Anoka Sand Plain Rare Plant Rescue Program is a collaborative partnership focused on protecting rare plants in the Anoka Sand Plain (ASP) region. The ASP spans across several metro counties and supports 59 of MN's state-listed species (or nearly 20%) while representing only 2.2% of MN's land area.Our team collaborates with the MN Department of Natural Resources, landowners and developers to rescue rare plants from permitted development project areas before construction begins. We accomplish this with a team of ecologists and dedicated volunteers who help us to quickly mobilize and implement rescues. Rescued plants are transplanted into permanently protected natural areas with ecologically appropriate habitat and are monitored. Since the start of the ASP Rescue Program in 2019, state-protected species were rescued from eleven permitted donor sites and were translocated into 230 monitoring plots located within 13 permanently protected recipient sites. The work involved the rescue of ten species of state endangered, threatened, special concern and watch list vascular plant species. An additional project is underway with Xyris torta. MN Landscape Arboretum conducted germination trials with Xyris torta seed, which resulted in an opportunity to conduct an outplanting with plants that successfully propagated. Xyris torta was planted at the University of MN Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve for the purpose of conducting research and establishing a new population.
2024 ASP Rescue Program accomplishments include:
- Rescued over 1,000 plants, sod, and plant cuttings from future development sites including Rubus missouricus, Rubus stipulatus, Rubus semisetosus, Hieracium longipilum and Oenothera rhombipetala.
- Expanded rescue methods to include sod removal in densely populated patches. Cut sod was transported to the University of MN Landscape Arboretum and will be planted in the future. Additional cane-cutting experiments were conducted to refine methods for rescuing Rubus species.
- Conducted rare plant habitat surveys at potential recipient locations resulting in 3 new recipient sites and new partners.
- Transplanted over 1,200 rescued plants into three new permanently protected recipient sites with the help of local land managers and volunteers.
- Monitored Viola lanceolata, Rubus semisetosus, Rubus stipulatus, Rubus fulleri, Gaylusssacia baccata, Xyris torta and Rotala ramosir rescue transplants at 10 protected recipient sites.
- Collected over 6,900 seeds from Viola lanceolata, Rubus semisetosus, and Rubus stipulatus for long-term genetic preservation in the UMLA Rare Plant Seed Bank.