Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR)

Contact the Morrison Soil and Water Conservation District for more information; technical committee selects parcels.

Deadline text on the page: Application Type: Technical committee; Funding Status: Available.

General office

BWSR main office

Darren Mayers

Easements Programs & Forestry Coordinator

Working-lands and habitat conservation easements on private land surrounding Camp Ripley Training Center in Morrison, Crow Wing and Cass counties, funded by DoD REPI and Minnesota's Outdoor Heritage Fund and delivered by Morrison SWCD with BWSR. Federally funded easements let farming, hunting and normal agricultural activities continue. Landowners apply through their local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), which submits the package to BWSR.



Private landowners within the Camp Ripley Sentinel Landscape / ACUB area in Morrison, Crow Wing and Cass counties.

Payment per unit of land to do or avoid certain practices related to land management.

Easement

Perpetual easement purchasing development rights; agriculture may continue under federally funded working-lands easements.

Published amounts: Payment Rate Type: Township average or tax assessed, depending on land use.

Contact your local SWCD to find out how to sign up for Minnesota CREP; applications are accepted in announced batching periods and processed jointly with the FSA county office.

Deadline text on the page: Update from May 16, 2025: The first batching period of calendar year 2025 will be held May 16 – June 6, 2025. 'Enrollment for the MN CREP began in May of 2017 and will continue until funds are exhausted or the 75,000 acre limit is reached.' Easement Programs page: 'Application Type: Batch; Funding Status: Dependent on CRP sign-up periods.' No 2026 batching period posted.

Dusty Van Thuyne

Easement Programs Coordinator

MN CREP pairs a 14-15 year federal CRP contract (FSA, 60% incentive above standard CRP rental) with a permanent state RIM easement paid as a lump sum, on marginal cropland in 66 southern and western Minnesota counties. Practices: grass filter strips (CP21), wetland restoration floodplain/non-floodplain (CP23/23a), native grasses in wellhead protection areas (CP2). Goal 75,000 acres; landowners retain ownership and control access. Sign-up is in batching periods announced on the page. Landowners apply through their local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), which submits the package to BWSR.



Farmers and agricultural landowners in the 66-county MN CREP area (southern and western Minnesota) with riparian, marginal agricultural, previously drained wetland or wellhead-protection cropland; eligible for CRP; general RIM eligibility applies.

14-15 year CRP contract with 60% rental-rate incentive plus lump-sum perpetual RIM easement payment at township-average rate; native restoration fully funded; ownership and recreation/hunting access retained.

Published amounts: Landowners receive payments based on CRP rental rates (60% incentive above the standard CRP rate for a 14-15 year contract) and a lump-sum up-front payment for the permanent RIM easement, with rates based on local land values. Payment Rate Type: Township average. Restoration at no cost to landowners.

Through your local SWCD: Conservation Easement Application, RIM Grasslands Scoresheet, Area Assessment Form, RIM Plant Inventory, Conservation Easement Financial Worksheet, Agreement Information Form, W-9.

Deadline text on the page: Easement Programs page: 'Application Type: Rolling'; 'Funding Status: Available'. Geography: Enrollment focus in Prairie and Forest/Prairie Transition ecoregions.

John Voz

Sara Reagan

Outdoor Heritage Fund-financed perpetual RIM easements that protect remnant or native prairie and add buffering grasslands to wildlife habitat complexes, focused on Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan priority areas and worked through local technical teams. Rolling applications via the SWCD. Landowners apply through their local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), which submits the package to BWSR.



Remnant or native prairie and adjacent buffering grassland in Prairie and Forest/Prairie Transition ecoregions; RIM Plant Inventory required; general RIM Reserve eligibility applies; waiver available.

Perpetual easement at township-average rate; grazing/haying only as approved for habitat management.

Published amounts: Payment Rate Type: Township average.

Through your local SWCD: RIM Application Guidance, Conservation Easement Application, Area Assessment Form, RIM Reforestation Scoresheet, CEFW Tax Assessed Calculation, Agreement Information Form, W-9.

Deadline text on the page: No dates on page; 'In the pilot phase three watersheds will be eligible: the Redeye, Long Prairie and Rum River watersheds.' Not on the 2026 easement programs poster/index.

Confirm current funding availability with your SWCD before applying — this pilot was not listed on BWSR's 2026 Conservation Easement Programs index.

Pilot RIM easement program paying landowners in the Redeye, Long Prairie and Rum River watersheds to permanently protect and reforest historically forested open land, plus cost-share for a Forest Stewardship Plan and tree planting. Minimum 35 acres; parcels prioritized by Landscape Stewardship Plan ranking. Landowners apply through their local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), which submits the package to BWSR.



Must be at least 35 acres; must be in the Redeye, Long Prairie or Rum River watersheds; all RIM program eligibility requirements are met; current Forest Stewardship Plan that meets RIM requirements (can be done concurrently); must include reforestation.

Perpetual easement at tax-assessed rate; cost-share for planting and management; Forest Stewardship Plan required.

Published amounts: Landowners can receive payment for enrolling in a perpetual conservation easement, financial assistance towards the completion of a Forest Stewardship Plan, and cost share for tree planting and other management activities that improve the land. CEFW Tax Assessed Calculation.

Through Pine SWCD or your local SWCD: Conservation Easement Application, Area Assessment Form, Kettle and Snake River Scoresheet, CEFW Tax Assessed Calculation, Agreement Information Form, W-9.

Deadline text on the page: Application Type: Technical committee; Funding Status: Available.

Perpetual RIM protection easements on intact, forested riparian parcels (20+ acres) along the Kettle and Snake Rivers in Aitkin, Carlton, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and Pine counties, prioritized for lake sturgeon and mussel habitat and St. Croix water quality. Landowners apply through their local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), which submits the package to BWSR.



Must be at least 20 acres; must be riparian; must be in the Kettle and Snake Rivers watersheds.

Perpetual easement at tax-assessed rate.

Published amounts: Payment Rate Type: Tax assessed.

Through your local SWCD: Conservation Easement Application, Area Assessment Form, aerial photo, shapefile, CEFW Tax Assessed Calculation, Agreement Information Form, W-9, landowner deed(s).

Deadline text on the page: Easement Programs page: 'Application Type: Technical committee'; 'Funding Status: Available'.

Kevin Roth

Permanent RIM easements protecting privately owned shoreland on wild rice lakes in 15 north-central Minnesota counties (Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Morrison, Otter Tail, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd, Wadena), funded by the Outdoor Heritage Fund. Applications are ranked by a technical committee; landowners are paid at tax-assessed rates. Landowners apply through their local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), which submits the package to BWSR.



Privately owned lands on wild rice lakes in the listed counties; general RIM Reserve eligibility; landowner's deed, aerial photo and shapefile of boundary required.

Perpetual easement; tax-assessed payment; development prohibited on easement.

Published amounts: Payment Rate Type: Tax assessed.

Through your participating SWCD: Conservation Easement Application, Area Assessment Form, MHB Easement Ranking Scoresheet, aerial photo, shapefile (to pat.sherman@state.mn.us), CEFW Tax Assessed Calculation, Agreement Information Form, W-9, deed.

Deadline text on the page: Application Type: Technical committee; Funding Status: Available.

Outdoor Heritage Fund program offering landowners along the first 400 miles of the Mississippi River (or a major tributary/headwaters lake) in Aitkin, Beltrami, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca and Morrison counties a permanent RIM easement (or fee-title sale) to protect shoreland and upland habitat. Landowners apply through their local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), which submits the package to BWSR.



Private landowners along or near the first 400 miles of the Mississippi River, or on a major tributary or headwaters lake, in the participating counties; land must meet program criteria; participation voluntary.

Perpetual easement at tax-assessed rate, or fee-title acquisition.

Published amounts: Payment Rate Type: Tax assessed.

Landowners – check with your Soil and Water Conservation District to see if your land qualifies; SWCD submits the package (Conservation Easement Application, RIM 1W1P Application Scoresheet, Area Assessment Form, CEFW standard or tax-assessed, Agreement Information Form, Crop History Worksheet, W-9) in the batching window.

Deadline text on the page: 2026 Batching period will be open July 1 - August 14, 2026. Program page also states 'Funding decisions will be made quarterly. Batching period deadlines are March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31.' Enrollment began 2/1/2023; Funding Status: Available.

RIM easements targeted to priority areas in Board-approved Comprehensive Watershed Management Plans (One Watershed, One Plan), opening RIM to parts of Minnesota not traditionally eligible. Projects must protect, restore or enhance fish/wildlife habitat and contribute to a plan goal or priority area. Standard RIM crop-history rates apply when at least 60% of offered acres have crop history; otherwise a tax-assessed protection-easement rate. Landowners apply through their local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), which submits the package to BWSR.



In addition to standard RIM Reserve Program general eligibility criteria, applications must meet all three of the following: the project will protect, restore, or enhance habitat for fish, game, and other wildlife; offer is located in an area with an approved Comprehensive watershed management plan (CWMP); the project must contribute to a measurable goal, be located in a priority area, and/or address an issue or implementation action in a CWMP. Twin Cities Metro: lands in a locally adopted watershed management plan, county groundwater plan, or SWCD comprehensive plan are also eligible.

Perpetual RIM easement; township-average or tax-assessed rate depending on crop history share; quarterly funding decisions.

Published amounts: Acres with crop history >= 60% of total acres = Standard RIM township rates; acres without crop history > 40% = Protection Easement at tax-assessed rate.

Through your local SWCD during the January, July or October batching month: Conservation Easement Application, Area Assessment Form, RIM Riparian and Floodplain Restoration Application Scoresheet, Financial Worksheet, Agreement Information Form, Crop History Worksheet, W-9.

Deadline text on the page: Program page: 'Applications will be accepted during the months of January, July, and October, dependent on availability of funds. Applications must be submitted by the last day of the applicable month. Enrollment begins 10/02/2023.' Easement Programs page: 'Application Type: Batch; July 1, 2026 - August 14, 2026'; Funding Status: Available. Next expected window October 2026.

Outdoor Heritage Fund and Clean Water Fund-financed RIM easements on existing row crop land in riparian areas or mapped floodplains, statewide, to improve water quality and wildlife habitat. Limited-term and perpetual easements are offered with flexibility for limited working-lands activities. Landowners apply through their SWCD in January, July and October batching windows. Landowners apply through their local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), which submits the package to BWSR.



The land targeted for this program is existing row crop within a riparian area or a mapped floodplain. RIM Reserve Program general eligibility criteria (RIM Handbook pages 1-7) apply; waiver form available for exceptions.

Limited-term or perpetual easement; township-average payment rate; limited working-lands activities allowed per guidance document.

Published amounts: Payment Rate Type: Township average.

Contact your local SWCD (https://www.maswcd.org/find-your-swcd); the SWCD assembles the application package (Conservation Easement Application, Area Assessment Form, RIM Wetlands Application Workbook, Financial Worksheet, Crop History Worksheet, W-9) and submits to BWSR during the batching period. 2026-funded applications follow the RIM Refresh pilot process and require the landowner to sign a RIM Refresh Landowner Acknowledgment.

Deadline text on the page: Easement Programs page: 'Application Type: Batch; July 1, 2026 - August 14, 2026; peatlands eligible apps can be submitted any time.' Program page: 'Funding decisions will be made quarterly when adequate funding is available.' Funding Status: Available.

RIM Inbox

RIM program general questions

Perpetual state conservation easements that pay landowners to restore previously drained wetlands and adjacent native grassland on agricultural land, statewide, funded by Minnesota's Outdoor Heritage Fund and Clean Water Fund. A peatland-restoration sub-program accepts applications on histosol soils at any time. Landowners apply through their local Soil and Water Conservation District; BWSR pays restoration costs and a lump-sum easement payment while the land stays in private ownership.



Wetland restoration area(s) must have wetlands that were legally drained and are restorable. The drained wetland must have been sufficiently altered to render the basin suitable for agricultural production. Adjacent land without qualifying crop history cannot exceed one acre for each acre of wetland to be restored (1:1); adjacent lands with qualifying crop history cannot exceed eight acres per acre of wetland restored (8:1). General RIM eligibility (RIM Handbook pp. 1-7): landowner for at least one year with marketable title; partnerships/corporations must be certified as a farm corporation with MDA.

Perpetual easement; land remains private; landowner keeps taxes/maintenance; restored wetlands cannot be used to mitigate other wetland losses; payment at township-average rate after closing; restoration follows a conservation plan at no cost to landowner.

Published amounts: Payment Rate Type: Township average (per-acre RIM easement payment set by township rate schedule; see Conservation Easement Financial Worksheet). Any survey costs exceeding $5,000 will be deducted from the RIM easement payment (no out-of-pocket cost for landowners).

List of Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) Funding Opportunities