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Chisago County Board signed-off last week on a land acquisition which allows the DNR to add 37 acres to the Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) inventory in the county.

SNAs are obtained by the state for preserving unique terrain, rare flora or habitat, according to the DNR representative at the Board meeting Peggy Booth. The DNR is ensuring there's continued diversity of native ecological systems at a total of 135 sites across the state.

This parcel, being sold by the Strong family, is in the southeast corner of the intersection of Hwy. 95 and 285th, south of Hwy 8. The state previously acquired land just to the east of this parcel as a SNA. Together the sites are being called "Franconia Bluffs Scientific and Natural Area."

Franconia Township Board agreed to the land acquisition at its meeting March 17.

"Franconia Bluffs SNA" is open to the public for nature observation and for research and educational activities. The Commissioner of the Dept. of Natural Resources is authorized to open SNA sites for limited hunting if appropriate.

The county's only other SNA is on Rush Lake, where an extensive heron rookery is situated.

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