Best Practice Action 19.5
GreenStep City Best Practices: Environmental Management
Surface Water No. 19
Improve local water bodies to sustain their long-term ecological function and community benefits.
Best Practice Action Detail
Best Practice Action 5
Adopt goals to revegetate shoreland and create a local program or outreach effort to help property owners with revegetation.
- Find resources on maintaining and restoring natural shorelines from the MN Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR).
- The Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates “lake steward program” works through local lake associations to change perceptions of what are attractive shorelands.
- Score Your Shore is a tool from the DNR to assess habitat conditions of developed lake lots, which can be used to set and track metric goals for shoreland revegetation and improvement.
- Restore Your Shore Native Plant Encyclopedia from the DNR guides shoreland vegetation.
- The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources and the MN Dept. of Natural Resources routinely fund restoration projects.
- See the Minnesota Shoreland Management Resource Guide (University of MN Water Resources Center) and the Minnesota Association of Floodplain Managers.
- See best management practices for shoreland properties (MN Extension) and other resources from the MN Dept. of Natural Resources.
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Collaborate with DNR and/or others to assess shoreland quality and set restoration goals in the comprehensive or other plan; locally promote revegetation incentives and technical assistance. |
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Achieve 1-star and report progress toward meeting goals for restoration of a specific percentage of shoreland; and/or partner with locally based organizations to change property owner perceptions of what socially acceptable and attractive shorelands are. |
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Enact a point-of-sale regulation that ensures shoreland revegetation as property is sold. |
Who's doing it
Bloomington -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 1997
Implementation details:
The Wetland Vegetation Treatment Policy provides the basis for treatment of wetlands for algae and aquatic vegetation and establishes incentives for property owners around the wetland to take steps that protect water quality of wetlands.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: https://www.bloomingtonmn.gov/sites/default/files/media/WetlandProtectionProgramMgmtPlan.pdf
For more information contact:
Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Partners:
Duluth -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2017
Implementation details:
While vegetation is a great way to stabilize soils, on the exposed shore of Lake Superior the wave action created by larger wind events makes keeping wave action from eroding soils difficult at best. simple vegetation is often not enough to preserve shoreline in this harsh environment, and as storms get worse this problem will only intensify. Consequently, the engineering office is looking at hard armoring or concrete retaining walls with sloped back soils in areas that are particularly damaged, such as in eroding sections along Condgon Blvd. In the Brighton Beach area they are looking at options on moving the road away from the shore and creating additional trails to access the lake shore, as well as adding larger stones along the shore to help break some of the force of the waves. The unique challenges presented by the lake are forcing city staff and landowners to look for innovative new ways to protect the shoreline.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Todd Carlson (City staff) | tcarlson@duluthmn.gov | 218-730-4051
Partners:
Golden Valley -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
The Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission (BCWMC), of which Golden Valley is a member, established the goal to, “maintain or improve shoreland integrity and implement stream restoration measures to maintain or enhance ecological functions as well as human health, safety, and welfare” in its 2015 Watershed Management Plan. This plan also identified the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources shoreland habitat restoration grant program as a state funding source that cities and/or the BCWMC could obtain to fund shoreland projects (Section 5.2.2.4).
The BCWMC Channel Maintenance Fund can be utilized by private property owners in the member cities to cover part of the costs of restoring and revegetating shoreland areas along streams.
In the Surface Water chapter of its 2030 Comprehensive Plan, Golden Valley established the goals to “Protect and enhance fish and wildlife habitat and maintain shoreland integrity” and “Improve the quality of Bassett Creek and City lakes to enhance the aesthetics and recreation opportunities in Golden Valley.” The chapter also includes a water resources implementation program identifying projects that will improve water quality, potential funding sources, and proposed years of implementation. Several of these projects have been completed, are ongoing, or are planned.
The BCWMC Channel Maintenance Fund can be utilized by private property owners in the member cities to cover part of the costs of restoring and revegetating shoreland areas along streams.
In the Surface Water chapter of its 2030 Comprehensive Plan, Golden Valley established the goals to “Protect and enhance fish and wildlife habitat and maintain shoreland integrity” and “Improve the quality of Bassett Creek and City lakes to enhance the aesthetics and recreation opportunities in Golden Valley.” The chapter also includes a water resources implementation program identifying projects that will improve water quality, potential funding sources, and proposed years of implementation. Several of these projects have been completed, are ongoing, or are planned.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
The City has established over 5 miles of stream bank buffer (out of 16 miles of stream banks) since 2007. As of 2016, over 30 private properties stabilized their own shorelines, 5 with the assistance of the Channel Maintenance Fund. 20 private properties have restrictions regarding vegetation and shorelines established through conservation easements.
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: http://bassettcreekwmo.org/document/wmp-plans
For more information contact:
Eric Eckman (City staff) | eeckman@goldenvalleymn.gov | 763-593-8084
Partners:
Lake Crystal -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2017
Implementation details:
The Crystal Waters Project, together with the City of Lake Crystal established a lakeshore restoration plan for Robinson Park. This was completed in two phases. The first phase included about 2000 feet of lakeshore stabilization and native species along an abandoned beach. This portion of the plan was completed in the spring of 2017, with a city crew grading the site and students from LCWM High School and community volunteers doing the site preparation and planting. Phase two set included another 6,000 square feet of native plants, with an emphasis on pollinator-friendly species. Community members, under the direction of Blazing Star Gardens, did this planting. Interpretive signs explaining the importance of shoreline restoration, water quality and pollinator gardens were added near these plantings. Members of the local Girl Scout Troop, community volunteers and Blazing Star Gardens are responsible for maintaining the vegetation.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Phase 1: $2500 anonymous donor, $2,500 Crystal Waters Project, $5,000 City of Lake Crystal
Phase 2: $10,000 Crystal Waters Project, $3,000 Riordan Family Trust (educational signage)
Phase 2: $10,000 Crystal Waters Project, $3,000 Riordan Family Trust (educational signage)
Descriptive File: view file
Descriptive links: www.crystalwatersproject.org
For more information contact:
Gina Cooper (Elected Official) | cptcooper@msn.com | 507-382-7276
Partners: Crystal Waters Project, Lake Crystal Parks and Recreation Committee, Blazing Star Gardens, Riordan Family Trust and the City of Lake Crystal
New Hope -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2014
Implementation details:
The city partnered with the Meadow Lake Watershed Association to start the Adopt A Plot Native Plant Restoration Program in 2014 (Improvement Project No. 933). The goal of the public service program is for community volunteers to restore native plants, trees, and shrubs along the shoreline in Meadow Lake Park. It allows environmentally conscious citizens to make a personal contribution to improving water quality and creating a healthier environment. The watershed manages the program and the city provides assistance in community awareness, preparing parkland plots, and providing materials such as native plants, mulch, and fencing.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
As of April 2014, 6 plots had been spoken for by volunteers.
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Jeff Alger (City Staff) | jalger@newhopemn.gov | 763-531-5119
Partners:
Saint Paul -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
Shoreland restorations have been implemented on Como Lake and Phalen Lake. Also at ponds in Phalen Golf Course and all the City golf courses.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Partners:
Arden Hills -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2017
Implementation details:
The City partners with the Ramsey County Conservation District and Rice Creek Watershed District on existing programs available to Arden Hills residents that help restore shoreland areas.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Mike Mrosla (City staff) | mmrosla@cityofardenhills.org | 6517927822
Partners:
Coon Rapids -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2020
Implementation details:
The Anoka Conversation District has been working with certain Coon Rapids properties along the Mississippi River to assist with bank erosion issues and meeting revegetation standards.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Olivia Dorow Hovland (City Staff) | odorowhovland@coonrapidsmn.gov | 763-767-6458
Partners:
Detroit Lakes -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2021
Implementation details:
PRWD has a grant program for shoreline revegetation
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Kelcey Klemm (City Staff) | kklemm@cityofdetroitlakes.com | 2188475658
Partners:
Greenstep Advisor
Daniel Petrik, Land Use Specialist, MN Dept. of Natural Resources: 651/259-5697, Daniel.Petrik@state.mn.us