Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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The “Land of 10,000 Lakes” is also the land of 10 million acres of wetlands. That may sound like a lot, but it is just about half the wetlands that existed in Minnesota before European settlement, according to the Department of Natural Resources. 

In the mid-20th century, government policies incentivized farmers to drain or fill wetlands, and crops spread across areas that were critical to birds and other wildlife. A movement to protect and recover wetlands grew into a system of state lands called Wildlife Management Areas. 

This year, the DNR is celebrating the 75th anniversary of this conservation strategy, which now includes about 1,500 WMAs across a variety of habitats. 

DNR Wildlife Section Manager Dave Trauba joined MPR News host Emily Bright to talk about the history and future of these areas. 

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

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Wildlife Management Areas emerged from a movement in the 1950s to conserve wetlands after many were drained or filled for agriculture. There are now about 1,500 of these protected areas in a variety of habitats across the state. 

DNR: 75-year-old system of protected lands is the 'heartbeat' of wildlife conservation

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