Information presented below was taken from the BWSR website: http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us/wetlands/wca/index.html

Agencies representing three levels of government (federal, state, and local) in Minnesota regulate certain activities that affect the course, current, and cross-section of lakes, wetlands, rivers and streams.

Federal

• Army Corps of Engineers: Permit Programs under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act.

State

• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: Public Waters Work Permit Program.
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency: All construction work requires a construction stormwater permit from this agency.

Local

• VLAWMO: Wetland Conservation Act.

Work affecting the course, current, or cross-section of a lake, wetland, river, or stream may require a permit from one or all of these agencies.

The DNR Public Waters Work Permit Program applies to those lakes, wetlands, rivers, and streams identified on DNR Public Water Inventory maps. The Wetland Conservation Act applies to nearly all wetlands not shown on the DNR Public Water Inventory maps. The Corps of Engineers regulatory authority generally covers all water and wetland areas, including those that are regulated by the DNR or subject to the Wetland Conservation Act.

Permit Application Forms
For the convenience of applicants, the three levels of government have assembled a package of application forms. Note: Microsoft Word forms were created to allow users to download documents to their computers and fill them out. The forms have been locked, which protects the document from alterations. The PDF forms are not interactive.

NOTE: Prior to filling out a form (in Word), users should save a form first to their computers. Save by right clicking on the link, and then click on "Save Target As." Go back to where a form is saved, and use that form.

Deadlines for Wetland Conservation Act Review and Action

• Exemptions and No-Loss Determination requests must be submitted 10 days prior to the Technical Committee meetings (3rd Friday of the month).
• Wetland Replacement Plan, Wetland Banking, and Temporary Impact Applications must be submitted 3 weeks prior to the Technical Committee meetings.

PERMIT APPLICATIONS FOR MOST PROJECTS INVOLVING LAKES, WETLANDS, RIVERS, AND STREAMS
The links below will connect you to the forms at the appropriate state agency and should be submitted to all appropriate agencies. VLAWMO is not responsible for these requirements.

• Most projects involving lakeshore or river alteration such as bridge/culvert installations, sand blankets, shore protection, channel excavation, etc., require a DNR Public Waters Work Permit and authorization from other governmental units. Permits for such projects can be applied for using the following form:
  
  Permit Application Forms for Water/Wetland Projects - Part I Also available as a Microsoft Word document (set up for data entry).
  (Form NA-026620-03A - Minnesota Local/State/Federal Application Forms for Water/Wetland Projects, Part I only)
   
• You will be informed by DNR Waters if your proposed project requires a DNR Public Waters Work Permit. If the proposed project is subject to the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA), permits for these types of projects can be applied for using the following forms:
  
  Permit Application Forms for Water/Wetland Projects - Part I and Part II *
  Also available as a Microsoft Word document (set up for data entry).
  (Form NA-026620-03B - Minnesota Local/State/Federal Application Forms for Water/Wetland Projects, Part I and Part II)
  *Use of Part II is only needed when the project will affect wetlands.
  
  Information about permit application fees.
  Information about DNR Public Waters Work Permits.

PERMIT APPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY AND PUBLIC UTILITY PROJECTS

• For public transportation (Mn/DOT, county/city/township) or public utility projects requiring the preparation of a wetland replacement plan, permits can be applied for using the following form:
  
  Permit Application Form for Water/Wetland Projects - Part I Also available as a Microsoft Word document (set up for data entry).
  (Form NA-026620-03C Minnesota Local/State/Federal Application Forms for Water/Wetland Projects: Public Transportation and Linear Utility Projects - Part I only)
   
• For public road projects being reported to the Board of Water and Soil Resources, or for projects impacting only watercourses, permits can be applied for using the following form:
  
  Permit Application Form for Water/Wetland Projects - Part II Also available as a Microsoft Word document (set up for data entry).
  (Form NA-026620-03D Minnesota Local/State/Federal Application Forms for Water/Wetland Projects: Public Transportation and Linear Utility Projects - Part II only)
  
  Information about permit application fees.
  Information about DNR Public Waters Work Permits.

WCA EXEMPTIONS

• Wetlands on Agricultural Land/WCA Jurisdiction Flowchart
• De Minimis Calculation Worksheet
• Declaration of Restrictions for Impacted Wetlands Under Agricultural Exemption
• Affidavit/Exemption Evidence for Local Government Units

AVOIDING, MINIMIZING, AND REPLACING WETLAND IMPACTS

• Minnesota Local/State/Federal Application Forms for Water/Wetland Projects (Word Form Part I / Word Form Parts I & II) (Form Part I / Form Parts I & II ) (See permit application forms page for additional directions.)
• BWSR Deed Form Instructions
• Declarations of Restrictions and Covenants for Site Specific Wetland Replacement
• Affidavit of Landowners
• Consent to Replacement Wetland

VLAWMO Fees for WCA applications