Shoreline Tips From:
Homeowner Tips for Lake Protection
Lakeshore Buffers
- Leave a buffer of native trees, shrubs, grasses, sedges and wildflowers between your lawn and the lake
- Stabilize any areas that are eroding soil into the lake
- Don’t remove ice ridges that form along the shoreline
- Minimize addition of sand for beaches
- Don’t try to create a sandy beach where one never existed
Exotic/Invasive Species
- Learn how to identify and control exotic species
- Always remove plants and mussels from boat, motor, trailer and anchors and drain live wells before leaving boat landing.
- Never dump bait buckets or live fish from one water body into another
Runoff Reduction
- Reduce the amount of water that runs off of your property into lakes
- Direct roof downspouts onto vegetated surfaces rather than paved surfaces
- Use pavers or permeable surfaces rather than solid concrete or asphalt surfaces
- Drain sump pump onto vegetation rather than paved surfaces
Yard Care
- Don’t fertilize right up to the shoreline
- Use phosphorus-free fertilizers unless a soil test reveals the need for phosphorus
- Clean up any fertilizer that spills onto the driveway or street
- Sweep grass clippings back into the yard if they end up on a paved surface
- Don’t blow grass clippings into the lake as you mow
- Rake up leaves from the street before they are washed into the stormsewers or lake
- Use pesticides sparingly. Consider non-toxic alternatives such as hand pulling weeds.
Home and Recreational Activities
- Wash the car in the yard or at a commercial car wash rather than in the driveway
- Use non-lead sinkers and lures. Lead is harmful to loons and waterfowl
- Adjust boat speed to reduce wake and minimize damage to shores
- When purchasing a boat motor, choose 4-cycle over 2-cycle engines
Septic System Care
Have your septic tank pumped regularly (usually every year or two)
- Don’t dump toxic cleaners or products down your sink- they will kill the bacteria that treat the waste
- Don’t use septic system additives
- Use water conservation practices
- Don’t use a garbage disposal if you have a septic system
Resources for Shoreline Restoration
Score Your Shore http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/scoreyourshore/index.html
Score Your Shore provides an objective and systematic method to assess the type, quantity and quality of the existing shoreland habitat and stewardship.
Restore Your Shore http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/restoreyourshore/index.html
Instructional on-line program for restoring and protecting native shorelines. Includes sortable plant list.
Lakescaping for Wildlife & Water Quality
by Carol Henderson, Carolyn Dindorf and Fred Rozumalski
DNR Instructional publication on shoreline restoration.
Available at many local booksellers, amazon.com, and through Minnesota’s Bookstore.
http://www.comm.media.state.mn.us/bookstore/mnbookstore.asp?page=viewbook&BookID=67748&stocknum=310
Local Native Plant Nursery
Sunshine Gardens Nursery & Landscaping, Inc.
1286 Shadywood Shores Drive NW
Pine River, MN 56474
218-947-3154
sgardens@uslink.net
http://sunshinegardens.tripod.com/
LOCATION: Take Hwy #84 -12 miles North of Pine River, right on Hand Lake Road (County Road #49) & follow signs.
Morning Sky Greenery
44804 State highway 28
Morris, MN 56267
320-795-6234
info@morningskygreenery.com
www.MorningSkyGreenery.com
Location: Located on highway 28, two miles East of Morris and six miles West of Cyrus.
Landscape Plan Software
Garden Planner
http://www.smallblueprinter.com/garden/
$24
DNR Permit required for planting below the OHW http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/apm/docs.html
NORTHWEST – REGION 1 – Bemidji (plus Lake Osakis)
Department of Natural Resources
Regional Fisheries Manager
2115 Birchmont Beach Road NE
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 308-2623
Cass County Environmental Services/SWCD http://www.co.cass.mn.us/esd/home_esd.html
Kelly Condiff kelly.condiff@co.cass.mn.us 218- 547-7246
Assistance with shoreline restoration, possible cost-share funds