Model Ordinance for Agricultural Erosion Control

The Model Ordinance reflects the culmination of discussions of members of the Soil Conservation Advisory Committee convened by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). The Committee was convened, in part, to prepare a model ordinance for adoption by counties or townships to address agricultural erosion. The BWSR was prompted to do so because of the numerous references made within county local water plans to either revise existing or adopt new local ordinances to address erosion and sediment control - many counties have specifically identified agricultural sources as an immediate concern. The BWSR is providing this model annotated ordinance to assist those counties (or townships) to adopt or amend such official controls. While none of the member organizations or agencies have formally endorsed this model ordinance, their representatives openly reviewed and discussed this document. This document has also been reviewed by the Minnesota Office of the Attorney General.