Many lakeshore property owners buy their lots because they enjoy nature, and then unknowingly harm shorelines by replacing natural vegetation with lawns, clearing brush and trees, importing sand to make artificial beaches, and installing structures.

Clearing of trees and vegetation

In addition to removing essential habitat for fish and wildlife, clearing native vegetation can open up opportunities for invasive species to take over. Water plants such as bulrushes, cattails, and coontail soften the erosive effects of waves along shores and help filter pollutants before they enter our lakes. A mowed lawn sends rain runoff carrying fertilizers, pet waste, and lawn clippings into the water. Manicured lawns also attract nuisance wildlife, such as geese.

Trees and brush are important for lakes. When they are living on the shore, they help slow down runoff (reducing erosion) and allow water to infiltrate into the ground (recharging groundwater). Trees that have fallen into the lake are an important source of nutrients and minerals for our lakes, help protect shorelines from erosion, and provide critical habitat for fish and wildlife.

Learn more about restoring your shoreline

Changing shoreline habitat

Dramatic changes to shorelines, such as draining or filling important shoreland wetlands, and more subtle changes such as adding sand to create a beach or installing piers can impact our lake's shorelines.

Lake bottoms can be made of a variety of materials—muck, rocks and boulders, sand or gravel. Different types of lake bottoms support fish and other species. Dumping sand—the least productive type of lake bottom material—into lakes to create beaches can cover and destroy fish spawning grounds, cloud water, and change the balance of the lake.

Piers can shade out plants, which are important habitat for fish, and can "break" contiguous shoreland habitat. In addition to shading plants underneath the pier, property owners often must clear additional plants away from their pier in order to launch boats. Installing one reasonably sized pier will not significantly affect the health of the lake, however the cumulative effect of installing many piers may impact shoreland habitat and overall lake quality.