RIM Riparian and Floodplain Restoration

Overview

The Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) has received funding through the Outdoor Heritage Fund and Clean Water Fund to secure Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) easements along riparian areas that provide both improved wildlife habitat and water quality benefits. BWSR will utilize the RIM easement program in partnership with local Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) to target, protect and restore high priority habitat complexes.

Benefits

Decrease sediment, pollutant, and nutrient transport, reduce hydrologic impacts to surface waters and increase infiltration for groundwater recharge.

Enrollment Focus and Sign-up Schedule

The program goal is to restore and protect riparian and floodplain areas across the state to improve and enhance water quality and wildlife habitat. The land targeted for this program is existing row crop within a riparian area or a mapped floodplain. This will be accomplished through limited term and perpetual easements, with the flexibility to allow for limited working lands activities.

Applications will be accepted during the months of January, July, and October. Applications must be submitted by the last day of the applicable month. Enrollment begins 10/02/2023. See Easement Program Application Calendar on the Easement Programs webpage.

Eligibility

RIM Reserve Program general eligibility criteria are detailed in the RIM Handbook pages 1-7.

Easement Application Materials

• RIM Application Guidance (pdf)
• Easement Acquisition Checklist (pdf)
• Conservation Easement Application (pdf)
• Area Assessment Form Word document (docx)
• RIM Riparian and Floodplain Restoration Application Scoresheet Excel spreadsheet (xlsx)
• RIM Riparian and Floodplain Guidance Document
• RIM Riparian and Floodplain Restoration Waiver (pdf)
• Conservation Easement Financial Worksheet (pdf)
• Agreement Information Form Word Document (docx)
• W-9 Form (IRS Website)

Geospatial Resources

• RIM Wetlands Additional Wildlife Benefits (zip)
• Permanently protected areas of Minnesota (list not comprehensive):
  • State Administered Lands - DNR Management Units
  • FWS National Realty Tracts - Simplified
  • RIM Perpetual Easements (exclude limited duration and expired easements)
  • NRCS Easements with permanent duration
  • Public Waters (PW) Basin and Watercourse Delineations

Training

Recorded training(s) will be posted on the Online Learning webpage. Search for subject = Easements.

• Frequently Asked Questions