Minnesota Seasons - Richard M. & Mathilde Rice Elliott SNA

About • Location • Activities • Ecology

About

Ownership

The Nature Conservancy logo

Links

Minnesota DNR

The Nature Conservancy

Overview

History

In 1972 The Nature Conservancy (TNC) acquired a 280-acre parcel of land in Wilkin County. The site was named in honor of Richard M. Elliott, who died in 1969. Dr. Elliott was the departmental chair of the University of Minnesota Psychology Department from 1919 until 1951. Adjacent parcels were added to the site in 1984, 1986, and 1988. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources designated it a scientific and natural area on 6/15/2007.

Management

Comments

Location

Size

497 acres

North Section: 342.65

South Section: 154.6 acres

Driving Directions


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				Wilkin County
				Northwest Minnesota

Parking

There is a field road on the south side of County Road 188 (130th St.) at the northwest corner of the south section. Park on the field road.

N46 35.234, W96 21.933

Maps

Printable Map(s) with GPS coordinates


Complete


North Unit		South Unit

Activities

Hiking, nature photography, Birding

Hiking Trails

No maintained trails

Hunting

No hunting


Ecology

Ecological Classification
Ecological Province			Prairie Parkland Province
Ecological Section			Red River Valley
Ecological Subsection			Red River Prairie
Land Type Association			Barnesville Beach Complex

Native Plant Communities*
Mesic Prairie (Northern) Prairie Wetland Complex Wet Prairie (Northern)
* Source: The Minnesota Biological Survey, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological Resources

Natural Features

What’s In a Name?

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Web page for this site uses the name Richard M. & Mathilde Rice Elliott Prairie, Elliott spelled with two “t”s. The Minnesota DNR’s Web page uses the name Richard M. & Mathilde Rice Elliot SNA, dropping the word “Prairie” and with just a single “t” in the last name. The wood routed sign on the site reads “Richard M. and Mathilde Rice Elliott State Natural Area.”

The TNC GIS database refers to the site as “Western Prairie North.” The Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (Bell Herbarium) also refers to the site as ”Western Prairie North.”

Waterproof footwear recommended

The surface of this wet prairie is uneven. There are innumerable small depressions with standing water ankle deep or deeper. They are partially or completely hidden from view by grasses and forbs. Attempts to avoid them will be met with limited success. Waterproof footwear is highly recommended.


Visitor Photos

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos


North Unit
Wood Routed Sign


South Unit
Parking




Wet Prairie (Northern)




Elevated View from Southwest Corner

Camera

Slideshows

slideshow


Visitor Videos

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Other Videos

Camcorder


Visitor Sightings

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings

Visits

8/18/2010

8/6/2012

All of the observations below were made on the South Unit of the SNA.

Birds


Five bird species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:
Threatened	Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)
Special Concern	Greater Prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis)