3815 East 80th Street
Bloomington, MN 55425-1600
Phone (612)854-5900
Fax (612)725-3279
TDD (612)854-5900 (TDD)
EMail r3rw_mnv@fws.gov

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is located within the urban and suburban areas of the Twin Cities and is a green belt of large marsh areas bordered by office buildings, highways, residential areas, and grain terminals.

The Refuge is comprised of eight linear units totaling 10,514 acres that extend along 34 miles of the Minnesota River. Habitats include riverine wetlands, fens, seeps, floodplain forests, oak savannas and forest, and native grasslands. For more information about the Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District, Click Here.

Over 250 species of birds use the area at some time during the year. Nearly 150 birds nest in the valley including bald eagles and peregrine falcons. The avian diversity is complemented by at least 50 species of mammals and 30 species of reptiles and amphibians.

The focal point of the Refuge is the Visitor Center, which features 8000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, a 125-seat auditorium, two multi-purpose classrooms, a bookstore, and an observation deck. Environmental education and interpretation are conducted from this facility. Recreational activities include hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, hunting, and fishing.

The Refuge also manages a 13-county wetland management district. Remnant habitats found in this area include tallgrass prairie and prairie potholes.

Accessibility: The National Wildlife Refuge System is working to ensure that facilities and programs are accessible to visitors. Please contact the refuge office for information about accessibility at this unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Refuge Visitor Center. The Refuge Visitor Center is open from 9:00AM to 5:00PM six days a week, Tuesdays through Sundays. The Center is closed to the public during Federal holidays. Both interpretive and environmental education programs are available at the Visitor Center. A variety of exhibits are also available which describe resouces of the Minnesota Valley and Service management activities.

Environmental Education. A wide variety of environmental education activities are available for pre-school and school-aged kids. Specific natural resource related curriculums have been developed to help guide teachers and groups leaders in delivering this information. In addition, supporting materials such as water quality trekking packs, wetland and native prairie trucks, and environmental education literature is available.

Interpretive Programs. Several interpretive programs are conducted each year. These programs, which are either staff or volunteer lead, address a variety Minnesota River history and natural resource issues.

State Trail. The Refuge was established in conjunction with the Minnesota Valley State Trail that serves to provide hiking and biking opportunities to area residents. Upon completion, the trail will connect the Visitor Center in Bloomington with upstream communities such as Belle Plaine and LeSueur, Minnesota. Limited opportunities also exist on this Trail for horseback riding and snowmobiling.

Bird Watching and Nature Photography. Except for a heron rookery and bald eagle nesting sites, most of the Refuge is open for bird watching and nature photography. Popular bird watching locations include Old Cedar Avenue, the Bass Ponds, and the Wilkie Unit.

Fishing. Fishing occurs on or adjacent to many parts of the Refuge consistent with state regulations. Favorite spots for anglers along the Minnesota River include the Black Dog Unit, the Bass Ponds, and the Sorenson Landing just off of Lyndale Avenue in Bloomington. A handicapped accessible fishing dock is available at Cedar Pond near our Old Cedar Avenue parking lot. The Refuge also sponsors an annual Youth Fishing Day to promote fishing among disadvantaged Twin Cities youth.

Hunting. Several portions of the Refuge are open to hunting consistent with state regulations. In addition, nearly 3000 acres of waterfowl production areas administered by the Refuge are open to hunting. Included among these activities are waterfowl, upland game, archery deer, and firearms deer. The Refuge also sponsors a youth waterfowl mentoring program each year. Handicapped accessible waterfowl hunting blinds are also available.

Grassland Restoration and Management. Former croplands in upland areas are seeded down to native grasses and forbs common to this area. Following reestablishment, periodic prescribed burns are utilized to control invading trees and shrubs and to reinvigorate the native species.

Oak Savanna Restoration and Management. Nearly 300 acres of historic oak savanna exist on the Refuge. Restoration entails opening the canopy of the savannas through the removal of shrubs and weed trees (ash, elm, etc.) and restoring the grassland component of these habitats. All of this is accomplished through a combination of mechanical tree removal (hydro-axe or cutting), herbicide treatments of stumps, and prescribed burning. The oak savanna areas will also be maintained by periodic prescribed burning.

Floodplain Forest Restoration and Management. The Refuge contains nearly 2300 acres of either existing or potential floodplain forest. Restoration activities are concentrated on former croplands where natural regeneration and succession of woody species is allowed to occur. Of particular importance is the regeneration cottonwoods that will providing nesting and roosting areas for bald eagles and other birds of prey 30-50 years from now.

Wetland Restoration and Management. This activity consists of restoring previously drained wetlands and managing water levels of those marshes containing water control structures. Periodic draw downs are used wherever possible to reduce rough fish and reestablish favorable aquatic vegetation.