The Point Conservation Project
Preserving one of Minnesota’s rarest landscapes for education, restoration, and discovery.
The Point is a 151-acre ecological treasure located on the Eagle Bluff campus. Acquired in 2017 through generous donor support, this unique property protects a rare Black Oak Sand Barrens Prairie—an ecosystem that has developed over thousands of years and is now considered globally imperiled.
Located in Minnesota’s Driftless Area, The Point escaped the flattening effects of the last glacial period. After the glaciers retreated, meltwaters left behind over 7,000 acres of sandy deposits in Fillmore County. Few of these sand prairie ecosystems remain intact today, and The Point is considered one of the rarest and most ecologically significant examples.
About the Land
The Point’s diverse landscape includes:
- Black Oak Sand Barrens Prairie
- Oak savanna and hardwood forest
- Over 1.5 miles of Root River corridor
These habitats support a wide variety of native wildlife, from robins, bluebirds, and belted kingfishers to trout and smallmouth bass.
The Point is protected through a 120-acre conservation easement with the Minnesota Land Trust.
The Point is home to a historic homestead, which was stabilized in the summer of 2017 with generous support from the Carl and Verna Schmidt Foundation, the Ben Stanek Memorial Fund, and individual donors Tom Rogers and Jan Smart.
Educational Programming
The Point plays a vital role in Eagle Bluff’s mission to connect people with the earth and each other. It provides students and visitors with hands-on learning opportunities in conservation and ecology.
Programs at The Point include:
- Outdoor School: River hikes, habitat exploration, and land stewardship activities
- Summer Camps: Campground experiences, nature immersion, and recreation
- Adult Education: Learn-to-hunt programs and land stewardship seminars
- Special Groups: Programs for other visiting groups
Conservation & Land Management
Prairie Management
Eagle Bluff’s team is actively restoring and enhancing prairie habitat at The Point through a range of targeted strategies:
- Preserving and expanding open spaces to support prairie-dependent birds and pollinators
- Using prescribed fire to maintain native plant diversity and suppress woody invasive species
- Improving moisture-limited areas to create better conditions for native prairie plants
Forest Management
Guided by a Woodland Stewardship Plan developed in 2000, Eagle Bluff manages forest habitat to support long-term ecological health:
- Improving overall timber quality and forest structure
- Enhancing wildlife habitat and connectivity across the landscape
- Controlling invasive species such as buckthorn and honeysuckle
Root River Restoration Project
The Point is home to the Root River Restoration Project—a collaborative effort to restore the river’s natural function, reduce erosion, and improve long-term ecological health.
Eagle Bluff and its partners are working to:
- Restore the river’s original channel and reconnect its natural floodplain
- Stabilize eroded riverbanks using native vegetation and “toe wood” structures
- Enhance fish habitat, macroinvertebrate communities, and wetland biodiversity
- Provide a hands-on learning site for Eagle Bluff students and visitors
Project Partners:
This work is supported by the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, Fillmore Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD), Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and Trout Unlimited’s Driftless Area Restoration Effort.
Bobwhite Quail Restoration Project
Working in partnership with the Bobwhite Quail Society and Pheasants Forever, Eagle Bluff has launched a habitat-based restoration effort for northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus)—a native species historically found in southeastern Minnesota.
- The project marks an experimental effort at the northern edge of the quail’s historical range.
- Crews completed habitat improvements and planted food plots in 2019.
- In fall 2019, staff released 50 bobwhite quail across three established sites.
- In 2020, staff released another 50 birds to support population growth.
Outdoor Recreation
The Point offers a host of recreational opportunities. Eagle Bluff visitors and program participants can enjoy:
- Hiking trails that wind through prairie, forest, and along the Root River
- Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing during the winter months
- Fishing for trout and smallmouth bass in the river below
- Hunting in designated areas during permitted seasons
Support, Subscribe, and Steward With Us
Want to support conservation at The Point?
Make a donation or sign up for our quarterly e-newsletter, The Talon, to stay updated on land management efforts, conservation news, and volunteer opportunities.