Shoreline Habitat Restoration in Minnesota: Evolution of a Restored Site and the Use of Wood to Enhance near Shore Aquatic Habitat

Undeveloped, natural shorelines are important for the protection of water quality and have long been recognized as valuable habitat for fish and wildlife species.  Development of shorelines on lakes and rivers results in the loss of upland buffers and subsequent removal of aquatic vegetation and wood.  Programs to encourage shoreline landowners to restore native buffers have been implemented in Minnesota for nearly 15 years.  The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has been partnering with landowners, conservation organizations and local governments to restore shoreline habitat, expand the diversity and abundance of native aquatic plants, improve and protect quality shoreline habitat, and enhance and protect water quality.  Since 1998, MNDNR has helped restore native shoreland buffers on over 340 sites, comprising 112,000 linear feet and over 90 acres of shoreland habitat.  The presentation will describe the process of restoring native shoreline buffers on lakeshores, show the evolution of a restored site over 12 years, and demonstrate how wood can be used in restoration projects to enhance aquatic habitat along shorelines.