately 131 acres on May 15. Several small trees were felled and more were girdled near the stream on the south boundary in November.

Parking

Interpretive Sign

Wood Routed Signs

Des Moines River

Dry Hill Prairie (Southern)

A small flock of Common Redpoll was seen here in December, 2012.

Two bird species with conservation status in Minnesota and one tracked species have been seen here:

Minnesota DNR Bird checklist

One of the largest known populations of prairie bush clover grows here.

Three plant species with conservation status in Minnesota and one tracked species are found here:

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Plant List