Shoreland
Maint
best management practices
Shoreland best management practices (BMPs) are environmental
standards that minimize human impacts on water quality and the
environment. Following shoreland best management practices
will limit pollution, erosion, and habitat degradation.
Protecting water quality prevents toxins, nutrients and sediments
from creating algae blooms, excessive aquatic plant growth,
and reduced oxygen levels in lakes and streams. Shoreland areas
with native trees, shrubs, grasses, sedges, and wildflowers do not
require mowing, fertilizers or herbicides.
Diverse shoreland vegetation provides important habitat for
desired fish and wildlife species and deep-rooted native plants
reduce erosion problems from storm water run-off, wind, and
wave action. Shorelands with healthy native vegetation deter the
establishment of invasive plants.
ain More Informat
ion
SHORELAND best management practices
WETLANDS FAQ
or upgrade septic systems to prevent the release of waste and excess
nutrients into lakes or rivers. The Minnesota Department of Health and the www.bwsr.state.mn.us
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) have established minimum www.dnr.state.mn.us/index.html
state septic system standards and county, city or townships may have local
www.lakesuperiorstreams.org/stormwater/rspt.html
regulations that need to be followed.
Create
www.pca.state.mn.us
www.mnwetlands.umn.edu
natural food sources and habitat for wildlife with diverse native shoreland
vegetation, which also prevents erosion problems by filtering and absorbing
run-off. An existing wooded shoreline with intact under-story plants, shrubs,
and trees is a great filter strip.
Protect
and/or establish native shoreland filter strips near agricultural fields, along
developed shorelines, and other disturbed areas. Lawn grass does not
effectively absorb rainfall or filter pollutants. Lawns attract geese and require
frequent maintenance.
Reduce
or eliminate the use of household cleaners, paints, finishes, fuels, and oil.
Biodegradable soaps and cleaning solutions are good alternatives as they
break down to non-toxic compounds in the environment. Proper handling,
storage, and disposal of toxic chemicals will prevent pollution of both land
and water.
Limit
the size of impervious surfaces, such as roofs, decks and driveways, and
increase the area of natural vegetation to allow precipitation to be absorbed
into the soil and for groundwater recharge areas. CONTACT INFO
Avoid
North Saint Louis Soil and Water Conservation District
Northland Office Building Suite 114
307 First St. South • Virginia,MN 55792
using herbicides and fertilizers along shorelines. Herbicide use can be
Soil & Water
avoided by proper management techniques. Native plants, which are 218-742-9505 • www.nslswcd.org
adapted to local conditions, do not need fertilizers.
NORTH ST. LOUIS
Get Involved
Join or form a lake association and work together to maintain and improve
your lake’s water quality and wildlife habitat.
This project was funded in part by the Coastal Zone Management Act, CONSERVATION DISTRICT
by NOAA’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management,
in cooperation with Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program.
Wetlands
FAQ & Answers
What are wetlands and what do they do?
Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, or is present either
at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods of
time during the year, including during the growing season. Often
called “nurseries of life,” wetlands provide habitat for thousands
of species of aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals. When
rivers overflow, wetlands help to absorb and slow floodwaters.
Wetlands also absorb excess nutrients, sediment, and other
pollutants before they reach rivers, lakes, and other water bodies.
Why do they need to be protected?
Wetlands are very vulnerable to disturbance. Once altered, their
functions often never return to what they once were. Without
protection, habitat and water quality can quickly degrade.
This affects everyone downstream. In the past, wetlands were
altered or drained without thought; Minnesota has lost 50% of its
wetlands since settlement.
How can I find out if I have wetlands on my
property?
It depends. If you wish to simply understand and enjoy, there are many
guides available. If you wish to manage for habitat, Local, State and
Federal agencies have information and programs to assist landowners. If
you plan on construction or alterations to or near wetlands, you will need
to have a wetland delineation, where a licensed wetland delineator maps
and classifies the types of wetlands on your property.
Can wetlands be created or restored?
They can, but it is more difficult than it sounds. Creating a wetland takes
a lot of planning and work, and it cannot be done everywhere. Simply
placing a dam or closing a ditch will not create a wetland any more
than simply having water means you can drink it. Restoring a wetland is
possible, but it takes planning and patience. Both creation and restoration
must be done with specific goals for their design and function
Am I affected by wetland regulations if I live
within the city limits?
Yes you are. The laws apply everywhere.
What are the basics of the wetland regulations
for the state of Minnesota?
In Minnesota, wetlands are governed by both State and Federal Laws. The
State law is called the Wetland Conservation Act. The Federal law is part
of the Clean Water Act. If you are planning any activity that will impact
wetlands, you must apply for a permit from multiple agencies. Luckily in
Minnesota this is handled through a combined permit application. Certain
types and sizes of activity are exempt, but you must still have a permit.
I have some wetlands on my property; can I Cost- Share Program
still build a road or a structure? The North St. Louis SWCD is a local agency which provides access to
conservation and resource management services. Amongst the services we
Maybe. Having a wetland on one part of your property doesn’t
offer is the State Cost-Share program, where landowners or occupiers can
affect the rest of it. It depends on the area and type of wetland,
and what you plan to do. Plans can be altered during the
receive financial and technical assistance for approved practices.
permitting process. These practices are:
• Critical Area Stabilization
What does it mean to mitigate for the loss
• Diversions
of wetlands? • Field Windbreaks
When wetlands are altered, mitigation is needed to compensate. • Shelterbelts
Mitigation can be done through wetland restoration, • Grassed Waterway
enhancement, or creation for functions and values that are lost on • Wastewater and Feedlot Runoff
a converted wetland. • Control
• Filter Strips
• Sediment Basins
What are the National Wetland Inventory
• Streambank, Shoreland, and
maps used for and will they help me locate
wetlands on my property? • Roadside Protection
The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) are maps generated by • Stripcropping
• Terraces
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service cataloguing the wetlands of the
• Unused Well Sealing
United States. They can help you locate wetlands, but they do not
qualify as delineation. NWI maps almost always understate the
We also offer Woodland Stewardship plans and a host of other services, so
area of wetland that actually exists.
please feel free to contact us.
Can I dig a pond on my property?
Most likely, but it does depend on where you want your pond
and how big. The Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act (WCA)
regulates excavation in the permanently and semi-permanently
flooded areas of type 3, 4, or 5 wetlands, and in all wetland types
if excavation includes filling or draining or results in conversion
to non-wetland. Remember, any activity that alters a wetland is
regulated, and the permitting process must still be followed.