Watershed Protection

Governor Dayton's proposal to establish shoreland buffers along all Minnesota waters will provide habitat for numerous species and pay dividends in improving water quality.

During this month's State of the State Address, Governor Dayton expressed his displeasure with buffer opposition, saying he is "...unwilling to wait another year — or longer — for legislation that will significantly improve Minnesota’s water. While the Governor's buffer initiative presents an enormous opportunity to improve water quality and habitat in Minnesota, myths about the bill have proliferated in the halls of the capitol, often spread by opponents of the initiative.

The 2015 legislative session moves into high gear this month, as a raft of policy and finance bills move toward the floor in the House and Senate. While buffers, Forever Green research, and a strong biofuels bill are reasons to smile, FMR is also working hard to defeat a series of assaults on clean water protections from the GOP-controlled House.

Thank you to the 200+ people who attended “Clean Water Rules! Understanding the EPA’s Clean Water Act Update” with EPA administrator Gina McCarthy on April 7th. Participants learned about the importance of moving the EPA’s work to update the Clean Water Rule forward and what we can do to help in the process.

Earlier this year, Governor Mark Dayton proposed an initiative requiring vegetated buffers along all waters of the state. Although the proposal was initially touted as a way to bolster Minnesota's declining pheasant population, it is clearly one of the most significant water quality initiatives put forward by a Minnesota governor in decades.

The 2015 legislative session in Minnesota is shaping up to feature a mixed bag of water quality and natural resource conservation policy. While the Governor's buffer initiative and Forever Green funding are cause for optimism, a deluge of so-called "dirty water bills" has become an unwelcome theme in the halls of the Capitol.