Rather than cash in on a large chunk of prime land overlooking the Mississippi River, Joan Greshik will preserve the land for generations to come. She placed the 400 acres of picturesque bluffland near Fountain City into the Mississippi Valley Conservancy. The agency officials say its among the most important easements in their history.

The birds are moving home in large numbers over the next few weeks, and “it’s definitely time for folks to keep their eyes out," says a DNR specialist. Wildlife experts say eagles are migrating a little earlier than usual, likely because of the mild winter.

More than 150 years ago the federal government gave a vast swath of land to the state to establish a trust to fund education. But today some people say that trust isn't building up fast enough and that the DNR should no longer manage the land. Critics say the DNR focuses too much on conservation when they should be encouraging more logging and mining. But others say a move to wrest control of the land from the DNR isn't about education at all and just a play to open more land to the mining industry.

The agency says it will have to make cuts that outdoors enthusiasts will surely notice. Among those cuts could be upkeep to hunting paths, fish surveys and deer habitat.

In 2006, voters approved a referendum for the county to spend up to $20 million over 10 years to preserve land and protect water. The Star Tribune reports about $3.4 million has already been spent on six projects.

Wildlife officials say a conservation program that protects native grassland is waning, which could hurt the state's wild bird population.