Research and Demonstrations
Our shoreland research spans many issues from shoreland restoration, rain gardens,volunteers monitoring surface water for bacteria and Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). Work on AIS includes Habitattitude™ and Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers™ campaigns and research and materials designed to prevent the spread of AIS through water gardening.
Shoreland Restoration
Preserving or restoring a buffer of native vegetation along a shoreline is one simple and direct method of protecting Minnesota’s lakes and rivers. This native plant buffer can reduce harmful run-off, protect a shoreline from erosion, and support numerous species of wildlife.
Since 1997, when a University of Minnesota shoreland restoration research project was implemented on Big Sandy Lake by Dr. Susan Galatowitsch, numerous river and lake shores have been restored statewide under the guidance of the University of Minnesota Extension Shoreland Education Program.
Many of these projects were installed by Extension’s shoreland workshop participants, shoreland property owners, high school science students, gardening and other community organization members, and natural resource professionals who wanted to learn the restoration process through hands-on experience.
Other projects were designed to address specific erosion and other water quality issues through research. These research projects were accomplished through the cooperation of several agencies and citizen volunteers.
Several of these shoreland restoration demonstration and research projects are highlighted in the following pages. Photos and detailed information about each project are included. All projects are accessible for viewing via the adjacent public water body. While some projects were installed on public property, and can also be accessed by land, many projects were installed on private property. Please respect the privacy of these property owners and view only from the water unless otherwise indicated in the project description.
List of Projects
