State’s Riparian Buffer Initiative Slow to Take Hold

In 2021, the South Dakota Legislature passed a bill to provide $3 million in funding to help improve water quality in the Big Sioux River. The money was incorporated into a new South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) buffer strip program called the Riparian Buffer Initiative (RBI). The program is designed to provide financial incentives to landowners willing to put their riparian areas into a termed buffer strip ranging from 50 to 120 feet wide. The program has had a slow start. Because of this, DANR has adjusted the RBI program to attract more landowners. The annual payments for buffer strips have increased, up to $575/acre for cropland and $157/acre for pastureland. Additionally, animal waste management systems have been added to the program, and the geographic footprint updated. As of this writing, four buffer strip projects are enrolled, totaling 78 acres for $71,456. There are currently 22 additional buffer strip projects in the works, and $63,000 has been allocated for a waste management system. The majority of the $3 million is still available and scheduled to sunset in 2025. If you are interested, visit the DANR website or visit with local DANR staff to learn more.