1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to natural resources; providing for riparian 
  1.3             forest management; proposing coding for new law in 
  1.4             Minnesota Statutes, chapter 89. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [89.017] [RIPARIAN FOREST MANAGEMENT.] 
  1.7      Subdivision 1.  [APPLICABILITY.] This section applies to 
  1.8   all forest lands managed by the commissioner or a county board. 
  1.9      Subd. 2.  [LAKES AND STREAMS BUFFER.] At least a 250-foot 
  1.10  buffer of forest shall be maintained on lake shores and on both 
  1.11  banks of streams and rivers.  Within the buffer, the 
  1.12  commissioner or county board may allow only thinning or 
  1.13  uneven-aged management of timber. 
  1.14     Subd. 3.  [WETLANDS BUFFER.] (a) At least a 40-foot buffer 
  1.15  of forest shall be maintained around ephemeral or vernal 
  1.16  forested wetlands.  Within the buffer, no timber harvesting is 
  1.17  permitted. 
  1.18     (b) At least a 100-foot buffer of forest shall be 
  1.19  maintained around all other open water wetlands.  Within the 
  1.20  buffer, the commissioner or county board may allow only thinning 
  1.21  or uneven-aged management of timber or extended rotation 
  1.22  forestry.