Shoreline Management

Act to protect & preserve the lake we love

Our actions on the shoreland are important in maintaining our water quality and preserving the habitat of our environment – from the birds, to the dragonflies and butterflies, to the frogs and fish.  

• Lawns stretched to the shoreline remove habitat and degrade water quality
• Removal of native vegetation – from upland trees to underwater plants – destroys cover and promotes erosion
• Overuse of fertilizers and pesticides can contaminate the water and interfere with natural processes

Impact on water quality

• ​A lake with high water quality has the necessary amount of dissolved oxygen in the water to sustain life. 
• Phosphorus, from run-off from fertilizer, gravel and soils, and other sources that contain pollutants, disrupt the balance related to oxygen supply. 
• Phosphorus accelerates the growth of algae, sometimes creating unsightly algal blooms. When these algae die, their decomposition can deplete the dissolved oxygen supply necessary to support fish and other aquatic life. This affects water clarity, and, in general, upsets the food web.
• Other pollutants may affect water quality: sediment, bacteria, pesticides and toxins can negatively affect the lake’s ecosystem.

What You Can Do

Preserve and protect your shoreline vegetation

• Maintain a buffer zone between your lawn and lakeshore. In the ideal buffer zone, native plants should extend as far into the lake as vegetation will grow and at least 25 feet above the water's edge, or at least 50% of your setback. Local shoreland ordinances call this the "shore impact zone." It is normally 50% of the required structural setback.
• The most effective buffer will occupy at least 50% and preferably 75% of your shoreline frontage.

Stabilize the shoreline

• Shoreline Erosion occurs when land at the water's edge is eroded by wave action. It is primarily due to wind driven or boat driven wave action and is especially a problem during high water. Shoreline erosion results in diminished habitat for wildlife, additional expenses for restoring beaches, and loss of access.
• Techniques for restoring the shoreline, whether adding deep-rooted native plants or repairing hard materials such as rip-rap or rocky areas, can be found on the DNR website.

Leave dead trees

• Shoreline owners are encouraged to preserve standing and fallen trees on their property to provide fish and wildlife habitat, unless they pose a hazard.

Resources

​Cass County Shoreland Homeowner’s Guide to Lake Stewardship
Shoreline Alterations: Natural Buffers and Lakescaping
Restore Your Shore – A tool for shoreland owners and professionals to use to implement shoreland restoration and protection projects
Plant Guide – over 400 native plants suitable for our area
Minnesota Shoreland Management Resource Guide
Shoreland Management – MN DNR