MN HF2634

Requires landowners adjacent to public waters to maintain a 50-foot average width, 30-foot minimum width buffer of perennially rooted vegetation, or comply with state shoreland standards, whichever is more restrictive.

Establishes a 16.5-foot minimum width buffer requirement for ditches within public drainage systems, with compliance deadline of November 1, 2018.

Allows farming operations to meet buffer requirements through alternative riparian water quality practices approved by the board that provide comparable protection.

Creates voluntary easement agreements for public drainage system buffers with compensation equal to 50 percent of buffer value, calculated using township agricultural property values or assessed parcel values.

Authorizes counties and watershed districts to enforce compliance through corrective action notices and administrative penalty orders beginning November 1, 2017, with appeal rights to the board.