Long-term prairie research sites for this project required specific ecological and management conditions. Many sites did not meet these conditions, as they were inaccessible, too wet, or poorly managed for weeds or woody plants. The project team reduced the regional site locations to three, which spanned the moisture and temperature gradient in western Minnesota. The northwest region is located near Crookston, the central region is near Morris, and the southwest region is near Windom, Minnesota.
Plots in the northwest region were established on WMAs and on privately-owned parcels enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Plots in the central region were established on federally-owned Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) and on MN State Park land. All plots in the southwest region were established on DNR-owned Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs).
Two additional treatments were supported with NFWF funding in the southwest region:
5) 50% harvest block - two opposite quarters of the plot are left standing as refuge; halves are rotated yearly
6) 50% harvest strip - thirty-meter wide harvest strips are cut; strips rotate yearly