Horseshoe Lake Wildlife Management Area

In the Cannon River Watershed, less than 20% of the land is natural habitat. The majority is being utilized for agricultural needs and under private ownership with only 5% open to the public. With so much land publicly inaccessible, many Minnesotans in this region must travel far distances to enjoy their favorite outdoor activities like hiking, hunting, camping, and fishing. At Trust for Public Land, we’re working to bring the benefits of the outdoors closer to home.

Just outside of the City of Kilkenny in Le Sueur County, we helped protect 152 acres of gorgeous forest, wetland, and grassland habitat as Horseshoe Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) with the help of our partners at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). This is great news for residents of growing cities like Faribault, MN where this new WMA will be within a 10-minute drive of 20,000 people. Conserving this land not only means expanded recreational opportunities that are close to home, but it’s also a crucial step in creating larger habitat blocks that connect to Horseshoe Lake, improving its water quality, and the quality of the watershed. From hunting and fishing to observing native wildlife, this new WMA will continue to be a treasured destination for many Minnesotans.

Funding for this project was provided from the Outdoor Heritage Fund as recommended by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.