The RIM Riparian & Floodplain Restoration program protects riparian areas with conservation easements, providing both improved wildlife habitat and water quality benefits. Expand any section to see frequently asked questions about this program, along with their answers.
- Training
Q: Was the September 25th, 2023 training recorded?
A: Yes. The recorded training can be found on the Online Learning webpage, along with other RIM related trainings.
- Working Lands
Q: Is annual haying allowed? If yes, how many cuttings would be allowed per year and are the cuttings limited to a specific date range (i.e., outside of the nesting season)?
A: Yes. Harvest forage at a frequency and height that optimizes the desired forage stand, plant community, and stand life. Base frequency of harvest on the physiological conditions and regrowth of the desired species. See MN NRCS Conservation Practice Standard 511. For primary nesting seasons, see Exhibit 1: Minnesota CRP Primary Nesting Seasons in the MN NRCS Forage Harvest Management Plan.
- Only 50% of the enrolled land can be hayed during the primary nesting season. All land can be hayed after August 1.
- There is no restriction on which 50% of the land can be hayed during the primary nesting season from year to year.
- Minimum cutting height is 4”, unless otherwise noted.
- For permanent introduced grasses and legumes, allow for minimum 6” regrowth prior to killing frost.
- For permanent native grasses, forbs, and legumes, allow for minimum 8” regrowth prior to killing frost.
Q: Is a RIM Haying and Grazing Agreement required each time a producer wants to hay or graze?
A: No, but a current Forage Harvest Management Plan (MN NRCS Conservation Practice Standard 511) or Grazing Plan (MN NRCS Conservation Practice Standard 528) must be part of an approved conservation plan prior to implementation.
- MN Buffer Law & Lands with Crop History
Q: Will land with crop history enrolled in an existing CRP contract within the required buffer area be eligible to be paid at the RIM Crop rate instead of being donated?
A: Yes
- Limited Term Easement & CRP
Q: How would a 30-year RIM easement impact CRP enrollment?
A: Under the terms of the 2018 Farm Bill, the land would not be eligible for CRP immediately after the RIM easement expires due to lack of crop rotation. If the landowner puts the land back into row crop production after the RIM easement expires, it will depend on what the current policy is at that time.
Q: Will a landowner be able to extend their 30-year easement at time of expiration?
A: By current statute, when a conservation easement of limited duration expires, a new conservation easement and agreement for an additional period of not less than 20 years may be acquired by agreement of the board and the landowner. The board may adjust payment rates as a result of renewing an agreement and conservation easement only after examining the condition of the established cover, conservation practices, and land values.
- Public Land
Q: Are lands enrolled in Walk-In Access considered “public land open for public hunting” for question #3 on the scoresheet?
A: No. Walk-In Access contracts are typically 1-3 years in length and can be terminated at any time.
- Public Waters
Q: Are watercourses identified as “Public Ditch/Altered Natural Watercourse” on the MN Public Waters layer considered Public Drainage Systems that are Public Waters for question #5 on the scoresheet?
A: If the watercourse meets the Public waters definition in statute, it would be considered a Public Drainage System that is a Public Water and score 15 points on question #5 of the scoresheet.
- “natural and altered watercourses with a total drainage area greater than two square miles”
- “natural and altered watercourses designated by the commissioner as trout streams”
- Comprehensive Water Management Plan
Q: Does question #7 on the scoresheet apply to local county water plans or other plans if a Comprehensive Water Management Plan has not been adopted or drafted at time of application?
A: No. Question #7 on the scoresheet is specific to plans created through BWSR’s 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.