Conservation Easement Programs

Which Program is Right? 

Below is an alphabetical list of BWSR Easement Programs and ways to get more information. To identify for which program a parcel of land is eligible, you may find the location using:  

• RIM Interactive Map
• BWSR Easement Programs (pdf) (Updated April 2020)

Or you may contact the BWSR Easement Program Manager responsible for your county using: 

• BWSR Easement Program Manager Regional Map (pdf) (updated 12/2/2024)

Interested in Wetland Bank or Mitigation Easements? Go to: Wetland Bank and Mitigation Easements

ACUB: Army Compatible Use Buffer Program

The ACUB easement program permanently protects private lands within a 3 mile radius around Camp Ripley from residential and commercial development.

RIM: Reinvest in Minnesota

1W1P: Integrating Clean Water and Habitat

This program targets RIM projects in priority areas that contribute toward goals in Board approved and locally adopted Comprehensive Watershed Management Plans developed through the One Watershed, One Plan program. In the Twin Cities Metro Area, lands identified in a locally adopted watershed management plan, a county groundwater plan, or a soil and water conservation district comprehensive plan are also eligible.

Program Manager: Kevin Roth

Critical Shorelands

The purpose of the RIM Critical Shorelines program is to protect riparian areas along the Mainstem of the Mississippi and major tributaries upstream of the Twin Cities to help preserve water quality and source water for communities that draw their drinking water from the Mississippi River. Additional benefits include wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration, and scenic beauty preservation. This program is available in all or parts of the following counties: Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Benton, Cass, Chisago, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Ottertail, Hubbard, Isanti Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Sherburne, Todd and Wadena.

CREP: Minnesota Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program

Landowner Information     SWCD Information 

Minnesota's CREP program focuses on 66 counties in southern and western Minnesota. The program is a federal, state, local partnership with the goal to enroll 75,000 acres of buffer strips, wetland restorations, and wellhead protection areas.

Program Manager: Dusty VanThuyne

Drinking Water

The RIM Groundwater Easement program protects and restores areas where drinking water supply has been designated as highly vulnerable by the MN Department of Health.

Program Manager: Sara Reagan

Grasslands

Easements through this project will protect current grasslands and buffering native prairie that are within wildlife habitat complexes not covered by other conservation programs. The enrollment focus is within the Prairie and Forest/Prairie Transition Ecoregions.

Program Managers: John Voz

RIM Grazing

Now available statewide!! The purpose of the RIM Grazing easement program is to protect existing grazing lands for the benefit of surface and groundwater through “working lands” easements. Priority is given to lands that are used predominantly for grazing but can also encompass adjacent areas that are beneficial to wildlife. An grazing plan is required for all lands that will be grazed.  

Program Manager: Kevin Roth

Kettle and Snake Rivers Riparian Protection

The purpose of the RIM Kettle and Snake Rivers program is to protect riparian areas along the Kettle and Snake Rivers which are major tributaries to the St Croix River which is a National Wild and Scenic River and has excellent water quality. 

Program Manager: Dusty VanThuyne

Mississippi Headwaters Habitat Corridor Protection

This Program offers private landowners along or near the first 400 miles of the Mississippi River, or on a major tributary or headwaters lake, an opportunity to protect critical fish and wildlife habitat by permanently protecting the natural resource value of their land.

Pine River and Leech Watershed Protection

Permanent easements protect undeveloped shoreland along the Lower, Middle & Upper Pine River.  The program focus is to protect water quality in the Pine River watershed, which has been identified as a priority in MN for source water protection.

Reforestation

The purpose of the RIM Reforestation program is to target historically forested lands for permanent protection and reforestation. In the pilot phase three watersheds will be eligible: the Redeye, Long Prairie and Rum River watersheds. Landscape Stewardship Plans have been completed for all three watersheds. These plans have prioritized land that has the most potential for restoration and protection. As a result, the ecologically highest ranked parcels will be targeted for inclusion in this voluntary program. Landowners can receive payment for enrolling in a perpetual conservation easement, financial assistance towards the completion of a Forest Stewardship Plan, and cost share for tree planting and other management activities that improve the land. Ultimately this program will sequester carbon, protect water quality, and improve wildlife habitat. 

Riparian and Floodplain Restoration

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.

Program Manager: Dusty VanThuyne

Wetlands + Peatlands

Restoring the most productive wetland habitat in Minnesota will protect and restore previously drained wetlands and adjacent native grasslands on easements across the State. BWSR will utilize the Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) easement program in partnership with local Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) to target, protect and restore high priority habitat complexes.

Program Manager: John Voz

Wild Rice Shoreland Protection

RIM Wild Rice Conservation easements protect wild rice lakes on privately owned lands in Minnesota’s Northern Forest region. Permanent easements protect this important resource from the threat of future development.

Program Manager: Kevin Roth

Easement Programs Application Calendar

This schedule applies to programs that review and fund easements in batching periods. If a program is not listed, applications are accepted on a rolling basis. For each program below, batching periods close on the last day of the month marked in the table. 

Easement Program Manager Regional Map

This map identifies the regional responsibilities for BWSR Easement Program Managers. If there is uncertainty about which program is applicable, contact the Program Managers responsible for the county in which the land is located. Available for download here: RIM Program Managers (PDF)