Wellhead Protection Conservation Easement Program, Phase 2 (FY 2012/2013)
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 Wellhead Protection Conservation Easement program is targeted to protect drinking water through the Reinvest in Minnesota Program (RIM). In partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Soil and Water Conservation Districts, permanent conservation easements are purchased in areas where the vulnerability of the drinking water is designated as high or very high. In addition, sensitive groundwater concerns associated with Decorah Shale/St. Lawrence bedrock edge areas in Goodhue, Olmsted, Wabasha and Winona counties were offered as eligible in 2013.
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, this program focused on converting agricultural land presently in production to native grasslands and wetlands in areas where the vulnerability of the drinking water is designated as high or very high by MDH.
Restoring native grasslands within wellhead protection and edge areas improves water quality by providing greater distance between drinking water sources and agricultural chemical use. Changing land use from agricultural production to restored grasslands and wetlands has produced dramatic, measurable improvements in drinking water quality.
Lands that were targeted were new or existing USDA Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts with cropping history. The easements funded under this program are permanent, whereas CRP easements are for 10-15 years. Participating
landowners receive a payment to retire land in agricultural production and to establish buffers of native vegetation.
Minnesota currently has just over 200,000 acres of Conservation Reserve Program easements in buffer practices at various stages of their 10-15 year contracts, some soon to expire. The drinking water and wellhead protection initiative compliments
other programs, both existing and yet to be developed, over the next 25 years.
Nicole Clapp
(f) $1,300,000 the first year and $1,300,000 $2,300,000 the second year are for permanent conservation easements on wellhead protection areas under Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.515, subdivision 2, paragraph (d). Priority must be placed on land that is located where the vulnerability of the drinking water supply is designated as high or very high by the commissioner of health. The board shall coordinate with the United States Geological Survey, the commissioners of health and natural resources, and local communities contained in the Decorah and St. Lawrence Edge areas of Winona, Goodhue, Olmsted, and Wabasha Counties to obtain easements in identified areas as having the most vulnerability to groundwater contamination.
Land use conversion from agricultural land to conservation cover provided on 1,017 acres of high or very high vulnerable wellhead areas. Evaluation and Outcome Plans: Each project area is reviewed by a panel consisting of MN Dept. of Health, MN Rural Water Association and MN BWSR as it relates to the approved Wellhead Protection Plan for the wellhead area. When an easement for land use change is an appropriate solution to the vulnerability of the aquifer, the project is recommended for approval and begins the process of conversion. MN Dept. of Health reviews the status of wellhead plans and progress being made to implement protection strategies on an ongoing basis. RIM easements are subject to ongoing inspection to ensure compliance for the duration of the easement in accordance with established guidelines.