The MN Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) released an updated final draft Model Watershed District Buffer Rule on January 18, 2018.
Photo: MN Board of Water and Soil Resources
In December 2017, BWSR reported that 97% of lands adjacent to public waters and 93% of all lands subject to the buffer law are in compliance with the law. The date by which lands adjacent to public ditches must be in compliance is November 1, 2018. No compliance date extensions are expected at present.
The first reporting deadline for the buffer implementation program was January 1, 2018 for water management authorities. BWSR will update compliance information after reviewing submitted reports.
Water management authorities must add "other watercourses" identified by Soil and Water Conservation Districts to their local water plans by July 1, 2018.