Past Project: Minnesota's railroad rights-of-way prairie

The loss of the prairie to agriculture followed the railroad network as Europeans settled the Midwest. However, the areas adjacent to the tracks were less likely to be cultivated. As part of a team of botanists from the Department of Natural Resources that surveyed Minnesota railroad rights-of-way for prairie remnants in 1998. We found that these narrow strips were important reservoirs for mesic prairie and rare species.
 

Minnesota's Highway Prairie


 

Publications

Merchant SM, Biederman LA. 1999. Minnesota’s railroad rights-of-way prairie: A report to the 1999 Legislature. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Biological Report no. 61. St. Paul, Minnesota.

Datasets

Available from the Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.