Tallgrass prairie was present on the more level terrain within the subsection. Fire from the tallgrass prairie to the west was important in the oak savanna and to a far lesser extent in the sugar maple-basswood forest, where windthrow was probably more prevalent and provided greater control on the forest composition. Although large areas are under cultivation, much of the land supports second-growth forest, especially the steeper portions of the landscape. In agricultural areas, the forests are commonly grazed. Many of the poorly drained potholes remain for either recreational or wildlife use.
Subsection contains several remnant dry prairies, mesic prairies, and glaciated till hill prairies.
Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, Collegeville Game Refuge, Tilsberg Park, West Mill Recreation Area, Inspiration Peak State Wayside. Grazing in woodlands adversely impacts the native flora. The Alexander moraines are being treated here as a narrower belt than was done previously. These sandy units include the Wadena drumlins, the St. Croix moraine, and the Park Rapids-Staples outwash, all of which seem more appropriately lumped with Subsection X.5 to the north.