DNR receives donation for wildlife management area near Byron

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has announced it received a 420-acre land donation near Byron from The Nature Conservancy and Trust for Public Land. Named Moon Valley Wildlife Management Area, the property is now open to the public, providing a variety of public outdoor recreation opportunities 15 minutes north of downtown Rochester.
“This new WMA offers Minnesotans new opportunities to get outside and allows for the restoration and management of important habitat,” said Dave Olfelt, director of DNR’s Fish and Wildlife Division.
“We’re grateful to The Nature Conservancy and Trust for Public Land for their partnership and dedication to preserving this land for future generations.”
With support from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, TNC and TPL acquired the property from the Moon family, who operated a family farm there for nearly a century. The family wanted to see the property preserved as a natural area.
“With urban spread there are fewer and fewer wild and open spaces for people and wildlife to roam,” Linda Moon said. “The Moon family hopes this can be a small refuge for our neighbors and for our family to come home to as well. It was our beautiful farm, and now it will return to its natural state open to everyone.”