BWSR - Easements

Conservation easements are a critical component of the state’s efforts to improve water quality by reducing soil erosion, phosphorus and nitrogen loading, and improving wildlife habitat and flood attenuation on private lands. Easements protect the state’s water and soil resources by permanently restoring wetlands, adjacent native grassland wildlife habitat complexes and permanent riparian buffers. In cooperation with county Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), BWSR's programs compensate landowners for granting conservation easements and establishing native vegetation habitat on economically marginal, flood-prone, environmentally sensitive or highly erodible lands.

More information can be found throughout this web site and in our Conservation Easement Fact Sheet .

Minnesota CREP

Minnesota's CREP program will focus on 54 counties in southern and western Minnesota. This program intends to leverage Federal funds to enroll 60,000 acres of buffer strips, wetland restorations, and wellhead protection areas.

Click here to go to the Minnesota CREP page.

Click here to go to the SWCD guidance materials.

Master Joint Powers Agreement (MJPA) Information

BWSR has historically provided payments to SWCDs for easement acquisition costs ($2000/easement) and site inspection costs ($40-$50/easement) through a grant process. We are changing the process to improve accountability and tracking. We will now be utilizing a Master Joint Powers Agreement between each SWCD and BWSR instead of through the previous grant process.

Click here to go to the MJPA page.

Outside Request Easements Policy

This policy is to direct the use of the Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) Reserve easement program for entities wishing to pursue RIM conservation easement initiatives with funds from sources other than available BWSR easement programs. The RIM Reserve Program was established in 1986 and provides a unique opportunity for entities, such as SWCDs, to accomplish important conservation projects on private lands. To sustain the high quality of the RIM Reserve Program, insure uses are consistent with enabling legislation and requirements, accommodate future stewardship obligations, and efficiently process easements, BWSR has developed this guidance for other organizations interested in utilizing RIM as a vehicle to secure long term protection of the state’s natural resources.

Program Documentaton:

This guidance documentation outlines the criteria and conditions that govern this conservation easement program. This guidance should be considered additive to existing RIM policy and procedure.