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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)
Contacts
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
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
Easements
MN CREP
MN CREP for Landowners
MN CREP for SWCDs
Resources for Landowners
What are Conservation Easements?
What Programs are Available?
Mississippi Headwaters Habitat Corridor Program
Is My Land Eligible?
Summary of Conservation Lands by County
Resources for SWCDs
Easement Programs
RIM Handbook
Easement Forms
Easement Policy and Procedure
Grassland Management: Haying and Grazing
Tax Forfeit Lands Enrolled Into an Easement
RIM Reserve Outside Request Easement Policy
Easement Alteration Policy
Master Joint Powers Agreement (MJPA) Information
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
Technical Resources
Land & Water
Water
Water Storage and Climate Resilience
Prioritize, Target, and Measure Application (PTMApp)
PTMApp Theory and Documentation
PTMAPP Learning Center
Water Quality Tools and Models
Groundwater Protection
Streambanks and Shorelines
Prairie
Agricultural Lands
Working Lands Resources
Forest Land
Soils and Soil Health
Daily Erosion Project
Tillage and Erosion Survey Project
Model Soil Loss Ordinance
Landscape Resiliency and Climate Change
Carbon Sequestration: Conservation Practices and Programs
BWSR Climate Resiliency Toolbox
Practice Establishment & Restoration
Restoring Conservation Lands
Wetland Restoration
MN Wetland Restoration Guide
Vegetation Establishment & Mgmt
Native Vegetation Establishment and Enhancement Guidelines
Seed Mixes
Native Plant ID and Information
Invasive Plants
Urban Stormwater Management
Pollinators and Biodiversity
Lawns to Legumes Program
Lawns To Legumes Demonstration Neighborhoods RFP
Lawns to Legumes Partner Resources
Habitat Enhancement Landscape Pilot (HELP)
Minnesota Habitat Friendly Solar Program
Pollinator and Biodiversity Toolbox
Community Outreach
What's Working for Conservation
Conservation Project Planning and Promotion
Inspections
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Project Management and Maintenance
Invasive Species Control
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
Water Planning
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State Agency Review Roster for County Water Plans and Watershed Management Plans
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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
2022 BWSR Academy
2021 BWSR Academy
Technical Training and Certification Program
Area Technical Training Teams
Core Competency
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Job Approval Authority
Technical Training Individual Development Plan (IDP) Tool
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Online Learning
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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
Watershed Districts
Water Management Districts
Watershed Management Organizations
Cities and Townships
Regional Partnerships
State Agencies
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About BWSR
What We Do
BWSR Strategic Plan 2017
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Your Clean Water Funds at Work
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Grants
About BWSR Grants
Apply for BWSR Grants
Outcomes and Progress Toward Goals
Grants Quarterly
Grants Quarterly: October 2022
Grants Quarterly: June 2022
Grants Quarterly: 2021 Year End Reporting
Grants Quarterly: October 2021
Grants Quarterly: July 2021
Grants Quarterly: 2020 Year End Reporting
Resources for Grantees
eLINK
Overview
Linking Activities
Setting up an Account
Accessing Your Grant Agreement or Amendment
Managing Contacts
Completing a Funding Request
Creating a Workplan
Managing Activities
Progress Reporting
Activity Categories
Practices
Grouping and Splitting Activities
Creating an SWCD Capacity Workplan
NRBG Flex Spending
Choosing the Best Estimator
Creating a Cost-Share Grant Workplan
MinnFARM Pollution Reduction Estimates
Grants Administration Manual
Administrative Requirements
About
Processing a BWSR Grant
Local Water Plan Status and Grant Eligibility Policy
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
Grant Monitoring and Financial Reconciliation Policy
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 Landowners
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
Accelerated Implementation
Community Partners
Buffer Implementation Supplemental
Multipurpose Drainage Management
Projects and Practices
Soil Erosion and Drainage Law Compliance Program
Targeted Watershed
One Watershed One Plan Planning Grant
Technical Training Acceleration
Watershed-Based Implementation Funding Grant Profile
Watershed-based Implementation Funding Program
Well Sealing
County Grants
DNR Shoreland
Local Water Management
BWSR SSTS
Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems
Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems Upgrades
Wetland Conservation Act
SWCD Grants
Buffer Cost Share
Buffer Law Implementation
Conservation Delivery
Cooperative Weed Management
Cooperative Weed Management Area Program
CREP Outreach and Implementation
State Cost Share Program
Farm Bill Assistance
CREP Outreach and Implementation Reporting
State Cost Share: Annual Grant Request Guidance
Soil Health Cost Share
State Cost Share Reporting
SWCD Local Capacity Services
TSA Grants
TSA Enhanced Shared Technical Services
Nonpoint Engineering Assistance Program
Disaster Recovery Assistance Program
Disaster Relief Assistance Program (DRAP)
Other Grant Programs
Lawns to Legumes Demonstration Neighborhood Grant Profile
Lawns to Legumes Demonstration Neighborhood Recipients
Wellhead Protection Partner Grants Program Pilot Grant Profile
Habitat Enhancement Landscape Pilot Grant Profile
Water Quality and Storage Pilot Program
Grant Program Policies
Grant Reporting
eLINK Reporting At a Glance
Contacts
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Main navigation
Minnesota Buffer Law
Buffer Program Update
Election of Jurisdiction
Implementation Guidance
Buffer Establishment and Management Toolbox
Alternative Practices
Procedures
Enforcement
Compliance Tracking Tool (BuffCAT)
Contacts
Guide to the Buffer Compliance Process
Buffer work areas are currently being re-determined. See below for contact information
Contact
Tom Gile
Resource Conservation Section Manager
507-696-1974
tom.gile@state.mn.us
Travis Germundson
Appeals and Regulatory Compliance Coordinator
651-247-4976
travis.germundson@state.mn.us
Kevin Roth
Buffer and Soil Loss Specialist
651-706-3673
kevin.roth@state.mn.us
