Prior Lake Spring Lake Watershed District
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Home» Get Involved! » Learn More » Agriculture

Agriculture

 Did you know…

Your everyday actions and even your property affect water quality. No matter where you live, what you do on your property affects the health of nearby bodies of water.

But do not fret! There are many actions which you can take that positively impact water quality, and they just might save you money too.

Click on the topics below to learn more:
Create a Nutrient Management Plan
Install Management Practices
Minnesota Buffer Law

 Create a Nutrient Management Plan

Some simple, low-cost practices on a farm can make a big difference in water quality. A first step is completing a nutrient management plan, which can save you money in fertilizer application and help you strike a balance between crop yields and soil inputs. Watershed District staff can help you with the completion of a plan.

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 Install Management Practices

Some well-known practices can help you keep soil on your land. A grassed waterway is an example of a practice that is often effective in stopping soil loss and can turn persistently wet spots into consistently harvestable land. Contour farming and conservation tillage are also practices with minimal impact on yields, but measurable soil retention and water quality benefits. Cost share programs are available to help design and install management practices to prevent soil and nutrient loss and improve water quality. Check out our Cost Share page for more information.

filterstrip

Windbreaks, filter strips, and wetland restoration are a few examples of best management practices used in an agricultural setting.

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 Minnesota Buffer Law

Minnesota’s buffer law establishes new perennial vegetation buffers of up to 50 feet along lakes, rivers, and streams and buffers of 16.5 feet along ditches. These buffers will help filter out phosphorus, nitrogen and sediment. The deadline for implementation for buffers on public waters is November 1, 2017. The deadline for public ditches is November 1, 2018. The law provides flexibility for landowners to install alternative practices with equivalent water quality benefits that are based on the Natural Resources Conservation Service Field Office Technical Guide. You can view the buffer maps for a visual representation of the Minnesota Buffer Law.

If you need assistance with your buffer strips on your property, please contact the Scott Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) office for more information about the buffers as well as for technical and financial assistance. Please note, the Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District is not the entity responsible for enforcement of the buffer law.

You can also visit the State of Minnesota’s one-stop shop for the Minnesota Buffer Law here. Their website answers frequently asked questions and has information explaining the law, who it applies to, how to comply with the requirements, possible alternative practices, how to get assistance with implementing your buffer strips and more. This is a great resource!

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Prior Lake – Spring Lake Watershed District

The District covers about 42 square miles in Scott County, MN. Water in the PLSLWD flows mainly from the southwest to the northeast through Spring, Upper Prior and Lower Prior Lakes, and then north through the Prior Lake Outlet Channel to the Minnesota River near Valley Fair amusement park.
Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment

Prior Lake - Spring Lake Watershed District
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372

Phone: (952) 447-4166
Email: info@plslwd.org

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