Avon Hills Easement Program:
The Avon Hills region of Stearns County includes about 65,000 acres in the Albany, Avon, Brockway, Collegeville, Farming, LeSauk, Rockville, St. Joseph, St. Wendel, and Wakefield townships. The gently rolling hills and quiet wooded shorelines of the Avon Hills landscape have captivated generations who live in and visit this hidden gem. The area is identified as ecologically significant by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) County Biological Survey and other conservation planning documents.
To help protect this distinctive landscape, St. John's University, Minnesota Land Trust, and the Stearns County Soil & Water Conservation District work together to assist landowners who voluntarily place their property in permanent conservation easements.
The Avon Hills Initiative (AHI) aims to permanently protect land from development in the Avon Hills, which the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) has deemed significant to maintaining and enhancing the unique regional biological diversity of the area.
Funding for the AHI is provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).
What is a conservation easement?
A conservation easement permanently preserves and protects land from being developed. The easement allows landowners to retain all their property rights. Conservation easements help protect the high-quality natural habitats, water quality, and the local landscape for generations to come.
For more information, visit St. John's University Avon Hills Initiative.
Find out if you live in the Avon Hills:
Staff:
Our staff are available to assist you with technical information, design, and implementation of your project. If you are interested in pursing an easement, please contact:
Jason Selvog
Wildlife Habitat Specialist
Stearns County SWCD
Phone: 320-251-7800 x 3
Email: jason.selvog@mn.nacdnet.net
Ryan Rothstein
Wildlife Habitat Specialist
Stearns County SWCD
Phone: 320-251-7800 x 3
Email: ryan.rothstein@mn.nacdnet.net
Funding:
Funding for the AHI is provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).
Partners:
