Section 50.83. Riparian buffers.

 

(1)   Definition. In this section, "riparian buffer" means an area in which vegetation is enhanced or established to reduce or eliminate the movement of sediment, nutrients, and other nonpoint source pollutants to an adjacent surface water resource or groundwater recharge area, to protect the banks of streams and lakes from erosion, and to protect fish habitat.

(2)   Eligible costs. A cost-share grant may reimburse any of the following costs:

(a) Permanent fencing to protect a riparian buffer.

(b) Costs to establish or enhance permanent vegetative cover in a riparian buffer, or to provide temporary cover until permanent cover is established. This may include costs for mulch, fertilizer, seed, seedling trees, and other necessary materials.

(c) Costs to shape, smooth, or prepare the riparian buffer before establishing a permanent vegetative cover.

(d) Costs for land removed from agricultural production to install a riparian buffer.

(3)   Design, construction, and maintenance standards. A cost-share grant may not reimburse riparian buffer costs unless all of the following conditions are met:

(a) The riparian buffer system complies with all of the following that apply:

1. NRCS technical guide critical area planting standard 342 (January, 2013).

2. NRCS technical guide fence standard 382 (January, 2014).

3. NRCS technical guide field border standard 386 (November, 2009).

4. NRCS technical guide filter strip standard 393 (August, 2015).

5. NRCS technical guide access control standard 472 (October, 2008).

6. NRCS technical guide mulching standard 484 (March, 2013).

7. NRCS technical guide riparian forest buffer standard 391 (January, 2013).

8. NRCS technical guide shoreland habitat standard 643A (July, 2001).

9. NRCS technical guide upland wildlife habitat management standard 645 (January, 2013).

(b) The landowner agrees to maintain the riparian buffer for 10 years unless farming operations on the affected land are discontinued.

CR 01-090 : cr. Register September 2002 No. 561 , eff. 10-1-02; CR 08-075 : am. (3) (a) 1., 2., 5. and 6. Register April 2009 No. 640 , eff. 5-1-09; CR 13-016 : am. (3) (a) 1. to 3., 5. to 7., 9. Register February 2014 No. 698 , eff. 5-1-14; CR 14-047 : am. (3) (a) 2. Register May 2015 No. 713 , eff. 6-1-15; CR 16-012 : am. (3) (a) 4. Register August 2016 No. 728 , eff. 9-1-16.