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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

Contacts
Wetlands
Wetland Regulatory Programs

Wetlands Regulation in Minnesota

WCA Program Reports
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Joint Application Form

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Topics of the Week
Mitigation & Banking

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Wetland Bank Transaction Forms

Wetland Bank Guidance & Information

Local Government Road Wetland Replacement Program

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In-Lieu Fee Mitigation Program

Agricultural Wetland Bank
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MN WETLAND PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

Minnesota Wetland Professional Certification Program

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MWPCP Class Portal

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SPECIAL PROJECTS

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Wisconsin - Minnesota Wetland Functional Assessment Initiative

404 Assumption

Minnesota Stream Quantification Tool and Debit Calculator

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RIM Handbook & Guidance

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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

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Interseeding Native Grasses and Forbs into an Existing Native Grass Stand

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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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Understanding Minnesota Public Drainage Law

Minnesota Public Drainage Manual

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Chapter 103E Ditch Buffer Strip Reporting

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TRAINING

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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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CRP State Incentives Program Grant Profile

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eLINK Reporting At a Glance

Featured Plant

June 2024 Featured Plant: Lance-leaf figwort

Read more about June 2024 Featured Plant: Lance-leaf figwort

May 2024 Featured Plant: Red columbine

Read more about May 2024 Featured Plant: Red columbine

April 2024 Featured Plant: Field pussytoes

Read more about April 2024 Featured Plant: Field pussytoes

March 2024 Featured Plant: Wild bergamot

Read more about March 2024 Featured Plant: Wild bergamot

February 2024 Featured Plant: Prairie dropseed

Read more about February 2024 Featured Plant: Prairie dropseed

January 2024 Featured Plant: Kentucky coffee tree

Read more about January 2024 Featured Plant: Kentucky coffee tree

December 2023 Featured Plant: Winterberry

Read more about December 2023 Featured Plant: Winterberry

November 2023 Featured Plant: Big bluestem

Read more about November 2023 Featured Plant: Big bluestem

October 2023 Featured Plant: Bottlebrush grass

Read more about October 2023 Featured Plant: Bottlebrush grass

A woodland grass, bottlebrush is named for the spikes that make it easy to spot in spring and early summer.

Featured Plant: Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis)

Read more about Featured Plant: Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis)

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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