Shoreline Restoration

Shoreline and Streambank Restoration

Water quality issues are plentiful and can be addressed on each individual property on a lake, wetland or stream. Start by addressing erosion. Erosion, which is caused by runoff and concentrated flow, can cause water quality degradation in your waterbody. Erosion eats away at your shoreline or streambank causing you to lose property to the lake. As the water moves across your property toward the shoreline it builds up speed and washes soil particles into the water. These soil particles have phosphorus attached to them. The phosphorus then enters the water and helps turn the water green and cloudy.

As water runs off impervious surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks, compacted soil, and roofs it transports leftover fertilizer and grass clippings toward the waterbody. To minimize the amount of phosphorus that enters the water use zero phosphorus fertilizer (10-0-10). It’s the law! Also, a vegetated buffer along the shore will help stop some of the pollutants and nutrients before they reach the water. If you want to start small, try not mowing the strip of your lawn closest to the water to slow the runoff.

Some design assistance may be available for rain gardens on private property. A rain garden is a basin designed to catch the first flush of runoff after a rain. The first ½ inch of rainfall carries most of the pollutants to the waterbody. A rain garden is NOT a pond, a water feature, or a fountain location. Rain gardens are designed to hold water for about 24 hours allowing the plants to uptake the water and nutrients that have run into the garden. The plants in the garden are able to withstand wet feet for a short amount of time, but are not aquatic and need the water to drain effectively.

Plant lists for lakeshore and rain garden plantings

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Chisago SWCD, 38814 Third Avenue, North Branch, MN 55056

651/674-2333 Fax 651/674-8828

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Questions or problems regarding this web site should be directed to susan.humble@mn.nacdnet.net