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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 & 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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Drainage System Maintenance Policy

Farm Bill Assistance Partnership

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Cover Crops for Wildlife

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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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TRAINING

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Watershed-based Implementation Funding Program

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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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eLINK Reporting At a Glance

Federal Fund

Full Story Grazing, NRCS assistance boost productivity of sheep flock, land

Read more about Full Story Grazing, NRCS assistance boost productivity of sheep flock, land

Full Story: Meet the Morrison SWCD staffer behind 350-plus RIM easements

Read more about Full Story: Meet the Morrison SWCD staffer behind 350-plus RIM easements

Rotational grazing boosts productivity

Read more about Rotational grazing boosts productivity

A Winona County farmer counts soil health and sheep health among the rewards of an intensively managed system

EPA, BWSR study could inform how wetland bank projects are managed

Read more about EPA, BWSR study could inform how wetland bank projects are managed

Sauk River Chain of Lakes water-quality solutions start with livestock producers

Read more about Sauk River Chain of Lakes water-quality solutions start with livestock producers

Sauk River Chain of Lakes water-quality solutions start with livestock producers

Read more about Sauk River Chain of Lakes water-quality solutions start with livestock producers

NRCS-BWSR soil health training builds staffers’ confidence, skills

Read more about NRCS-BWSR soil health training builds staffers’ confidence, skills

Coon Creek Watershed District links habitat, stormwater work

Read more about Coon Creek Watershed District links habitat, stormwater work

BWSR staff expertise contributes to quality of private wetland banks

Read more about BWSR staff expertise contributes to quality of private wetland banks

Rice County MN CREP enrollment restores wetland, preserves legacy

Read more about Rice County MN CREP enrollment restores wetland, preserves legacy

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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

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

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