Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates Blog

At the State of the State address Governor Dayton reaffirmed his commitment to passing some form of riparian buffer legislation this session.  

From the perspective of a lakeshore steward, the riparian buffer proposal does not change how the land is managed. The program is more focused to address the streams, rivers and watercourses that meander through the agricultural land surrounding many Minnesota lakes.

On Friday, January 16th, in a packed room at the opening of the 2015 DNR Roundtable, Governor Dayton announced that he was asking the DNR to enforce a 50 foot buffer zone on all riparian property in the state. 

Governor Dayton offered few details, and the announcement seemed to be a complete surprise to the more than 300 attendees.  Since then agencies like the MN DNR, BWSR and Agriculture, together with interested groups, including MLR, have been meeting, and some basic details are beginning to emerge.

2014 Tax Tips for Forest Landowners

As a forest owner, understanding tax law is an important part of owning and managing timber, participating in forest stewardship activities, and complying with tax law.

MLR has long understood that Minnesota's family lake places are heirlooms, not assets. Independent research shows that the average (mean) length of ownership of a Minnesota cabin is 25 years, and that 86% intend to leave their place to children and grandchildren. For many Minnesotans, the lake is where family happens. But with current inheritance and tax laws, combined with ordinary family dynamics, make the transition from one generation to the next does not happen without some planning.