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Minnesota <br />Board of <br />Water & Soil <br />Resources <br />pseiropawirRiift <br />Implementing the 2015 <br />Buffer Legislation <br />Summer 2015 <br />In June of this year, Governor Dayton signed into law a new buffer initiative aimed at enhancing protection of <br />Minnesota's waters. The buffer initiative will help protect the state's water resources from erosion and runoff <br />pollution by establishing roughly 110,000 acres of buffer along waterways while providing flexibility and technical <br />support to landowners for installation and maintenance. <br />What is a buffer? <br />A buffer, also known as a riparian filter strip, is vegetated <br />land adjacent to a stream, river, lake or wetland. Buffers <br />help filter out phosphorus, nitrogen, and sediment, and are <br />an important conservation practice for helping keep water <br />clean. <br />Why buffers? <br />Studies by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency show <br />that buffers are critical to protecting and restoring water <br />quality and healthy aquatic life, natural stream functions and <br />aquatic habitat due to their immediate proximity to the water. <br />What is required? <br />Under the law, buffer widths will be: <br />An average of 50 feet, minimum of 30 feet, on <br />public waters <br />A minimum of 16.5 feet on public drainage <br />systems <br />Buffer recommendations for other waters will <br />be determined by soil and water conservation <br />districts (SWCDs) <br />How will I know if buffers are required? <br />The Department of Natural Resources is in the process of mapping all waters subject to the new requirements. <br />The buffer protection maps are expected to be completed by July 2016. <br />A grass buffer strip in Redwood County. <br />A buffer in Olmsted County. <br />Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources www.bwsr.state.mn.us <br />