On May 30, 2017, Governor Dayton signed a tax bill and an environment omnibus bill that will provide “Riparian Aid” to watershed districts and counties that elect jurisdiction to enforce the Buffer Law. $8 million has been appropriated for fiscal year 2018 (which starts July 1, 2017) and $10 million for 2019.
To be eligible for Riparian Aid in the coming year, a watershed district or county must file with the Board of Water and Soil Resources, by 4:30 p.m. on June 28, 2017, a signed resolution accepting jurisdiction to enforce the Buffer Law and a point of contact. BWSR will estimate the funding available to a watershed district if the watershed district provides data on the total miles of public drainage ditches in the watershed by 4:30 p.m on June 14, 2017.
Further details are available here.