Savanna Esker

The Trust for Public Land, through its land conservation work in the Mississippi Headwaters, recently protected 442 acres in the Savanna State Forest. The land is located approximately one mile north of Aitkin Lake in North Central Minnesota and will be managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry. The public will now forever be able to pursue outdoor recreation on this land rich in upland northern hardwoods and sustainably managed for generations. This lands watershed featuring streams and wetland areas that drain directly into the Mississippi River, providing significant water quality benefits and wildlife habitat.

The acquisition was funded by the Outdoor Heritage Fund. The Trust for Public Land helped lead the campaign to establish the Outdoor Heritage Fund as part of the 2008 Legacy Referendum that provides dedicated sales tax funding for the environment.