Bob Kaul Waterfowl Production Area
The Bob Kaul Waterfowl Production Area is located approximately 4.7 miles south of MN Hwy 60 on Blue Earth County Hwy 32. The units were named after long time MN DNR Area Supervisor & Minnesota Pheasants, Inc. Board member Robert “Bob” A. Kaul for his tireless efforts in the restoration, development and maintenance of wildlife habitat. Bob passed away in 2013.
This growing WPA consist of three tracts. The Nelson tract, the Eberhart tract & the Meixell tract. The 353.69-acre WPA offers a variety of wetland and upland terrain and habitat.
In 2013, The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust acquired this parcel known as the “Nelson” tract. The tract consists of approximately 160 acres of varied terrain. Restoration of the project was started in late 2014 with additional efforts completed in 2015. In 2014, Minnesota Pheasants Inc. partnered with the Minnesota Valley Trust and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on the restoration of the old building site. The area has been planted with a very heavy mixture of forbs. Additional restoration on the unit will be on-going.
In 2016, Pheasants Forever – Minnesota acquired the 153.69-acre Eberhart tract. Restoration commenced in 2017 and was completed in 2020 with several smaller prairie pothole restorations. Additional on-going maintenance and restoration work will continue. Parking area and full signage will be completed in the near future.
In 2017, Minnesota Valley Trust acquired the 40-acre Meixell tract. Restoration work on this unit began in 2022 and should be completed in 2023-2024. Minnesota Pheasants, Inc. funded a restoration grant for this parcel in partnership with Minnesota Valley Trust. Wetland restoration and grass and forb planting will provide additional habitat to this are of the county. Including nearby Lincoln WPA, well over 1,000 acres of quality restored native habitat is available in this area.
Images below are of the “Nelson Tract” of the Bob Kaul WPA.
Images below are of the Eberhart tract of the Bob Kaul WPA – SW corner & SE corner.
Images below are of the Eberhart tract and the Meixell tract of the Bob Kaul WPA. The Meixell tract has a county main tile running transversly across the parcel. Work done in late 2023 to replace the perforated tile with non-perforated tile to allow wetlands to develop. Minnesota Pheasants, Inc. partnered with Minnesota Valley Trust by funding the grant to replace the tile and dirt work to establish wetlands on the parcel along with the seeding of upland prairie and wetland habitat.
