Minnesota's love affair with its lakes runs deep, as these bodies of water hold a special place in the hearts of its residents. We strive to provide learning opportunities, resources and programs to those who own lakeshore property as they provide a critical role to helping protect lake health and lake ecosystems.

Learn more about available programs and resources below. Check our events calendar to see upcoming learning opportunities.

Contact Barbara Heitkamp, shared water resources educator, for more information.

Available Programs and Resources

Your local lake

• Looking for detailed information about most Minnesota lakes? Use Lake Finder (on desktop and mobile).

• Interested a snapshot picture of your lake’s health? Use the Watershed Health Assessment Framework: Lakes.

• Find out if your lake is listed on the Minnesota impaired waters list.. Minnesota MPCA impaired waters map - www.pca.state.mn.us/water/impaired-waters-viewer-iwav

• Interested in what shoreland development standards apply to your lake? Look up your lake’s shoreland classification.

Your shoreline

Assessing shoreline health

Interested in learning how well your shoreline protects lake health and supports the lake ecosystem? Use the tools below to evaluate your shoreline.      

• Minnesota’s Vanishing Natural Shorelines: A Loss that Contributes to Degraded Lake Quality (MN Natural Shoreline Partnership)

• MN DNR Score your Shore Program

• MN DNR Restore Your Shore

• Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates Lake Steward Program (for MNLRA lake association members)

Altering your shoreline

• Want to install a dock or beach? Check out this MN DNR resource with information sheets about common shoreline alterations.

• Interested in hiring somebody for your project? Check out this guidance of what questions to ask any landscape contractor.

• Recent workshop recordings:

  • Protect Your Shore (4-18-23) Recording

  • Restore Your Shore (5-8-23) Recording

permits

• Wondering if your shoreline project may require a Minnesota DNR Public waters work permit? Check out: www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/watermgmt_section/pwpermits/requirements.html

• Looking to manage aquatic plants along your shore? See if you need a permit: www.dnr.state.mn.us/shorelandmgmt/apg/permits.html

• All shoreline projects need to follow local rules and ordinances! Check with your local Watershed District, Soil and Water Conservation District, or Zoning Administrator to make sure you do not need a permit for your project.

Local government jurisdictions

Watershed Districts and your county Soil and Water Conservation District can provide technical and potential financial assistance with shoreline projects. They can also help you determine whether your project will likely require any permits. Visit our partners page for links to Watershed Districts and SWCDs in the Lower St. Croix Watershed.

Other Resources

• For the Lake’s Sake: A how-to guide on project maintenance

• Native plant nurseries and landscapers

• Blue Thumb – www.bluethumb.org   **Plant selector tool; native plant suppliers and contractors; workshops and events; info on pollinator gardens, raingardens, shoreline plantings and turf alternatives

• East Metro Water Education Program

• Planting for clean water: www.mnwcd.org/planting-for-clean-water

• Lawn Care: www.mnwcd.org/lawn-care

• Click to sign up for our e-newsletter for lake associations and shoreline property owners, delivered 4-6 times per year

Have you played our water pollution mystery game? See who the perpetrator is.