Which program is right?
Below is a list of RIM Easement Programs based on whether they are focused on protection of land followed by ecological restoration or focused on protection of existing natural resources. Click the name of each program to learn more. To identify for which program a parcel of land is eligible, you may find the location using:
- RIM Interactive Map
- BWSR Easement Programs (pdf) 1/12/2026
- Contact the BWSR easement program coordinator responsible for your county - find them using:
Not seeing something that's needed?
Review the RIM Outside Request Policy and then contact your county's BWSR Easement Program Coordinator to discuss options for partnering with BWSR RIM to implement local conservation priorities.
For Wetland Bank or Mitigation Easements go to: Wetland Bank and Mitigation Easements
Restoration
CREP: Minnesota Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
Minnesota's CREP program is a federal, state, local partnership with the goal to enroll 75,000 acres of buffer strips, wetland restorations, and wellhead protection areas.
Landowner Information SWCD Information
- Program Manager: Dusty VanThuyne
- Lead: BWSR & FSA
- Geography: 66 counties in southern and western Minnesota
- Application Type: Batch
- Funding Status: Dependent on CRP sign-up periods
Drinking Water
Restores cropland in highly vulnerable drinking water supply management areas through the installation of perennial cover.
- Program Manager: Sara Reagan
- Lead: BWSR
- Geography: State-wide
- Application Type: Rolling
- Funding Status: Available
Riparian and Floodplain Restoration
Implements RIM along riparian areas that provide both improved wildlife habitat and water quality benefits.
- Program Manager: Dusty VanThuyne
- Lead: BWSR
- Geography: State-wide
- Application Type: Batch; next batching period opens July 2026
- Funding Status: Available
Wetlands & Peatlands
Protects and restores previously drained wetlands and adjacent native grasslands, restoring the most productive habitat in Minnesota.
- Program Manager: John Voz, Kevin Roth
- Lead: BWSR
- Geography: State-wide
- Application Type: Batch; next batching period opens July 2026; peatlands eligible apps can be submitted any time.
- Funding Status: Currently available only for easements meeting Peatlands criteria; non-peatland wetlands funding available starting July 2026
1W1P: Integrating Clean Water and Habitat
Contributes to Board-approved and locally-adopted Comprehensive Watershed Management Plans developed through the One Watershed, One Plan program. In the Twin Cities Metro Area, lands identified in a locally adopted watershed management plan, a county groundwater plan, or a soil and water conservation district comprehensive plan are also eligible.
- Program Manager: Kevin Roth
- Lead: BWSR
- Geography: State-wide
- Application Type: Batch; next batching period opens July 2026
- Funding Status: Available starting in July 2026
Watershed-Based River Restoration Programs
Partnership with watershed districts and management organizations to implement river protection and restoration programs.
- Program Manager: John Voz
- Lead: Local Watershed Districts/Management Organizations
- Geography: Current programs include the Otter Tail River, Wild Rice River, and Red River and their tributaries
- Application Type: Technical committee
- Funding Status: Dependent on specific program
Protection
ACUB: Army Compatible Use Buffer Program
A partnership with the Department of Defense, Morrison SWCD, and BWSR to permanently protect private lands surrounding Camp Ripley from residential and commercial development.
- Program Manager: Darren Mayers
- Lead: Morrison SWCD
- Geography: Camp Ripley Sentinel Landscape
- Application Type: Technical committee
- Funding Status: Available
Critical Shorelands
Protects riparian areas along the Mississippi and its major tributaries upstream of the Twin Cities to help preserve water quality and source water for communities. Additional benefits include wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration, and scenic beauty preservation.
- Program Manager: Darren Mayers
- Lead: BWSR
- Geography: All or parts of Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Benton, Cass, Chisago, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Ottertail, Hubbard, Isanti Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Sherburne, Todd and Wadena Counties
- Application Type: Rolling
- Funding Status: Available
Grasslands
Protects moderate quality remnant prairie focusing on priority areas based on the Minnesota Prairie Plan.
- Program Manager: John Voz, Sara Reagan
- Lead: BWSR
- Geography: Enrollment focus in Prairie and Forest/Prairie Transition ecoregions
- Application Type: Rolling
- Funding Status: Available
RIM Grazing
Protects existing grazing lands for the benefit of surface and groundwater through “working lands” easements. Priority is given to lands that are used predominantly for grazing but can also encompass adjacent areas that are beneficial to wildlife. A grazing plan is required for all lands that will be grazed.
- Program Manager: Kevin Roth
- Lead: BWSR
- Geography: State-wide
- Application Type: Rolling
- Funding Status: Available
Wild Rice Shoreland Protection
Protects wild rice lakes on privately owned lands in Minnesota’s Northern Forest region. Permanent easements protect this important resource from the threat of future development.
- Program Manager: Kevin Roth
- Lead: BWSR
- Geography: Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Morrison, Otter Tail, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd, and Wadena Counties
- Application Type: Technical committee
- Funding Status: Not available; target date for additional funds: July 2027
Kettle and Snake Rivers Riparian Protection
Protects riparian areas along the Kettle and Snake Rivers which are major tributaries to the St. Croix River, a National Wild and Scenic River with excellent water quality.
- Program Manager: Dusty VanThuyne
- Lead: Pine SWCD
- Geography: All or parts of Aitkin, Carlton, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine Counties
- Application Type: Technical committee
- Funding Status: Available
Mississippi Headwaters Habitat Corridor Protection
Offers private landowners along or near the first 400 miles of the Mississippi River, or on a major tributary or headwaters lake, an opportunity to protect critical fish and wildlife habitat by permanently protecting the natural resource value of their land.
- Program Manager: Darren Mayers
- Lead: Mississippi Headwaters Board
- Geography: All or parts of Aitkin, Carlton, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine Counties
- Application Type: Technical committee
- Funding Status: Available
Pine River and Leech Watershed Protection
Protects undeveloped shoreland along the Lower, Middle & Upper Pine River, protecting water quality in the Pine River watershed, which has been identified as a priority in Minnesota for source water protection.
- Program Manager: Darren Mayers
- Lead: Crow Wing SWCD
- Geography: All or parts of Aitkin, Carlton, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine Counties
- Application Type: Technical committee
- Funding Status: Available
Easement Application Batch Calendar
This schedule applies to programs that review and fund easements in batching periods. If a program is not listed, applications are accepted on a rolling basis. For each program below, batching periods close on the last day of the month marked in the table.
| Month | MN CREP | RIM WETLANDS | RIPARIAN & FLOODPLAIN RESTORATION | 1W1P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | ||||
| February | X (Tentative) | |||
| March | X (Tentative) | |||
| April | ||||
| May | ||||
| June | ||||
| July | X | X | X | |
| August | ||||
| September | ||||
| October | ||||
| November | ||||
| December |
Easement Program Manager Regional Map
This map identifies the regional responsibilities for BWSR Easement Program Managers. If there is uncertainty about which program is applicable, contact the Program Managers responsible for the county in which the land is located. Available for download here: RIM Program Managers (PDF)
