Buffer Map is available for review and implementation The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has released the map of public waters and public ditches requiring permanent vegetative buffers or alternative water quality practices. The buffer map shows landowners and local governments where protective vegetative buffers of 16.5 feet or an average of 50 feet are required. The map is available at www.mndnr.gov/buffers. For those wanting to download the statewide data layer, it is available at https://gisdata.mn.gov/dataset/env-buffer-protection-mn. The project now turns to implementation, with these deadlines: Nov 1, 2017: 50-foot average width, 30-foot minimum width, buffers must be in place on lands adjacent to public waters and identified and mapped on the buffer map. Nov. 1, 2018: 16.5-foot minimum width buffers must be in place on lands adjacent to public ditches as identified and mapped on the buffer map. The Board of Water and Soil Resources, soil and water conservation districts, and local governments will work with landowners on any questions about buffers or alternative water quality practices.
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