Next to the sparkling waters of Green Lake in Isanti County, 181 acres of well-stewarded woods and wetlands were permanently protected in December 2025. Trust for Public Land partnered with the family who cared for this land for decades to conserve it as the Green Lake Scientific and Natural Area, adding a new gem to Minnesota’s outdoor legacy.
This project protects what makes Minnesota special: rare species, native prairie, and old-growth forest woven together in one remarkable landscape. Willow and dogwood thickets, oak-aspen woodlands and, sedge meadows create vital habitat for wildlife and a living classroom for generations to come. Visitors are able to wander expansive meadows, stand beneath towering white pines, and trace the path of a quiet creek through a landscape that feels distinctly Minnesotan.
Now part under the ownership of the MN Department of Natural Resources, the Green Lake SNA will be safeguarded for the long term. Funding from the Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Fund made this protection possible—an enduring investment in clean water, wildlife habitat, and the outdoor experiences that connect us all to the land.
