Land Conservation Application Process
Landowners interested in working with the county are required to complete a Pre-Application Form to be considered for the Land Conservation Program. Applications are accepted year-round. The county reviews the applications on a yearly basis.
County staff determines initial eligibility of projects. Staff contacts applicants once a determination is made. If a project is eligible, a meeting is scheduled to discuss the project, describe the prioritization criteria, and conduct a preliminary property assessment. For more detail regarding the application process, natural area protection eligibility and scoring criteria, and to view a sample easement deed and natural resource management agreement, please see the Program Guidelines.
After all preliminary information is recorded, eligible project applicants who have met with County staff, are required to complete a more detailed Final Application Form to be considered for recommendation to the county board.
If you would like a Microsoft Word version of the pre-application or final application forms, please contact Lisa West at 952-891-7018 or lisa.west@co.dakota.mn.us. Please provide your email address.
Step-by-step process
Applications go through an extensive approval process. The following is a step-by-step process for a successful application:
- Landowner submits a Pre-Application Form.
- County staff reviews the pre-application form for completeness and program eligibility.
- County staff informs the landowner of project status (eligible or ineligible).
- County staff schedules an on-site meeting with the landowner to:
- Discuss the landowner's land protection and natural resource management goals
- Discuss the Land Conservation Program process and project scoring criteria
- Conduct a preliminary natural resource assessment of the proposed easement area
- Discuss next steps
- Landowner submits a Final Application Form.
- County staff uses the final application form to prepare information and materials for staff committee review.
- Staff evaluates, scores, and ranks projects.
- Landowners are notified.
- For projects moving forward, landowners are required to sign a Commitment of Interest Agreement and submit a refundable payment of $750.
- The county completes an appraisal by an independent appraiser, at the county's expense, to determine the fair market value of the easement.
- Advanced discussions about terms and other project considerations occur between the landowner, county staff and other project partners.
- Landowners indicate whether they will accept the county's offer to purchase a permanent conservation easement.
- A Property Report, documenting the current condition of the easement area, and a Natural Resource Management Plan are developed by the county and approved by the landowner and the county.
- Landowners and county staff review the Natural Resource Management Plan and jointly develop and sign a Natural Resource Management Agreement that includes:
- Prioritized restoration activities
- Responsibilities, including estimated costs and financial and in-kind contributions by the landowner and the county
- Activity schedules during a 3-5-year period
- The proposed land protection and restoration project is submitted by county staff to the county board for approval.
- Final documents are completed and signed for county board-approved projects.
- The county acquires the easement, refunds the $750 COI payment, and records the easement deed.
- The Natural Resource Management Agreement is implemented, with the results monitored by the county.
- The easement is monitored by the county within the first year and annually thereafter.
- The Natural Resource Management Plan is updated by the county every five years. New Natural Resource Management Agreements are executed whenever needed.