Minnesota RIM Drinking Water Easements

Clean Water Fund-financed RIM easements that pay owners of row-crop land inside high- or very-high-vulnerability Drinking Water Supply Management Areas (or Groundwater Protection Rule mitigation Level 1-2 areas, or Tribal drinking-water priority areas) to convert the land to perennial vegetation under a 25-year or perpetual easement. 'Drinking Water-Friendly Activities' (e.g., a perennial crop rotation) are allowed. Applications go through the local SWCD and are reviewed monthly. Landowners apply through their local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), which submits the package to BWSR.

Focus is land under existing row crop production inside a DWSMA designated High or Very High vulnerability, Groundwater Protection Rule mitigation Level 1 or 2, or Tribal drinking-water protection priority areas. Wellhead protection areas: acres offered do not need to meet crop history requirements, but priority is given to cropland; at least 51% of the land offered must be in a designated high or very high vulnerability DWSMA. 8-acre minimum and non-cropland limit unless waived. General RIM eligibility applies.

25-year or perpetual easement; tax-assessed payment rate; perennial vegetation established; drinking-water-friendly activities allowed per program guidance; survey costs over $5,000 deducted from payment under RIM Refresh.

Published amounts: Payment Rate Type: Tax assessed (Conservation Easement Financial Worksheet - Tax Assessed Calculation). Limited-term (25-year) or perpetual easement options.

Work with your local SWCD to submit the application package (Conservation Easement Application, Area Assessment Form, CEFW Tax-Assessed Calculation, RIM Drinking Water Application Scoresheet, Agreement Information Form, W-9, Perennial Crop Rotation Schedule Form) via the SWCD's BWSR SharePoint link; reviewed monthly. 2026-funded applications follow the RIM Refresh process (survey, streamlined closing).

Deadline text on the page: Applications will be accepted and reviewed monthly. Applications will be reviewed in the month following submission. Enrollment begins July 2025. Easement Programs page: Application Type Rolling; Funding Status Available.