Riparian Buffer Easement Program, Phase 1 (FY 2010/2011)

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2011 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$6,940,000
Fund Source
Clean Water Fund
Recipient
Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
Recipient Type
State Government
Status
In Progress
Start Date
January 2010
End Date
December 2011
Activity Type
Preservation
Restoration/Enhancement
Counties Affected
Blue Earth
Brown
Carver
Chisago
Cottonwood
Faribault
Jackson
Kandiyohi
Martin
McLeod
Meeker
Murray
Nobles
Olmsted
Otter Tail
Pope
Redwood
Renville
Rice
Scott
Steele
Stevens
Wilkin
Blue Earth
Brown
Carver
Chisago
Cottonwood
Faribault
Jackson
Kandiyohi
Martin
McLeod
Meeker
Murray
Nobles
Olmsted
Otter Tail
Pope
Redwood
Renville
Rice
Scott
Steele
Stevens
Wilkin
Project Overview

This program is a part of a comprehensive clean water strategy to prevent sediment and nutrients from entering our lakes, rivers, and streams; enhance fish and wildlife habitat; protect groundwater and wetlands. Specifically the Riparian Buffer Easement Program targets creating buffers on riparian lands adjacent to public waters, except wetlands. Through the Reinvest in Minnesota Program (RIM) and in partnership with Soil and Water Conservation Districts and private landowners, permanent conservation easements are purchased and buffers established. In 1986, the Reinvest in Minnesota Resources Act was enacted to restore certain marginal and environmental sensitive agricultural land to protect soil and water quality and support fish and wildlife habitat. Utilizing the RIM conservation easement program, conservation easements on riparian lands adjacent to public waters, are purchased. Lands that were targeted were new or existing USDA Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts with cropping history. Participating landowners receive a payment to retire land in agricultural production and to establish permanent buffers of native vegetation that must be at least 50 feet where possible and no more than 100 feet.Buffer strips of native vegetation will be established on the above easement acres, all of which are adjacent to public waters. The program is targeted to critical CRP acres so these areas would be permanently protected instead of enrolled in short-term easements. These buffers slow and prevent sediment from entering lakes, rivers and streams, reduce hydrologic impacts to surface waters and increase infiltration for groundwater recharge. Minnesota currently has just over 200,000 acres of Conservation Reserve Program in buffer practices at various stages of their 10-15 year contracts, some soon to expire. The buffer initiative compliments other programs, both existing and yet to be developed, over the next 25 years. A statewide sign up began Dec. 1, 2009. All funds available for Fiscal Year 2010 -FY 2011 were allocated by Feb. 1, 2010 (see attached map)

Competitive Grant Making Body
Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Conflict of Interest Contact

Nicole Clapp

2011 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$6,940,000
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

BWSR and SWCDs will work with private landowners to enroll 187 easements adjacent to public waters that will permanently protect more than 1, 486 acres in 23 counties. Evaluation and Outcome Plans. These RIM easements are a part of a comprehensive public-private partnership to establish and restore permanent conservation easements on riparian buffers to keep water on the land in order to decrease sediment, pollutant and nutrient transport, reduce hydrologic impacts to surface waters and increase infiltration for groundwater recharge. RIM easements are selected to meet local identified water quality goals within the larger scope of Minnesota's clean water efforts. The long-term evaluation of clean water fund projects will be monitored as part of the state's intensive watershed monitoring strategy. RIM easements are subject to ongoing inspection to ensure compliance for the duration of the easement in accordance with established guidelines.

Project Manager
First Name
Kevin
Last Name
Lines
Organization Name
Board of Water and Soil Resources
Street Address
520 Lafayette Rd. Suite 200
City
St. Paul
State
MN
Zip Code
55155
Phone
(651) 297-1894
Email
kevin.lines@state.mn.us
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