MN HF3289

Creates new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 103F, requiring urban storm water retention pond buffers in the seven-county metropolitan area (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington Counties) and first-class cities.

Requires metropolitan local governments to maintain a 10-foot to 15-foot buffer around storm water retention ponds located on government-owned property.

Prohibits mowing, tilling, trimming, and herbicide use within the buffer zone from March 31 to August 31 each year.

Allows reduced buffer sizes only when property boundaries or physical barriers prevent maintenance of a 10-foot to 15-foot buffer; in such cases, governments must maintain the largest buffer possible within existing physical confines.

Defines "storm water retention pond" as a water quality treatment pond constructed or maintained to pretreat storm water runoff prior to discharge to wetlands, public waters, or other water bodies.