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Buffers
Resources for Landowners
Minnesota Buffer Law
What Can I Plant?
Building Better Buffers
Does This Apply to My Land?
Where Can I Get Support?
What Are Alternative Practices?
Where Can I Find Buffer Maps?
Resources for Local Governments
Minnesota Buffer Law
Election of Jurisdiction
Implementation Guidance
Haying and Grazing of Buffers
Conservation Reserve Program Exemption Guidance
Buffer Measurement for a Public Drainage Ditch
Compliance Determinations
Average Buffer Widths
Determining the Top or Crown of a Bank for Land Adjacent to a Public Water
Vegetation Establishment Goals
What to Plant in Buffers
Determining Normal Water Level
Buffer Program Update
Buffer Establishment and Management Toolbox
Alternative Practices
Alternative Practices Introduction
Common Alternative Practice #1: Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program
Common Alternative Practice #2: NRCS Filter Strip Standard: MN 393/391 Practice Standards - Public Waters
Common Alternative Practice #3: Grassed Waterway/Cultivated Watercourses - Public Waters
Common Alternative Practice #4A: Negative Slopes or Concentrated Inflow - Public Ditches
Common Alternative Practice #4B: Glacial Lake Plain Areas - Public Ditches
Common Alternative Practice #5: Negative Slopes or Concentrated Inflow - Public Waters
Common Alternative Practice #6: Conservation Tillage/Cover Crops With Vegetated Filter Strip - Public Waters
Decision Support Tool
Procedures
Procedure 1: Compliance Determinations (Parcel and Bank Approach)
Procedure 2: Reporting and Progress Tracking
Procedure 3: MS4 Exemption
Procedure 4: Alternative Practices
Procedure 5: Other Alternative Practices Approved by the Board
Procedure 6: Local Water Resources Riparian Protection ("Other Watercourses")
Procedure 7: Failure to Implement
Procedure 8: Election of Jurisdiction
Procedure 9: BWSR's Review of County and Watershed District Buffer Rules, Ordinances and Official Controls
Enforcement
Compliance Tracking Tool (BuffCAT)
Guide to the Buffer Compliance Process
Step 1: SWCD Compliance Review
Step 2: Landowner Notification
Step 3: Notice of Non-Compliance
Step 4: Corrective Action Notice Sent
Step 5: Issuing Enforcement Action
Step 6: Parcel is Compliant
Contacts
Wetlands
Wetland Regulatory Programs
Wetlands Regulation in Minnesota
WCA Program Reports
Wetland Conservation Act Resources
Wetland Conservation Act Contacts
Joint Application Form
WCA Forms and Templates
WCA Program Guidance and Information
Topics of the Week
Mitigation & Banking
Wetland Bank Credits and Fees
Wetland Bank Transaction Forms
Wetland Bank Guidance and Information
Local Government Road Wetland Replacement Program
Wetland Bank & Mitigation Easements
In-Lieu Fee Mitigation Program
Agricultural Wetland Bank
Delineation, Assessment & Restoration
Wetland Delineation
Delineation Manuals
Delineation Guidance & Resources
Hydrology & Antecedent Precipitation
Lateral Effect & Drainage Setback
Wetland Functional Assessment
Wetland Restoration
MN WETLAND PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
Minnesota Wetland Professional Certification Program
Wetland Training Opportunities
MWPCP Class Portal
Online Wetland Training
SPECIAL PROJECTS
Wetland Conservation Act Rulemaking
WCA Rulemaking Comments Received
Wisconsin - Minnesota Wetland Functional Assessment Initiative
404 Assumption
Minnesota Stream Quantification Tool and Debit Calculator
Waters of the U.S.
Easements
MN CREP
MN CREP for Landowners
MN CREP for SWCDs
Resources for Landowners
What are Conservation Easements?
What Programs are Available?
Is My Land Eligible?
Summary of Conservation Lands by County
Resources for SWCDs
Geospatial Resources
Existing Easements
RIM Handbook and Guidance
Easement Forms
Easement Policy and Procedure
Grassland Management: Haying and Grazing
Tax Forfeit Lands Enrolled Into an Easement
RIM Reserve Outside Funding Request Easement Policy
Easement Alteration Policy
Master Joint Powers Agreement (MJPA) and Work Orders
Forest Management
Drainage System Maintenance Policy
Farm Bill Assistance Partnership
Habitat Establishment & Management Resources
Cover Crops for Wildlife
Seedbed Preparation from Cropland
Seedbed Preparation from Introduced Grasses to a Native Prairie Mixture
Interseeding Native Grasses and Forbs into an Existing Native Grass Stand
Seeding Tips and Establishment
Pollinator Habitat Guide
Grassland Management
Invasive Thistle Species Control
Invasive Woody Species Control
RIM Rundown
RIM Contacts
Technical Resources
Land & Water
Agricultural Lands
Working Lands Resources
Forest Land
Groundwater Protection
Landscape Resiliency and Climate Change
BWSR Climate Resiliency Toolbox
Carbon Sequestration: Conservation Practices and Programs
Prairie
Peatlands
Streambanks and Shorelines
Soils and Soil Health
Daily Erosion Project
Tillage and Erosion Survey Project
Model Soil Loss Ordinance
Water Resources
Water Storage and Climate Resilience
Prioritize, Target, and Measure Application (PTMApp)
PTMApp Theory, Documentation, and User Guides
PTMAPP Learning Center
Water Quality Tools and Models
Practice Establishment & Restoration
Restoring Conservation Lands
FY25 Conservation Reserve Program State Incentives Grant Program
BWSR Ecology Update
Wetland Restoration
MN Wetland Restoration Guide
Vegetation Establishment & Mgmt
Native Vegetation Establishment and Enhancement Guidelines
Seed Mixes
Invasive Plants
Native Plant ID and Information
Pollinators and Biodiversity
Lawns to Legumes Program
Habitat Friendly Utilities Program
Habitat Enhancement Landscape Program (HELP)
Pollinator and Biodiversity Toolbox
Community Outreach
Minnesota Habitat Friendly Solar Program
Community Conservation
Urban Stormwater Management
What's Working for Conservation
Conservation Project Planning and Promotion
Inspections
Invasive Species Control
Native Vegetation
Pollinator Habitat
Prairie, Savanna, Forest and Agricultural Projects
Stormwater, Shoreline and Wetland Projects
Guidance Documents, Tools & Resources
Conservation Practice Standards
Training Resources
Drainage
Drainage in Minnesota
Understanding Minnesota Public Drainage Law
Minnesota Public Drainage Manual
Drainage Work Group
Drainage Management Team
Drainage Records Modernization
Chapter 103E Ditch Buffer Strip Reporting
Other Drainage Resources
Multipurpose Drainage Management
Water Planning
Planning Resources
Planning Information
Working with State Agencies
State Agency Review Roster for County Water Plans and Watershed Management Plans
Plan Types
One Watershed, One Plan
One Watershed, One Plan Participating Watersheds
One Watershed, One Plan Policies
One Watershed, One Plan Resources
One Watershed, One Plan Videos
SWCD Comprehensive Plans
Watershed District Management Plan (non-metro)
Amendments and Extensions
Development and Revision
Metro Watershed Management Plan
Metro Update
Metro State Agencies Review Roster
County Water Plan
CWP Amendments and Extensions
CWP Updates
Metro County Groundwater Plan
Operational Resources
TRAINING
BWSR Academy
2025 BWSR Academy
2024 BWSR Academy
2023 BWSR Academy
BWSR Spring Training
Training Calendar
Successful Outreach Strategies
Online Learning
Technical Training and Certification Program
Area Technical Training Teams
Core Competency
Employee Development
Job Approval Authority
Conservation Planning
Technical Training Individual Development Plan (IDP) Tool
Training Updates
Capacity Building
Communication Tools
Performance Review and Assistance Program (PRAP)
PRAP Grants
PRAP Legislative Reports
Standard Reviews and Checklists
About Our Partners
Counties
Soil and Water Conservation Districts
SWCD Operational Handbook
Technical Service Areas (TSAs)
SWCD Financial Statements
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About BWSR
What We Do
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Work Area Maps
Affirmative Action Plan
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
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Bonding
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Legislative Resources
Careers
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News & Publications
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Snapshots Archive
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Featured Plant Archive
BWSR Story Library
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Grants
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Apply for BWSR Grants
Frequently Used Acronyms
Grants Quarterly
Resources for Grantees
eLINK
eLINK Trainings for March 2023
eLINK Issue Tracker
Linking Activities
Setting up an Account
Accessing Your Grant Agreement or Amendment
Managing Contacts
Managing Activities
Progress Reporting
Activity Categories
Practices
Grouping and Splitting Activities
Creating an SWCD Capacity Workplan
NRBG Flex Spending
Choosing the Best Estimator
Nonstructural Land Management Practices
MinnFARM Pollution Reduction Estimates
Grants Administration Manual
Administrative Requirements
About
Processing a BWSR Grant
Grant Agreement Amendments and Work Plan Revisions
Requesting a Reimbursement or Payment
Grant Noncompliance Policy
Technical Quality Assurance
Project and Practice Assurances
Records, Program and Project Files
Reporting Requirements for BWSR Grants
Closing out a BWSR Grant
Grants Monitoring and Financial Reconciliations
Time and Effort Documentation
Determining a Billing Rate
Prevailing Wage
Private and Nonpublic Data
Conflict of Interest
Recommended Local Polices and Requirements
Financial Management and Accounting
Allowable and Unallowable Costs
Payroll and Personnel Records
Frequently Asked Questions
Implementing Practices
Implementing Contracts with Land Occupiers
Operation, Maintenance, and Inspection of Practices
Vegetation Requirements for BWSR Funded Projects
Recording Conservation Practices
Optional and Example Forms
Archive
Grant Programs
Clean Water Fund Programs
CWF Grant Recipients
Clean Water Legacy Partners Grant Program
Accelerated Implementation Grant Profile
Lake Superior Basin Implementation Grant Profile
Multipurpose Drainage Management
One Watershed One Plan Planning Grant
One Watershed One Plan Mid-Point Grant
Projects and Practices
Watershed-Based Implementation Funding Grant Profile
Watershed-based Implementation Funding Program
County Grants
DNR Shoreland
Local Water Management
BWSR SSTS
Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems
Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems Upgrade
Wetland Conservation Act
SWCD Grants
Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture Pilot
Buffer Law Implementation
Conservation Contracts Program
Conservation Contracts Program Update
Conservation Delivery
Cooperative Weed Management Area Program
Cooperative Weed Management
Soil Health Cost Share
Soil Health Delivery
Soil Health Staffing
State Cost Share Program
State Cost Share Reporting
SWCD Local Capacity Services
TSA Grants
TSA Enhanced Shared Technical Services
Nonpoint Engineering Assistance Program
Disaster Recovery Assistance Program
Other Grant Programs
Performance Review and Assistance Program (PRAP) Grant Profile
Water Quality and Storage Pilot Program Grant Profile
Wellhead Protection Partner Grants Program Pilot Grant Profile
Living Landscapes Programs
Conservation Reserve Program State Incentive Grant Program (Pilot) Grant Profile
Habitat Enhancement Landscape Pilot Grant Profile
CRP State Incentives Program Grant Profile
Habitat Enhancement Landscape Program Grant Profile
Pollinator Pathways Grant Profile
Grant Program Policies
Grant Reporting
eLINK Reporting At a Glance
Buffer and Alternative Practices Benefits
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