03-16-1998 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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t ■ AquascapingpurcIiasL’d from luirserios or grown at the University of Minnesota from seed collected from the Hig Sandy area, we'e transplanted onto the four demonstration properties. According to Carrol Henderson, DNR Nongame Wildlife Program supervisor, a multitude of benefits accrue from lakeshore planting. "The concept of putting in a buffer zone and re-establishing native plants both on shore and in the water is kind of a package di*al," he says. "All of a sudden a whole bunch of headaches go away at the same time. You're spending less time mowing and less money on chemicals and fertilizer, and you've got more time to go fishing or canoeing on the lake. I he ultimate goal is to get the vegetation back where it used to be so that the vege tation does the work lor you: puri fies the water, provides fish habitat, and breaks up the wave action." The Big Sandy project aims to demonstrate that a naturalized shoreline minimizes erosion, pro tects water quality, enh.iiKvs wild life habitat, improves aesthetics, and reduces maintenance. Although plantings will require years to mature and spread, participants have already learned a great deal about shoreline revegetalion. Mean while, lake associations across the state are fielding questions from lakeshore owners interested in natu ralizing their properties. "If you're interested in doing this 34 kind of work, we're interested in coming up with ways to support you," savs Pitt, "but you're prob ably still going to be a pioneer because there's a lot we don't know. You have to consider it an adven ture in gardening." Here's a look at the most fre quently asked questions and the resptmses of various experts. • How do I plan a naturalized landscape? Ferry Ebinger, DNR aquatic plant management specialist, encourages lakeshore owners to con- ttict their local DNR office, especially when they want to replace plants in the water. "We'll help them locale Aquascaping Do's • Maintain a natural shoreline or restore an altered one. • Include a three-story, native plant buffer /one at least 15 to 25 feet wide. • Add native trees to help stem runoff, reduce erosion, frame or edit views, and provide habitat for wildlife.------------------ • Plant native grasses and wildflowers instead of high- maintcnanco lawns ______________ • Cultivate aquatic plants to stabilize shoreline and make a home for more aquatic wildlife___ • Clear no more than 25 percent of shoreline for boat dod^ or beaches.^^—_______' Ifff MlWf SOTA ViUUVrUK transplants. We'll help them locate Sites for re-establisl'iment/' he says. "In tact, sometimes w e* 11 even assist them in piittinj; the plants in. We make it as easy on people as we pos sibly can." Seek out other landowners who ave restored shoreline on vour lake. ¥ Also look for people who have not disturbed the natural stale of their lake lot. Attend a lake association meeting or contact the IJN’K for a list of people who have naturalized their sliorelines. Visit Big Sandy near McGregor to see native plantings. (Call the Aitkin County extension office for directions.) frontage try naturalizing 75 feet of shore and using the remaining 25 feel tor lake access, such as a boat dock or swimming area. When you remove vegetation trom the water to make way for recreation, landscape designer Kathryn McFadden recommends clearing a path through aquatic plants at an angle so that plants remaining will help break the waves coming into the shoreline. To reduce erosion, she avoids designing trails to run straight downhill to the shore. Instead, she runs trails so they angle across the slope to the shoreline. That might f i-- u ^___ «I. t I i rt IT lU.t ;■ . r •' ■ ‘I ' i; 5*: ilii ^ ^M ^ Y . M ^