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Shoreland Stewardship Scorecard
Shoreland Best Management Practices
Number 17 of 18 in the Series |
What Are Shoreland BMPs?
Best Management Practices (BMPs) are actions you can take to reduce your impact on the environment. BMPs have been described for agriculture, forest management, and construction. This fact sheet describes BMPs you can adopt on your shoreland property to help protect and preserve water quality. In many cases, the best management for shorelands may be retaining the natural characteristics of your property.
This fact sheet summarizes BMPs from the
entire series. Check off practices as YOU
adopt them and measure your success
as a shoreland steward.
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Practices to Adopt
Maintaining Your Septic System/Conserving Water
______ Repair leaking pipes and dripping faucets
______ Install low-flow showerheads/low-flush toilets
______ Eliminate use of garbage disposal
______ Wash only full loads-dishes and laundry
______ Switch to liquid laundry detergent
______ Pump septic tank through manhole instead of inspection port
______ Pump septic tank annually
______ Other, what?___________________________
Ensure Safe Drinking Water Supply
______ Test water every two years
______ Disinfect well and plumbing after maintenance
______ Identify location, type, and depth of well
______ Properly seal well that is no longer used
______ Evaluate the condition of wellhead and improve if needed
______ Other, what?___________________________
Limiting Recreational Impact on Water Quality
______ Stop washing dishes, laundry, self in lake while camping
______ Move fuel from nearshore location to secure site away from shore
______ Properly dispose of wastewater when boating and ice fishing
______ Eliminate greywater lines from sauna to lake or river
______ Realign dock to permit better water flow; minimize shoreline alteration when installing new dock
______ Observe dates regulating off-road traffic in the spring
______ Make a conscious effort to avoid erosion problems from off-road recreation
______ Contact DNR before trying to remove aquatic vegetation
______ Quit using soap or shampoo in the water
______ Inspect boats and equipment before taking them to another water body
______ Preserve aquatic vegetation in developing new property
______ Develop a beach site with minimal shoreline alteration
______ Adjust speed to reduce wake and minimize wave damage to shore
______ Consider existing natural characteristics of property before designing shoreland development
______ Other, what?_____________________________
Developing Shoreland Landscapes/Construction
______ Develop a site plan before beginning construction or landscaping
______ Develop a site plan to improve the landscape
______ Re-establish or preserve a filter strip along the shore
______ Minimize disturbance of plants and trees during construction
______ Plant native trees and shrubs
______ Carefully plan new roads and accesses
______ Install "water bars" to slow runoff along roads and paths
______ Protect trees during construction
______ Plan construction in stages to minimize runoff and erosion of uncovered soil
______ Other, what?_____________________________
Stabilizing Shoreline to Prevent Erosion
______ Retain moisture-absorbing vegetation along bluffs
______ Move heavy loads back away from bluffs
______ Retain ice ridges along the shore
______ Install erosion control structure; improve shoreline protection
______ Divert water away from top of bluff
______ Other, what?_______________________________
Minimizing Runoff from Shoreland Property
______ Reduce paved or covered areas
______ Use gravel instead of paving driveways
______ Limit clearing and grading on slopes
______ Locate new driveways, walks, and footpaths away from slopes
______ Relocate footpaths and walkways to less steep areas; install steps on paths cutting up and down hillsides
______ Use erosion control structures during construction and landscaping
______ Install rain gutters along edge of rooftops and keep them free of debris to drain properly
______ Keep rooftops free of snow and ice buildup
______ Replace solid concrete patios with wood or paving stones to minimize runoff
______ Sweep driveways and walks instead of washing them down with water
______ Other, what?_______________________________
Caring for Lawns and Gardens
______ Test soil to determine plant nutrients needed before applying fertilizer to lawn and garden
______ Use compost or manure in recommended amounts instead of chemical fertilizer
______ Use extra caution when spreading fertilizer near surface water; do not spread within 75 feet of water or wetland
______ Retain a natural vegetation filter strip of grass, trees, and shrubs next to shoreline
______ Obtain proper identification of pest before applying any pesticide (for weeds, insects, mold, etc.)
______ Follow recommendations for low-maintenance guidelines in fertilizing grass
______ Use slow-release form of nitrogen in fertilizing
______ Locate new garden or relocate old garden on level site, and avoid planting in septic drainfield
______ Prevent yard waste from reaching the water
______ Other, what?_______________________________
Managing Your Shoreland Woodlot
______ Establish filter strip between shoreline and area being managed
______ Develop a plan, including a detailed map, before beginning management activity
______ Install roads in locations with lowest slope
______ Use barriers to prevent erosion during road building; mulch and seed exposed soil
______ Contact DNR Division of Waters to see if a protected water permit is needed
______ Use properly sized culverts or bridges to cross stream at 90° angle
______ Design roads for maximum cross drainage to minimize downroad flow
______ Close all temporary roads to prevent unwanted use
______ Locate landings outside filter strips and away from low, poorly drained areas
______ Time harvest appropriately
______ Properly dispose of slash away from wetland areas
______ Do not conduct mechanical site preparation during periods of saturated soil conditions
______ Deposit residue from mechanical site preparation in upland areas
______ Create slash piles that do not interfere with natural drainage
______ Other, what?__________________________________
Valuing Your Shoreland Trees
______ Plan development of property to save existing vegetation
______ Use filter strips adjacent to shoreline to minimize runoff to water
______ Contact local zoning office for filter strip requirements before developing new area
______ Contact local zoning office for information on thinning trees in shoreland area
______ Protect existing trees during site development
______ Check for and treat pests and diseases on trees and shrubs
______ Water trees during times of low rainfall or after planting
______ Use a variety of native species in new plantings
______ Rake leaves and vegetative debris away from the water
______ Use lake water to water trees, shrubs, and lawn
______ Other, what?___________________________________
Preserving Wetlands
______ Preserve existing drainageways during land alterations
______ Avoid filling or draining any wetlands during land alteration
______ Avoid diverting storm water to any wetland
______ Do not use wetland as a dumping ground
______ Establish boardwalks to avoid compacting wetland areas
______ Preserve unique wetland vegetation for habitat
______ Correctly identify a wetland area before beginning land alteration
______ Contact the SWCD for assistance in determining wetland boundaries
______ Other, what?___________________________________
Managing Crops and Animals Near Shorelands
______ Follow pesticide labels when used
______ Prevent runoff from feedlots or manure storage from entering surface waters
______ Divert water from manure storage or feedlot away from shoreland
______ Control soil erosion by adopting crop rotation or seeding critical areas to grass
Reducing the Use of Hazardous Household Products
______ Change buying habits to purchase fewer products that might become hazardous household waste
______ Learn what the safety information and signal words on product labels mean
______ Carefully follow label instructions for use and storage of all household products
______ Properly dispose of banned or unusable pesticides
______ Move paints and pesticides from unheated buildings to an area where they will not freeze and become waste
______ Recycle used motor oil and dispose of antifreeze and other automotive fluids properly
______ Recycle button batteries
______ Purchase alkaline or rechargeable batteries
______ Take hazardous household products such as paint, solvents, thermometers, and other mercury-containing products to a designated collection site
Preventing Introduction of Exotics
______ Learn to identify exotic species
______ Learn whom to contact if exotic species are found or suspected
______ Help educate other people about preventing the spread of exotics
______ Always drain livewells, bilge water, and transom wells before leaving a boat landing
______ Always empty bait buckets on land, never in the water
______ Never dip bait buckets into a lake when they contain water from another lake
______ Never dump live fish from one water body into another
______ Wash boat, tackle, downriggers, and trailer with hot water between uses on different water bodies
______ Flush hot water through motor's cooling system and other boat parts that come in contact with lake water between uses
______ Let boat and equipment dry for five days before transporting boat to another body of water
______ Other, what?_________________________________
Accessing Water Quality Information
______ Call a state agency's regional office for technical assistance
______ Contact a local agency to get questions answered or to apply for a permit
How good a shoreland steward
are YOU?
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If you checked off
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You're...
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| More than 80 BMPs | | Awesome |
| 60-80 BMPs | | Doing a great job |
| 40-59 BMPs | | Well on your way |
| 25-39 BMPs | | Starting off right |
| 11-24 BMPs | | Behind the times |
| 1-10 BMPs | | Get Started Today! |
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Part of a series. . .
This fact sheet is one of a series designed to assist shoreland property owners in protecting and preserving water quality. The series includes:
- Understanding Shoreland BMPs
- Maintaining Your Shoreland Septic System
- Installing a Shoreland Septic System
- Ensuring a Safe Water Supply
- Limiting Impact of Recreation on Water Quality
- Developing Shoreland Landscapes and Construction Activities
- Stabilizing Your Shoreline to Prevent Erosion
- Minimizing Runoff from Shoreland Property
- Caring for Shoreland Lawns and Gardens
- Managing Your Shoreland Woodlot
- Valuing Your Shoreland Trees
- Preserving Wetlands
- Managing Crops and Animals Near Shorelands
- Reducing the Use of Hazardous Household Products
- Preventing the Introduction of Exotic Species
- Accessing Information to Protect Water Quality
- Shoreland Stewardship Scorecard
- Conserving Water
- Property Management System form
- Septic System Information form
This series of fact sheets is a cooperative effort of the following agencies:
University of Minnesota Extension Service, University of Minnesota
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 Services
Environmental Protection Agency
Western Lake Superior Sanitary Districtbr
These publications may be photocopied for local distribution. The addition of commercial names, products, or identifiers is not permitted. please do not add or delete any text material without contacting:
You may add information about contact persons or regulations specific to your county, region, or lake association.
University of Minnesota Extension Store
20 Coffey Hall 1420 Eckles Ave St Paul, MN 55108-6069 612-625-8173
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.
Next Section: #18 Conserving Water
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