1. Presentation of Hope Valley Nature is the living, visible garment of God. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ®

3. COUNTRYSIDE SOUTHWEST

4. SOUTH VIEW

5. VIEW BIG WOODS EAST

6. VIEW SOUTHWEST

7. TAX INFORMATION

8. THE LONG WAY HOME

9. DAYBREAK

10. BIG WOODS

11. BIG SKY

12. PLAT MAP

13. EXCELLENT CROP LAND

14. PARK BOUNDARY

15. TOPOGRAPHY

16. PROPERTY SURVEY

17. SOILS MAP

18. YELLOW GOLD

19. WILDLIFE HARMONY

20. LUSH CORN

21. DENSE FOREST

22. BREATHTAKING

23. THE MEADOW

24. MEANDERING STREAM

25. Wildlife Red and hoary woodland bats, raccoon, fox, deer, and red- bellied garter snakes are just a few of the residents in the park. Bird watchers will enjoy viewing scarlet tanagers, rose- breasted grosbeaks, indigo buntings, bobolinks, meadowlarks, and seven species of woodpeckers, including the "Species of Special Concern" red-headed woodpecker. History When the first settlers arrived in 1854, they discovered an island of woods in the vast oak savanna prairie which now makes up Nerstrand Big Woods State Park. Sugar maple, basswood, oak, hickory, aspen, elm, ash, and ironwood trees shade the land. Over 200 varieties of wildflowers, along with countless varieties of ferns and mushrooms grew in the Big Woods. Geology Nerstrand Big Woods State Park is comprised of two, nearly horizontal, layers: a layer of glacial drift about 150 feet thick overlying a layer of Platteville Limestone. The limestone is visible only where the drift has been eroded away at Hidden Falls and along Prairie Creek. Landscape Nerstrand Big Woods State Park is spectacular for wildflower viewing in the spring. Feast your eyes on sharp-lobed hepatica and the dwarf trout lily which blooms in April, and the dwarf trout lily, which is a federally-listed endangered wildflower. This information was accessed from http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/nerstrand_big_woods/narrative.html at 12:14pmhttp://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/nerstrand_big_woods/narrative.html About Nerstrand State Park

26. Mission statement The mission of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is to work with citizens to conserve and manage the state's natural resources, to provide outdoor recreation opportunities, and to provide for commercial uses of natural resources in a way that creates a sustainable quality of life. About the mission statement The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources works to integrate and sustain the interdependent values of a healthy environment, a sustainable economy, and livable communities. DNRs integrated resource management strategy shares stewardship responsibility with citizens and partners to manage for multiple interests. DNR protects the states natural heritage by conserving the diversity of natural lands, waters, and fish and wildlife that provide the foundation for Minnesotas recreational and natural resource-based economy (M.S. 84, M.S. 97A). DNR manages natural lands such as forests, wetlands, and native prairies; maintains healthy populations of fish and wildlife; and protects rare plant and animal communities throughout the state. DNR manages the states water resources, sustaining healthy waterways and ground water resources. DNR provides access to enrich public outdoor recreational opportunities, such as hunting, fishing, wildlife-watching, camping, skiing, hiking, biking, motorized recreation, and conservation education through a state outdoor recreation system that includes parks, trails, wildlife management areas, scientific and natural areas, water trails, and other facilities (M.S. 86A). DNR supports natural resource-based economies, managing state forest lands for multiple forest values (M.S. 89), ensuring the maximum long-term economic return from school trust lands (M.S. 127A), and providing other economic opportunities in a manner consistent with sound natural resource conservation and management principles. This information was accessed from http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/aboutdnr/mission.html on 4-21-11 at 12:14pmhttp://www.dnr.state.mn.us/aboutdnr/mission.html on 4-21-11 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Mission Statement