THE MALTBY NATURE PRESERVE

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LAND

A history of this land is a history of glaciation. During the last 2 million years of the Cenozoic Period, glaciers formed in the Polar Regions and began to move toward the equator. The last of the four major glaciation periods that washed over what is now Minnesota is known as the Wisconsin Glaciation. As it receded 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, it left behind glacial till, moraines and formed rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands. This was the genesis of this specific parcel of approximately 95 acres in Stanton Township in the furthermost northwest corner of Goodhue County which, in an earlier period, was riverbench and later upland prairie covered with Estherville loam soil.

At the beginning of the 20th Century, the Chicago Great Western Railroad gouged out huge quantities of gravel from the site, in the process stripping away the topsoil, leaving it in mounds that still exist today. During that mining period a 2000 foot long rail spur was constructed on the property extending from near the east border of the property westward over the land. Trainloads of gravel were removed and reportedly used in the construction of St. Paul buildings including the State Capitol building.

With cessation of mining, vegetation slowly began to reclaim the land. At one point cattle were grazed and later sheep replaced them. Vestiges of rusting fencing can still be seen in areas attesting to the grazing period. Later speculative investors, anticipating growth and relocation of the Minneapolis / St. Paul Airport, acquired the land but provided no controls. Widely assumed to be in some form of public ownership, the land became a playground for abusers and today still shows scars of dirt bikes, four wheelers, carousing parties, hunters and many years of widespread trash dumping. By the time the Maltby family acquired it in 1981 the land lay torn and in desolation with rarely the song of a bird or the track of an animal to be discovered anywhere.

In the years since their acquisition of the property the Maltbys have removed truckloads of trash, opened hiking trails throughout the property, began restoring meadows and the prairie, planted thousands of trees and started clearing the ubiquitous buckthorn.

At least 65 species of wildflowers can now be seen throughout the summer. Several rare plants have been found including Kittentails, Prairie Bush Clover, Green Dragon, Glade Mallow and the prehistoric native Horsetail of Scouring Rush. Prairie remnants of Indian Grass, Side Oats Grama, Heath Aster, Ground Cherry, Puccoon and Bluestems are also found. At least 12 native tree species are present along with a variety of shrubs and bushes.

A walk through the land today will provide sightings or signs of probably every animal native to this area. The Cannon River bordering the property is home to mink, muskrat and beaver. The woods, meadows and prairie provide habitat for animals from the tiny field mouse and short tailed shrew up to the red and gray fox, coyote, bobcat and white tailed deer.

Birds of every kind have returned just as aggressively. A wide variety of songbirds are now common. Hawks, ruffed grouse and pheasants are regulars. The river and ponds attract numerous waterfowl. Bald Eagles now appear routinely and are nesting nearby. At least one pair of Great Blue Herons returns each year. Great horned Owls and flocks of wild turkeys appear frequently.

Red Belly Snakes, Bull Snakes, Garter Snakes and Eastern Hognose Snakes are at home here. The threatened Wood Turtle has been found numerous times along with the more common varieties. Leopard Frogs and various toads are also among the residents.

As would be expected, a wide variety of moths, butterflies, bees, and the increasingly rare lightening bug are flying residents.

This very brief history of this land demonstrates that nature will eventually restore itself. This land has made a remarkable recovery. With carefully planned assistance, it can and will increase its rate of recovery, generating a wide range of benefits.