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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
      • 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
        • Habitat Friendly Utilities Program
        • Habitat Enhancement Landscape Program (HELP)
        • Pollinator and Biodiversity Toolbox
          • Community Outreach
        • Minnesota Habitat Friendly Solar Program
      • 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
      • Training Resources
      • Conservation Practice Standards
    • 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
        • 2024 BWSR Academy
        • BWSR Academy Trainer Information
        • 2023 BWSR Academy
        • 2022 BWSR Academy
      • Training Calendar
      • Successful Outreach Strategies
      • Online Learning
      • Training Updates
      • 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
    • 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
      • Watershed Districts
        • Water Management Districts
      • Watershed Management Organizations
      • Cities and Townships
      • Regional Partnerships
      • State Agencies
      • Federal Agencies
    • About BWSR
      • What We Do
      • Strategic Plan
        • Engagement Process
      • Board
        • Board Meeting Information
          • BWSR Board Meeting Notice
          • BWSR Board Meeting Packets
          • BWSR Board Day of Packets
          • BWSR Board Meeting Minutes
          • Board Orders & Resolutions
        • Committee Meeting Information
        • Board Governance Documents
      • Staff
        • Work Area Maps
      • Affirmative Action Plan
      • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
      • Budget
        • Clean Water Fund (CWF)
        • Bonding
        • Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF)
        • General Fund
        • Outdoor Heritage Fund (OHF)
        • Other Funds
      • Legislative Resources
      • Careers
      • Contact Us
    • News & Publications
      • BWSR Snapshots
        • Snapshots Archive
      • Conservation Stories
      • Featured Plant
        • Featured Plant Archive
      • BWSR Story Library
      • News Releases
      • Reports
      • Subscribe
  • Grants
    • About BWSR Grants
      • 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
          • 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
          • 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
          • Multipurpose Drainage Management
          • Projects and Practices
          • Lake Superior Basin Implementation Grant Profile
          • One Watershed One Plan Planning Grant
          • One Watershed One Plan Mid-Point Grant
          • 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

Improving trends in the Elk River Watershed

Conservation Story Image
Cows grazing
Conservation Story File
File
Elk River Watershed 2019.pdf
Conservation Story Featured
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MN Board of Water and Soil (known as BWSR) logo

BWSR agency programs that assist landowners and local government have resulted in less sediment and nutrients entering our lakes, rivers, and streams; more fish and wildlife habitat; and the drastic slowing of wetland losses.

The Board of Water and Soil Resources is an equal opportunity employer.

Main Address:
520 Lafayette Road North
St Paul, MN. 55155
(651) 296 - 3767

TTY:  (800) 627-3529         
info.BWSR@state.mn.us

BWSR Office Locations

 

BWSR's work is supported by Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment Funding

Clean water land and legacy amendment program logo

 

 

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