Buffers

By Sara West

Nutrient Management 

Specialist, Fillmore SWCD 

Be sure to check buffers along protected waters come spring.

Since the buffer law was implemented in the fall of 2017, Fillmore County typically exceeds 99% compliance throughout the county.  I would like to commend the landowners that have put in extra time and effort to keep the buffers on their properties at the correct width. 

That being said, landowners must continue to work to maintain compliance with the 50-foot minimum width required by the Buffer Law. From severe weather events and natural shifts in streambanks to changes in land ownership and land operators, there are many variables that affect the application of the Buffer Law.

The Fillmore SWCD continues to conduct compliance checks of buffers as set forth in the monitoring plan, which can be viewed on the district website, www.fillmoreswcd.org. 

If the SWCD determines that a parcel is not in compliance, SWCD staff will contact the landowners to offer options and assistance to help bring parcels into compliance. Landowners are offered voluntarily options before notifications of noncompliance would be issued to Fillmore County, who is the enforcement entity.  

So, when winter decides to leave us here in Minnesota and you begin to get in your fields this spring, please look at your buffer areas along protected waters to make sure there continues to be adequate buffer width to ensure compliance.  For further information regarding the MN Buffer Law and compliance of parcels in Fillmore County contact Sara West at the Fillmore SWCD office 507-887-0240 or Sara.West@fillmoreswcd.org.