Landmark Conservancy purchased a 364-acre Meridean Barrens property from Xcel Energy, protecting important river and upland habitat in Dunn County along the Lower Chippewa River.
The project was mostly funded by a grant through the North American Wetland Conservation Act, with additional funds provided by the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.
“This purchase has been a long time in the making and we are incredibly excited to finally make it happen and announce it to the public,” said Kristin Thompson, Landmark Conservancy Advancement Director.
An Xcel Energy subsidiary, Northern States Power, originally acquired the land in the 1970s as a potential nuclear power plant site.
The property will be open to the public for hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, cross-country skiing, and wildlife viewing. This purchase increases Landmark Conservancy’s total acres protected to over 40,000.
Read more in this article by Parker Reed of The Chippewa Herald.
Photo from Landmark Conservancy.
