Shoreland Best Management Practices

Copyright ©  2002  Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

The fact sheets in this folder are a series designed to assist shoreland property owners to protect and preserve water quality. Additional fact sheets may be added at a later date.

1. Understanding Shoreland BMPs
2. Maintaining Your Shoreland Septic System
3. Installing a Shoreland Septic System
4. Ensuring a Safe Water Supply
5. Limiting Impact of Recreation on Water Quality
6. Developing Shoreland Landscapes and Construction Activities
7. Stabilizing Your Shoreline to Prevent Erosion
8. Minimizing Runoff from Shoreland Property
9. Caring for Shoreland Lawns and Gardens
10. Managing Your Shoreland Woodlot
11. Valuing Your Shoreland Trees
12. Preserving Wetlands
13. Managing Crops and Animals Near Shorelands
14. Reducing the Use of Hazardous Household Products
15. Preventing the Introduction of Exotic Species
16. Accessing Information to Protect Water Quality
17. Shoreland Stewardship Scorecard
18. Conserving Water
19. Property Management System form
20. Septic System Information form

View complete publication (PDF)

Living on Shorelands

The quality of a lake or river is the result of all of the landuse practices within its watershed. Shoreland residents, recreational users, and even businesses located far from the shore are all stakeholders in its future water quality.

Employ the practices outlined within this folder to better manage your property, and you will be doing your part to pass on Minnesota's precious water resource to future generations.

A Charter for Minnesota Lakes
It shall be Minnesota public policy
to protect, preserve, and enhance its many lakes
as irreplaceable natural assets,
held in trust for future generations,
while encouraging responsible current use
for widely diverse purposes.

- The Minnesota Lake Management Forum
(A statewide group of private citizens and resource professionals committed to improving the quality of Minnesota's lakes)  October 1992

The folder and fact sheets are a cooperative effort of the following agencies in the Arrowhead counties of Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis:

University of Minnesota Extension Service of the Arrowhead counties
College of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota
Water Plan Coordinators of the Arrowhead counties
Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
Minnesota Department of Health
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources,
  Division of Fish and Wildlife, Division of Waters,
  Division of Forestry Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Minnesota Sea Grant Extension Program
Mississippi Headwaters Board
St. Louis County Health Department, Environmental Services Division
Soil and Water Conservation Districts of the Arrowhead counties
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Environmental Protection Agency
Western Lake Superior Sanitary District

The addition of commercial names, products, or identifiers is not permitted. For further information and for additional copies of the folder and factsheets, contact:

Produced by the Arrowhead Water Quality Team, a cooperative effort of Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis counties and state and federal agencies. All publicly funded agencies involved are committed to equal opportunity education, service, and employment.

Produced by Communication and Educational Technology Services, University of Minnesota Extension.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this material is available in alternative formats upon request. Please contact your University of Minnesota Extension office or the Distribution Center at (800) 876-8636.

University of Minnesota Extension is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.