Jake Bendel

GREENWOOD TWP- Natural shorelines are essential for preserving a lake’s water quality, and lakeshore owners in our area got a chance to learn some easy and low-cost ways to preserve or re-create natural vegetation on their own patch of lakeshore.
Jake Bendel, watershed conservationist from the North St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District, gave two public programs earlier this month, one at Greenwood Town Hall and another at the South Kawishiwi River Campground near Ely.
“Every little bit helps,” Bendel said, noting that it doesn’t take a huge investment to make a difference. “Any buffer is better than nothing,” he said. “You don’t need to do your entire yard.” In fact, said Bendel, “if everyone just started not mowing the five feet closest to the water, it would help.”
Scientists estimate that at least half of Minnesota’s native shorelines are already lost, Bendel said, and the losses are increasing at a rate of one or two percent per decade.
“The northeast part of the state is better than the rest of the state,” he said. “But we want to keep it that way. Prevention is easier than remediation.”
Natural vegetation on shorelines filter both nutrients and sediments from entering the lake. They stabilize shorelines, help prevent erosion, and increase the infiltration of rainwater into the ground. They are also better adapted to changing water levels.
There is a lot of natural phosphorous on the landscape, he said, and seven to nine percent more nutrients enter the water through mowed grass than natural vegetation.
Bendel talked about creating a good mix of native plants including grasses, flowers, shrubs, and trees, and told attendees that some of the Minnesota native plant landscaping businesses sell ready-made mixes tailored for these locations.
Another way to decide what native plants to use is to see what is growing well on neighboring properties, he said.
“If you already have a native shoreline, plant some trees,” said Bendel. “Start a conservation easement on your property. And talk to your neighbors about what they can do.”
For property owners with already damaged shoreline areas, the soil and water conservation district has expertise and even funding to help restore the areas. Some areas will require stabilization where they recommend using natural materials that can biodegrade over time, rather than cement or rock riprap.
He said staffers can do site visits and help create plans for property owners.
Other ways to protect shorelines include keeping fuel away from shorelines, using a four-stroke motor if possible, driving boats slowly along shorelines to reduce wakes that can cause erosion, using phosphate-free cleaners, and pumping septic tanks at least every two to three years.
Resources available
• North St. Louis SWCD- https://www.nslswcd.org/. This organization also sells native shrubs and trees each spring, as well as doing site visits and other outreach activities.
• Minnesota DNR- https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/. Look for the Restore Your Shore webpage. You can also find a native plant encyclopedia, and a Score Your Shore quiz. The DNR site also has many free guides to print out.
• Blue Thumb- https://bluethumb.org/. A tool for finding the right plants for your location. Also links to businesses that sell native plants.
• Contractors in northeastern Minnesota include Prairie Restorations and Northern Ecological Services.
•Minnesota Wildflowers- https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/. Information, photographs, and range maps for native flowers and plants in Minnesota.