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  WW-06946     Reviewed 2008     

logo image 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.



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?

If you checked off        You're...
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!


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:

  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

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.

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