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When and in which areas would a permit be required for vegetation removal? <br />The rules regulate vegetation only in the following areas: <br />• Shore impact zone - 50% of the required structure setback <br />from the river <br />• Areas within 50 feet of a wetland or natural drainage way <br />• Bluff impact zone - areas on and within 20 feet of slopes <br />averaging 18% or greater <br />• Areas of native plant communities anywhere in the MRCCA <br />• Other areas of significant vegetation stands identified in <br />local government plans <br />In these areas, a permit would not be required for selective <br />vegetation removal, only for intensive vegetation clearing. <br />Selective vegetation removal is the removal of isolated individual <br />trees or shrubs that are not in a contiguous patch, strip, row, or <br />block and that does not substantially reduce the tree canopy or <br />understory cover. Intensive vegetation clearing is the removal of <br />all or a majority of the trees or shrubs in a contiguous patch, <br />strip, row, or block. For example, no permit would be required <br />for the removal of a single tree or shrub, or for any of the <br />following activities if they involve selective vegetation removal: <br />Structure <br />Setbedr <br />Shore Impact <br />Zone (SIZ) <br />(50% of <br />structure <br />setback) <br />• Maintenance of existing lawns, landscaping, and gardens <br />• Removal of vegetation that is dead, diseased, dying, or hazardous <br />• Removal to prevent the spread of diseases or insect pests <br />• Removal of invasive non-native species <br />Water <br />vnprmett.d Area <br />Trees may be <br />removed - no r� <br />permit required <br />Principal structure <br />L <br />NatIW Plant <br />Communities <br />As As shown In <br />plans <br />Isolated Tree <br />Proposed for <br />Removal <br />{In Protected <br />Area) <br />Bluff Impact <br />Zone (BIZ) <br />Slopes over 18% <br />The 2016 rules only regulate vegetation in the <br />SIZ, BIZ, and areas of native plant communities. <br />Vegetation outside these areas (shown in grey) is not <br />regulated under the rules. Isolated trees may be <br />removed in protected areas without a permit. <br />If any of these activities involves intensive vegetation clearing, then a local government permit would be <br />required. In these cases, the permit would carry conditions. For example, the intensive clearing of native <br />plant communities would require replacement with vegetation <br />similar to the habitat, slope stabilization, and stormwater <br />retention values of the removed native plant communities. <br />Another example would require the planting of deep-rooted <br />vegetation on any highly erodible soils or slopes that are <br />disturbed. Local governments would also require a restoration <br />plan for violations. <br />When and in which areas would a permit be required for <br />land alteration? <br />A permit would be required for any activity that disturbs more <br />than 10 cubic yards or 1,000 square feet of soil within the shore <br />impact zone or within 50 feet of a public water, wetland, or <br />natural drainage way, whichever is greater. <br />Structure <br />Setback <br />Shore Impact <br />Zone (SIZ) <br />(5095 of <br />structure <br />setback) <br />Land alteration is prohibited in the bluff impact zone, except for <br />erosion control projects and repair and maintenance of existing <br />structures. Exceptions would be guided through a local permit, <br />and would be required to use temporary and permanent erosion and <br />water <br />Principal Structure <br />f <br />Bluff Impact <br />r Zona (BIZ) <br />ISlopes over 189) <br />Morals or <br />retaining wells <br />to control <br />established <br />erosion problems <br />Permits for land alterations are required in the SIZ, BIZ, and <br />for riprap, retaining walls, or other erosion control structures. <br />Minnesota DNR — Division of Ecological & Water Resources <br />April 2016 <br />