SNA Nature Notes - Summer 2026

minnesota department of natural resources

Summer 2026

SNA lady's-slipper graphic

NATURE NOTES

Nature Notes is the Minnesota Scientific and Natural Areas Unit's quarterly newsletter.

In this issue:

Forest Restoration at Butterwort Cliffs SNA

AmberBeth VanNingen, SNA Natural Resource Specialist Senior

and Shannon Kearney, SNA Outreach Communications Student Worker

brush on the ground in an aspen stand

Butterwort Cliffs SNA in October 2023.

In 2019, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) approached DNR Parks and Trails and the Scientific and Natural Areas (SNA) Unit about a potential restoration partnership on the North Shore of Lake Superior. A donor had come to them concerned about the forests there. Short-lived species such as paper birch and quaking aspen had replaced the towering white and red pines that populated the forests before the logging era. The donor was especially interested in areas where the public could see restoration happening, particularly along the North Shore Scenic Byway (MN Hwy 61). You can learn more about Highway 61 Restored from the TNC. 

One of the sites chosen for this forest restoration was Butterwort Cliffs Scientific and Natural Area, a 43-acre site sandwiched between Hwy 61 and Lake Superior within Cascade River State Park. The SNA, located eight miles west of Grand Marais, was established for its rocky shore and rare species found there. However, much of the site is also a fire-dependent forest community that buffers the Lake Superior shoreline. Today, the forest is thick with brush and dense stands of aging or dead aspen and birch, with only small pockets of surviving white cedar and white spruce.

The forest seen at Butterwort Cliffs today is closely tied to the site’s history. According to a 1986 resource inventory for the SNA, the area appears to have been logged for pine, cedar, and spruce between 1891 and 1914. Numerous fires also burned through the area between 1894 and 1930. Together, this logging and fire history helped shape the forest into what visitors see today, with fewer long-lived conifers and a greater aspen and birch dominance.

More recent natural disturbance events also influenced the site. In September 1992, a major blowdown event impacted portions of the North Shore, including Butterwort Cliffs SNA. At the time, the decision was made to leave the downed trees and to allow natural processes to continue. Ice storms and strong winds have continued to affect North Shore forests over the years, sometimes damaging mature conifers that survived earlier logging eras.

TNC crews removed brush, mostly hazel, mountain maple, and small dead trees at Butterwort Cliffs SNA in 2020 and again in 2023. All fruit-bearing trees, such as mountain-ash and juneberry, along with birch saplings and conifers, were reserved. Long-lived conifers like white cedar, white pine, and white spruce were then planted throughout the site. As the planted conifers mature over time, they will hopefully once again become a defining part of the landscape.

Brush mower

Brush Mower at Butterwort Cliffs SNA.

However, the large amount of downed brush and dead trees presented several challenges. Thick debris blocked light and growing space for planted seedlings and understory plants. Since this forest type is adapted to survive and thrive with periodic fire, piling and burning the brush was considered. However, because the site sits directly along busy Hwy 61, that approach would create a challenge with very visible fire and smoke. Regional SNA staff researched additional management options and ultimately decided on forest mowing, which would cut and grind the brush and scatter it across the site.

After the ground had frozen in December 2025, contractor Native Resource Preservation met Northeast Region SNA Specialist AmberBeth VanNingen on site with a skid steer and mulching attachment. Over the next three days, the operator mowed approximately five acres of the SNA. Upon inspection afterward, both staff and the contractor were pleased with the results. This marked the first forest mowing project completed on an SNA in northeast Minnesota.

Monitoring has been an important part of the restoration work at Butterwort Cliffs SNA. In 2019, Minnesota Biological Survey staff resampled several relevés, a standardized vegetation sampling technique used to classify plant communities, along the North Shore, including one located within the forest at the SNA. In 2020, Arika McGraw, Northeast Region SNA Naturalist, and VanNingen began a monitoring project to document vegetation composition in the treated areas. Resampling was done in 2021, and staff plan to revisit this summer to continue tracking changes over time.

While there are not yet definite plans for monitoring the newly mowed areas, staff plan to visit the site this summer to evaluate how the treatment is responding and determine the best approach for future monitoring. Information gathered from these efforts will help guide future restoration work at Butterwort Cliffs SNA and determine whether forest mowing will be considered at other SNAs in northeast Minnesota.

Visitors traveling along Hwy 61 can observe portions of this restoration work from the roadside. A small parking area is located across the highway from the SNA. Because there are no developed trails and traffic along Hwy 61 can be busy, visitors should use caution when accessing the site.

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Crystal Spring SNA on a map of Minnesota

Site Highlight: Exploring Crystal Spring SNA

Shannon Kearney, SNA Outreach Communications Student Worker

 

On a warm sunny day, I began my exploration near the St Croix River at Crystal Spring SNA. This popular SNA offers cool shade, flowing water, and a landscape hidden from the modern world despite its proximity to the Twin Cities metro.

A path descends into a deeply carved ravine where towering sandstone cliffs rise above the creek. Some rock faces are weathered into intricate honeycomb-like patterns, evidence of nature spending centuries carving artwork into stone.  Mosses and ferns cling to the walls of the cliffs, while roots stretch down from above, reminding us that water has shaped this special place for thousands of years.

Sandstone formation

Jordan sandstone formation at Crystal Spring SNA.

As I followed the path, the sound of the creek echoed throughout the ravine. Around a bend, a small waterfall spills over the sandstone ledge, naturally inviting you to stop the hustle of everyday life to take a deep breath and reflect.

Small waterfall

Small waterfall along the creek at Crystal Spring SNA.

Wildflowers were abundant throughout the hike. Delicate columbine bloomed from rocky walls, while spotted touch-me-not brightened up the shaded streambanks. A hobomok skipper drank nectar among the wildflowers. The site felt alive with birdsong. Veeries were abundant, their ethereal flute-like songs drifting through the trees. Wood thrushes added their rich, echoing melodies, while scarlet tanagers, rose-breasted grosbeaks, Acadian flycatchers, American redstarts, pine warblers, and ruby-throated hummingbirds reminded me why Crystal Spring SNA is a popular birdwatching hotspot. On this particular day, I shared the trail with other hikers, photographers, and birdwatchers, all drawn to the beauty hidden within this shaded ravine.

columbine flower and skipper butterfly

Columbine (Left). Hobomok skipper drinking nectar on a wild geranium flower (right).

Crystal Spring SNA was more than just a short hike; it felt like a journey through the history of time. Between the sculpted sandstone walls, cool flowing water, colorful wildflowers, and a constant chorus of birds, this site is a must-see for anyone in need of slowing down and reconnecting with nature. Can’t visit? Take a moment to take a virtual hike of the SNA.

A Few Facts About Crystal Spring SNA

  • The creek through the SNA flows a short distance into the St. Croix River, where you can also find the Rustrum Wildlife Management Area.
  • The Minnesota Biological Survey mapped the plant communities here and determined that Crystal Spring SNA has an excellent (A-rank) red oak-basswood forest.
  • In 2016, Crystal Spring SNA was formed when Gregory Page sold his land to the SNA Unit. He wanted to ensure the land was protected for future generations. He had called the site Miniboha, a Dakota word meaning “a gulch, a ravine made by water”.
  • The Jordan Sandstone, St. Lawrence Formation, and Tunnel City Group (Mazomanie Formation) are visible here, representing sediments deposited during the Upper Cambrian Period about 495 to 490 million years ago.
  • Check out Crystal Spring SNA on page 7 in the SNA Coloring Book!

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Staff Highlight: Ryan Weigel

 

Ryan Weigel is a Natural Resources Technician with the Scientific and Natural Areas Unit in Region 4. He helps monitor and maintain Native Prairie Bank sites through prescribed burns, invasive species removal, and species surveys. Ryan has been working with the SNA program for just over a year and enjoys helping protect and restore Minnesota’s native prairies. 

Ryan

Ryan Weigel.

What gets you excited about your work (and why)?

I really enjoy seeing the rare and interesting landscapes and helping preserve them. Only 1% of Minnesota’s native prairie is left, and I feel it’s a great honor to help preserve and restore these important landscapes. 

What is your favorite way to spend time outdoors (and why)?

I really enjoy rock collecting. Whether it’s looking for agates (Lake Superior, Cold Water, or Montana Moss), fossils, or simply an interesting-looking rock. Minnesota has a very interesting geological history and, as a result, has a wide range of interesting rocks. 

What is your favorite native Minnesota plant or animal (and why)?

The Purple Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea). Carnivorous plants started my interest in botany, and learning that they can be found in Minnesota added a lot of fuel to that fire. Thirteen species can be found in Minnesota. So far, I have only found seven, but my goal is to find all thirteen. 

What is your favorite SNA (and why)?

Swedes Forest SNA. I’ve spent a lot of time helping manage and restore this site, and there’s still a lot of work to do.  But beneath the buckthorn, it has some of the best rocky outcrops I’ve ever seen.  There are so many fantastic features that were carved out by Glacial River Warren, such as 20-foot boulders tumbled in the current, potholes in the rock, the exposed rocky outcrops, and the Minnesota River Valley itself.

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Visit the SNA Facebook page!

Research Roundup

 

research

 

Scientific and Natural Areas play an important role in expanding our understanding of Minnesota’s ecosystems, and research is supported through a permit system. So far in 2026, the DNR has approved 33 research projects that advance knowledge of the state’s plants, animals, fungi, and waters, which help the SNA Program manage and protect these natural resources more effectively. Some projects that have been issued a permit this year include:

  • Researchers at St. Cloud State University are surveying Eastern Newts and amphibian chytrid fungi at Wood-Rill, Uncas Dunes, and Quarry Park SNAs to detect the pathogens Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and B. salamandrivorans (Bsal) using swabs and environmental DNA.
  • Researchers at the University of Minnesota, working with the DNR’s Minnesota Biological Survey, are surveying Rubus (raspberry) populations at the Blaine Airport Rich Fen, Blaine Preserve, and Kettle River SNAs. The study focuses on genetic diversity and hybridization in three rare Rubus species to guide future conservation efforts.
  • A Collections Manager at the UMN Bell Museum Herbarium will be documenting plant diversity at Chimney Rock SNA this year by collecting samples and photographing rare species. All specimens will be archived in the Bell Museum plant herbarium collections for future research and education.

New research proposals are welcomed year-round, and the SNA Program encourages researchers, including university professors and independent scientists, as well as undergraduate and graduate students, to apply early. All researchers must submit a completed research application. Please note review of application may take 30 days or more.

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Site Steward Notes

 

ski and floewr

Cross-country skiing at Lutsen SNA (left). Photo by Jon Anderson. Wood sorel (Oxalis montana) at Swedes Forest SNA (right). Photo by Jake Wells.

Site stewards monitor SNAs across Minnesota. Their observations provide valuable information to the SNA Program. Spring visits were regularly reported, with a variety of observations and tasks completed.

  • During a May visit to Greenwater Lake SNA, site steward Bill Bergquist ran into a University of Minnesota researcher doing a bird song study and walked with him to a quieter part of the SNA away from road noise. Learn about research on SNAs.
  • Oronoco Prairie SNA site steward Audrey Meyer-Mack made multiple visits to the SNA this spring. She noted numerous fungi species, like milk-white toothed polypore and turkey tails, and common early season invasive species like garlic mustard. On May 16th, Audrey led a wildflower walk at Oronoco Prairie. The eight attendees enjoyed spring blooms like wood betony, smooth yellow violet, prairie alumroot, and prairie smoke.  
  • In March, Lutsen SNA site steward Jon Anderson ventured out into the snowy SNA. He noted that despite a very icy weekend, the cross-country ski trail that cuts through the site was still in great shape. He also alerted SNA staff to a damaged sign on the western entrance to Lutsen.  
  • New site steward Jake Wells visited Swedes Forest SNA in early May and was greeted by the chorus of numerous frogs and a belted kingfisher. Jake encountered a family out enjoying a walk around the SNA and saw lots of coyote scat in the southwestern section. He also saw some early season blooms like wild blue phlox and wood sorrel.

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SNA Events

 

Looking for a fun way to get outdoors and give back this summer? Join us for adventures and stewardship activities at SNAs! See the complete list on the SNA events calendar.

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Large Donation Leaves Lasting Legacy

Kelly Randall, SNA Statewide Outreach Consultant

and Shannon Kearney, SNA Outreach Communications Student Worker

big check group picture

Friends of Minnesota Scientific and Natural Areas present check to DNR. Left to right: Bob Djupstrom, Tim Johnson, Craig Andresen, DNR Commissioner, Sarah Strommen and Scientific and Natural Area Supervisor, Judy Elbert.

In May, the Friends of Minnesota Scientific and Natural Areas (FMSNA) proudly presented a $47,000 donation to Commissioner Sarah Strommen and SNA Unit Supervisor Judy Elbert.

We are incredibly grateful for the Friends’ ongoing support and commitment to protecting Minnesota’s native plants, wildlife, and ecosystems that make Scientific and Natural Areas so special. This donation will have a lasting impact, helping ensure that these exceptional places continue to be protected, studied, and enjoyed by current and future generations of Minnesotans.

The Friends state, "Friends of Minnesota Scientific and Natural Areas values the importance of protecting and managing Minnesota's natural heritage found in the system of SNAs and Native Prairie Bank sites for present and future generations. 

Recognizing the significant growth in the SNA Program in the last few years, we wanted to be a part of it.”

They added that donations were “above our expectations to ensure the growth and success of the SNA Unit continues. It is hoped that even more Minnesotans will seek out and visit sites in the SNA system."

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Donate to the Minnesota Scientific and Natural Areas Unit!

 

Showy lady's slipper

Showy Lady's-Slippers (Cypripedium reginae) at Iron Springs Bog SNA.

You can support the preservation of natural places for future generations by donating to Minnesota Scientific and Natural Areas. Your donation supports management and stewardship of natural areas, research to better understand Minnesota’s natural heritage, and the expansion of natural areas and designation of new sites.

Minnesota Native Plant Highlight: Culver’s Root

Mike Perry, Former SNA Volunteer and Writer

culvers root

Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum).

Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum) is a member of the Plantaginaceae or plantain family. Some other members of the plantain family are kittentails (Besseya bullii), and beard-tongues (Penstemon spp.) The genus name Veronicastrum was given to this plant in honor of the first-century Saint Veronica. The species name virginicum means "of Virginia." Other common names for this plant are Culver's physic, blackroot, high veronica, and tall speedwell. The genus Veronicastrum consists of only two species, our native Culver's root and a second closely related species in eastern Asia.

Veronicastrum virginicum is a native perennial that grows in wet to mesic soils throughout Minnesota. Culver's root is a tall plant growing up to six feet high. The root is mostly horizontal. Three to seven leaves appear in a whorled fashion, spaced at wide intervals along the stem. The leaves are up to six inches long and one inch wide with toothed edges. The flowers appear from July through August. The flowerheads form a slender spike up to nine inches long with multiple spikes branching upward from the main stem. Each quarter-inch-long tubelike flower projects perpendicular from the main flower head stalk. The fruit is an oval capsule.

Much has been written about the medicinal uses of Culver's root. The fresh root is a violent cathartic and may also cause vomiting. The dried root is somewhat milder and has been used in infusion form to treat a sluggish liver and other ailments. The plant was used by the Cherokee, Iroquois, Menominee, and Ojibwe. Some herbal medicine stores sell the plant in various processed forms.

These native plant stories were written by Mike Perry in the late 1990s and early 2000s for a former iteration of the SNA newsletter. That newsletter was printed and sent to SNA volunteers to keep them updated on volunteer events and stories about the goings-on with SNAs. We hope you find these “re-printed” stories with added photographs of the plants interesting and informative!

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Nature Notes is the Minnesota Scientific and Natural Areas quarterly newsletter (archive online). It seeks to increase interest, understanding and support of natural areas while promoting involvement in the protection of these special places. Contact us directly at sna.dnr@state.mn.us.

 

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Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).