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2008-present: The Era of Conservation
In 2007 Minnesota amended their state constitution to adopt the Legacy Amendment. This amendment provides funds for land conservation and reflects a new understanding that the land is not an inexhaustible resource. Prairie Creek WMA is one of the many efforts to protect and restore the prairie, forests and waters of Rice County. Ultimately, we - the residents of Rice County - will shape these conservation efforts.
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Click on the photos below to learn more about how each site came under conservation.
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Explore the prairie history by navigating the different periods of the site using the table of contents below.
History of the Land
I Geological History
II Pre-1854: Hunting and small-scale agriculture
III 1854-1885: European-Style Agriculture
IV 1885-1940: Railroad and Markets
V 1940-2008: The Era of Industrial Agriculture
VI 2008-present: The Era of Conservation
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