Riparian Buffer Easement Program, Phase 3 (FY 2014/2015)
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 lakes, rivers, streams and tributaries. 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 are purchased. Lands that are targeted include 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. Buffer strips of native vegetation will be established on the easement acres. The program is targeted to critical CRP acres so these areas would be permanently protected instead of enrolled in short-term contracts. 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 CRP 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.
Nicole Clapp
(f) $6,500,000 the first year and $6,500,000 the second year are to purchase and restore permanent conservation easements on riparian buffers adjacent to lakes, rivers, streams, and tributaries, 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. This appropriation may be used for restoration of riparian buffers protected by easements purchased with this appropriation and for stream bank restorations when the riparian buffers have been restored.
BWSR and SWCDs will work with private landowners to enroll approximately 80 riparian easements adjacent to lakes, rivers, streams and tributaries that will permanently protect more than 2,339 acres in 39 counties.
The source of additional funds varies from project to project, but generally consists of federal, local and non-public sources.
The source of additional funds varies from project to project, but generally consists of federal, local and non-public sources.