In light of its planned final size of 37,756 acres (153 km2), it is described by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as "the largest tallgrass prairie and wetland restoration project in U.S.

"[1] Prior to being acquired by The Nature Conservancy in 2000, the majority of Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge was used for marginal farming.

The following five items are the main objectives of the refuge:[5] This prairie wetland complex hosts a great diversity of plant species.

Birds like the sandhill crane, sharp-tailed grouse, upland sandpiper, northern harrier, marbled godwit, Wilson's phalarope, sora rail, marsh wren, and clay colored sparrow may soon find their habitat expanded at Glacial Ridge.

In recent years, bald eagles, a peregrine falcon and a whooping crane have also been spotted.