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Minnesota Buffer Law

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What Are Alternative Practices?

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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 & 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

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Wetlands
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Joint Application Form

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Wetland Bank Transaction Forms

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Local Government Road Wetland Replacement Program

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In-Lieu Fee Mitigation Program

Agricultural Wetland Bank
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404 Assumption

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Tax Forfeit Lands Enrolled Into an Easement

RIM Reserve Outside Funding Request Easement Policy

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Master Joint Powers Agreement (MJPA) and Work Orders

Forest Management

Drainage System Maintenance Policy

Farm Bill Assistance Partnership

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Cover Crops for Wildlife

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Pollinator Habitat Guide

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FY25 Conservation Reserve Program State Incentives Grant Program

BWSR Ecology Update

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MN Wetland Restoration Guide

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Native Vegetation Establishment and Enhancement Guidelines

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Chapter 103E Ditch Buffer Strip Reporting

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Performance Review and Assistance Program (PRAP) Grant Profile

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Wellhead Protection Partner Grants Program Pilot Grant Profile

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Conservation Reserve Program State Incentive Grant Program (Pilot) Grant Profile

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CRP State Incentives Program Grant Profile

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eLINK Reporting At a Glance

Clean Water Fund

Shared SWCD Staff, services improve efficiency

Read more about Shared SWCD Staff, services improve efficiency

Weed-whacker: BWSR grant fuels Anoka County partnership

Read more about Weed-whacker: BWSR grant fuels Anoka County partnership

Cover crops: A means to expand beef herd

Read more about Cover crops: A means to expand beef herd

Hubbard SWCD grows into watershed approach

Read more about Hubbard SWCD grows into watershed approach

Lincoln County easements set standard

Read more about Lincoln County easements set standard

MN CREP fits Minnesota River bottom

Read more about MN CREP fits Minnesota River bottom

Tech Talks augment training

Read more about Tech Talks augment training

Whiskey Creek's $10M restoration

Read more about Whiskey Creek's $10M restoration

Grants support MN CREP implementation

Read more about Grants support MN CREP implementation

Wetland banking marks progress, growth

Read more about Wetland banking marks progress, growth

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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