Shoreline Restoration Info

Plus "Are You a Lake Steward?" 13 Question Survey 
to see if your shore could use a lake restoration activity.​

Accepting Green Lake Lakeshore Restorations Interest Forms Now

Picture
Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Award
Picture
Green Lake Improvement District Award
Picture


 Green Lake Shoreline Restorations continue to be a nutrient reduction focus area.
What, exactly, constitutes a “shoreline restoration” project?  What does it do and what should it look like? A “shoreline restoration” project should effectively stop (or at least greatly reduce) storm runoff. A 15-25 foot deep buffer at the shoreline that is strategically placed to stop runoff and stabilize the bank against erosion from wave action is a start.
Click here for an excellent informational  SWCD Video called "Our Lakeshore Connection" 
​
QUICK READ>>>  10 Tips to Lake Stewardship

ANNOUNCING NEW LAKE SHORELINE RESTORTATION GLID PARTNER; Sheila Boldt from Pine Haven Native Shoreline Restoration    boldtpinehaven@gmail.com

Are You a Lake Steward?  Does your shoreline protect water quality? Take the quiz and find out with 13 Questions
 Take the “Are You a Lake Steward Quiz” to see how well you are protecting Minnesota’s lakes from your own backyard – and steps you can take to improving your impact on the environment. Brought to you by Minnesota Lakes and Rivers.

Here is a DO-IT-YOURSELF  DNR's  "SCORE YOUR SHORE "  hotlink here to see if your shoreline needs restoration help complete with TIPS and recommended CRITERIA to measure against.
Want even MORE details, look at the DNR's Shoreline Restoration Reference Manual here
​
OR take the Fast Forward Option and Scroll to bottom pf page for  "SIMPLE STEPS TOWARD BETTER LAKE STEWARDSHIP"  >>
-------
New informative article from MLR: Our Lake and River Shorelines are at a Turning Point
Our Green Lake GLID and Property owners with SWCD's help are taking positive actions to reduce shoreline erosion and watershed nutrient runoff going into our lake.
--------
Sue Hage and Family Receive 2022 Lake Steward Award!
From Sue "Thank you so very much for the kind words and for this awesome recognition!!  It has been a learning process over the past six years of working on restoring the Green Lake shoreline but we have successfully found solutions that work (on our round, water-level fluctuating lake)!We look forward to displaying the sign amongst the beautiful density of flowers and plants along the shore.  When you anchor the shore and plant the right plants, it’s amazing what nature does!  We are amazed by the millions of native (desirable) plants that have filled in and all the bees and butterflies that flock there! We are grateful that we got on board with the Lakeshore Restoration project that initially started in 2016.  We have learned so much and we have been able to work side-by-side with GLID, Isanti SWCD, the DNR and neighbors who all care so much about protecting our lakes/rivers and resources."
​
Is your lakeshore washing away or would you like help restoring a natural buffer?
​Shoreline erosion is a problem for both property owners and the lake
GLID is offering to help Green Lake landowners restore eroding or non-buffered shorelines.
GLID has limited restoration assistance funds of 25% up to $1000 max for pre-approved paid projects! 
Step by step approach:
1-  Fill out the " I Am Interested Form"   For more help with starting your shoreline restoration, please contact
        Dan Howard   Phone: 763-286-1146   email: danhowardnow@gmail.com
2-  Sign Contract with lake shoreline consultant company to get pre-approved plans in place, satisfy DNR and Isanti Count Zoning 
          Note: Green Lake has partnered with 
        >   Sheila Boldt from Pine Haven Native Shoreline Restoration   boldtpinehaven@gmail.com 

3- When project is completed, contract payments are completed in full, Request reimbursement from GLID's Dan Howard.

With recent wake board boats; more shores are getting stronger wave actions regardless of prevailing winds. 
Awareness: Large boats, close to shore,  their wake has a negative impact on lake health. Some of the impacts are:  Shoreline erosion.  Impaired water quality from increased sediment in the water.  Loss of shoreline vegetation, which helps stabilize shorelines and provides valuable habitat for fish and wildlife. Increase the likelihood of algae blooms in the lake. 
Wake surfing boats can also disturb the lake bottom in addition to shorelines. The prop wash points down at an angle that agitates lake bottoms up to a depth of 16 feet or more, according to the Sierra Club. This disturbance stirs up contaminants, uproots native plants, and increases turbidity which warms the water and destroys ecosystems.

What can I do to keep my shoreline from washing away?  INFO FROM DNR hotlink     
Learn about one alternative of Shoreline stabilized with riprap and enhanced with a vegetative buffer.
Why DNR does Not promote using riprap? 
-Vegetated buffers, deeply rooted plants, shrubs, and trees remove nitrogen and phosphorus before it enters the lake.     
- And yes, weeds near shoreline can help slow down wave action. A 
Why is  riprap used at times?
-Wind beaten shores sometimes offer no other solutions and proven erosion issues do allow shore protection when rip rap is constructed per MN DNR guidelines at a 3:1 slope. Generally east, south east, and northeast sides of lakes.

Understanding Ordinary High Water Level - Important info for Shoreline Restorations hotlink

Did you know the Green Lake Sub-Watershed Retrofit Analysis reported 95 lakeshore sites that were candidates? Per the report, if all 95 were completed, the total Phosphorus flow into Green Lake from those areas would be reduced by 44%.   
Did you know that just ONE  non-buffered lakeshore's nutrient runoff could produce up to 80 pounds of algae!!!.... including the toxic Blue-Green Algae.

Green Lake Shoreline Restoration Projects History
Click on the Owner's names hotlinks to have a glimpse of the before and after pictures.
ALL the Green Lake Owners below earned and received Green Lake Restoration Award Sign ·         

 Check out the Dan Howard's 2020 Green Lake Restoration Summary here!
Green Lake Owners that Completed Shoreline Restoration with Dan Howard
>  Leider, Bullock, Plates, Adam Anderson, Oliver, Mortenson, Gwen Peterson, O'Donnell,  Leach, Hage, Dancik, Braun, Sargent, Del Smith, Reinke/Solomonson
 Green Lake Owners that Completed Shoreline Restoration 2016-2017
> Carlson, Chilson, Dancik, Glenn, Hage, Lind, Orton, Roos.
​ CLICK HERE​ for a 2016-2017 summary, including details with before and after pictures of the projects.

LAKE STEWARDSHIP MLR/DNR SCORE YOUR SHORE hotlink
Take the “Are You a Lake Steward Quiz” to see how well you are protecting Minnesota’s lakes from your own backyard – and steps you can take to improving your impact on the environment

SIMPLE STEPS TOWARD BETTER LAKE STEWARDSHIP
These are DNR simple steps lake property owners can take to become better shore land stewards.
1. Protect existing  native trees, shrubs, and plants.
2. Stop fertilizing and using lawn chemicals. If you water your lawn with water pumped from the lake, use of chemical fertilizer is unnecessary because the lake water already contains nitrogen and phosphorus. If you feel you must fertilize, do so once a year, in the fall.
3. We highly recommend no broadcast spraying of insecticides and pesticides. Please be kind to pollinators.
4. “No mow, let it grow!” This is the simplest and least expensive way to restore shoreline and add a natural buffer to the lakeshore. First, stop mowing a 10 - 15ft wide strip of grass near the water’s edge. If you have a beach, the buffer can be directly behind the beach. A buffer of native vegetation will help prevent erosion and will intercept some of the nutrients and pollutants that would otherwise enter the lake.
5. If you don’t like the look of an un-mowed buffer, you can plant a buffer of native wildflowers and sedges. Bushes or trees can also be added.
Checkout your GLID Shoreline Restoration Program with grants for approved projects. A buffer of native plants will add color and beauty to your shoreline and provide food and habitat for birds, butterflies, and other pollinators.
6. If you riprap or place boulders on the shoreline, do not spray with herbicides as toxins go into lake. If you let nature take its course, native plants such as jewel weed, milk weed, and blue flag iris may naturally germinate, or you can plant them within the riprap.
7. Have your septic system tested and keep it working properly. Faulty septic’s account for lake pollution.
Great 45 minute webinar can be found at: septic.umn.edu/sites/septic.umn.edu/file s/drinking_water_final.mp4

Benefits of Native Aquatic Plants Workshop Recorded and Available to You!
​https://youtu.be/FpJf77msUEk   << hotlink
The speaker  Dr. Ray Newman, a professor from the University of Minnesota. The talk will include topics such as how plants contribute to a lake's nutrient cycle, how native plants alter a lake, and management options. There will be time for questions and answers at the end. The workshop is open.
Green Lakers at the Benefits of Native Aquatic Plants workshop. We did record it, there was some really good information provided by Ray Newman (professor at U of M).

Green Lake Shoreline Maintenance Workshop -Sept 16th!- COMPLETED!
The Shoreline Maint workshop was informative!      
 It took place at Hage's  amazing 2016 shoreline restoration project on Green Lake. 
This was an in-person event to teach how to do regular maintenance on shoreline buffers. Topics will include how to identify weeds from native plants, how best to remove weeds, how to split thriving plants and more!
​Aaron Soltau from the Prairie Restorations Inc and Todd Kulaf from SWCD shared their vast knowledge , provided recommendations, and answered all the questions the active participants asked! A SUCCESS!  
SWCD sponsored the event, Here is hotlink to Lydia's notes​
​

Picture
Restorations from 2016

​ CLICK HERE​ for a summary, including details and before and after pictures of the project.