In January 2014 I was notified that there would be a hearing explaining that I am required to plant 15 foot strips of perennial vegetation (buffer strips) along ditches as described by my local watershed agency, the Middle-Snake-Tamarac Watershed District. I went to the meeting where the agents explained that once these are in place they might allow me to cut hay on the buffer strips, if I request it. In other words, they now control these strips. In legal terms this is an easement. My father and I studied this law, and found that we will need to level...
