Buffer Law
Waters Requiring Buffer Strips
In 2015 and 2016, the Minnesota Legislature passed and the Governor signed what is known as the ‘Buffer Law’. This state statute requires a strip of permanent vegetation along public waters and ditches. Public waters, including streams, rivers, and lakes, require a buffer of 50 feet; ditches operated by a public drainage authority must have a 16.5 foot buffer strip. These waters are protected by state statute as a shared resource for all Minnesotans. The buffer legislation was enacted to limit runoff of sediment, nutrients, and chemicals from agricultural fields.
Public waters were defined by a public process undertaken by the DNR in the early 1980s.
Kanabec SWCD is responsible for assessing compliance with requirements, and we frequently examine aerial photography to make preliminary determinations. Landowners in need of assistance are encouraged to contact us directly for technical guidance.
Use the interactive public waters and ditches map on the right to check your property. For buffer maps, visit the Buffer Map Viewing Application to see the most current version.
Permanent Vegetation
To qualify as permanent vegetation, a buffer strip must have little to no exposed soil. Producers are permitted to graze livestock or hay the grass, so long as proper management practices are followed. Noxious weeds must be eliminated. Turf grass (mowed lawn) is similarly allowed. However, Kanabec SWCD encourages landowners to leave no-mow strips, preferably planted with native grasses and wildflowers.
