Fish and Wildlife Service, Minnesota.
Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge was established in 2000 to address the loss of America’s grasslands and the decline of grassland wildlife. Scientists estimate the original tallgrass prairie in Minnesota and Iowa covered about 25 million acres. Now, there are only about 300,000 acres left in the two states. The refuge was created to work with individuals, groups and government agencies to permanently preserve and restore some of the northern tallgrass prairie. Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge encompasses all or part of 85 counties in western Minnesota and northwestern Iowa. The long-term goal for the refuge is to protect 77,000 acres through conservation easements and government ownership. Easements and purchased lands are managed or overseen by the refuge or wetland management district office covering the area where the lands are located.
Refuge lands are/will be located at widely scattered locations throughout western Minnesota and northwestern Iowa. The project leader of Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge is located at the Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge office, approximately eight miles east of Ortonville, MN, and one mile west of Odessa, MN. From Highway 7/75, take Big Stone County Road #19 south approximately three quarters of a mile.