New wildlife management area opens near Rochester | Local News

A new 420-acre Wildlife Management Area (WMA) located 15 minutes north of Rochester is open to the public.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced May 20 that it had received a donation of land near Byron in Olmsted County from The Nature Conservancy and Trust for Public Land. Named Moon Valley Wildlife Management Area, the property offers a variety of public outdoor recreation opportunities, including hunting, fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing.

“This new WMA provides Minnesotans with new opportunities to get outdoors and allows for the restoration and management of important habitats,” said Dave Olfelt, director of the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife. “We are grateful to The Nature Conservancy and Trust for Public Land for their partnership and dedication to preserving this land for future generations.”

With support from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, The Nature Conservancy and Trust for Public Land acquired the property from the Moon family, who operated a family farm there for nearly a century. The family wanted the property to be preserved as a natural area.

“With urban expansion, there are fewer and fewer wild, open spaces for people and wildlife to roam,” Linda Moon said. “The Moon family hopes that this can be a little shelter for our neighbors and for our family to be able to fit in as well. It was our beautiful farm, and now it will return to its natural state open to all.

Ann Mulholland, who leads The Nature Conservancy's work in Minnesota, said she is grateful to the Moon family for entrusting her with the future of the land.

“The DNR will ensure that visitors can continue to enjoy not only its natural beauty, but also maximize the many benefits it provides to people and nature, including clean water and carbon storage,” Mulholland said.

Located in the Driftless Area, the new WMA includes forested bluffs, springs, and shoreline along the Middle Fork of the Zumbro River. Approximately 200 acres of former cropland will be restored to wetlands, grasslands and floodplain forests. In addition to conserving key habitat, the property offers numerous outdoor recreation opportunities such as hunting, fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing.

“There is a growing need for publicly accessible outdoor spaces in southeastern Minnesota, and these nearly three miles of the Zumbro River will help connect thousands of residents and visitors with nature,” said Sophie Vorhoff , Minnesota state director for Trust for Public Land.

For more information about Moon Valley WMA, visit bit.ly/moonvalleywma.