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2008 Federal Duck Stamp Contest Phone: 218-768-2402 |
The Sandstone Unit of Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located in Pine County about two miles southeast of the town of Sandstone, MN. The unit is about 40 air-miles southeast of the main Rice Lake Unit, which is located 5 miles south of McGregor, Minnesota.
The Sandstone Unit was acquired by the United States in 1932 for the purpose of establishing a federal prison.
In 1969, the Department of Justice declared a portion of the original acquisition surplus to their needs, and on February 18, 1970 the area was transferred to the Department of the Interior (Fish and Wildlife Service) "for use in carrying out the national migratory bird management program."
The unit encompasses 2,045 acres and includes portions of the State designated Wild and Scenic Kettle River.
A majority of the Sandstone Unit is forested upland. Predominant woodland vegetation includes sugar maple, basswood, aspen, paper birch, red and white pine, and several oak species.
Most of the remaining area is grassland. Old field vegetation includes goldenrod, asters and milkweed.
The unit has about 160 acres of wetlands, mainly in small 1-12 acre basins.
Surface geology is glacially influenced.
Bedrock is overlain by glacial till of varying depth.
Bedrock is exposed along the Kettle River bluffs and canyon that occupy the western portion of the Sandstone Unit.
Topography is primarily flat to rolling, with the exception of the relatively deep (80-120 ft.) canyon carved by the Kettle River.
