Natural Shorelines

The video includes two presentations on natural lake shorelines given during the 2020 Michigan Inland Lakes Convention. 

(00:00) Michigan inland lakes shorelines: The good, the bad, and the ugly. Ralph Bednarz, Retired from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (now EGLE)

Inland lake shorelines have been under increasing developmental pressure since the boom of the cottage industry in Michigan post-World War II. The transition from seasonal cottages to part-time second homes, as well as full-time residential homes, over the last seventy years has accelerated the transformation of natural to developed shorelines on Michigan inland lakes. When lakeshore lots are developed native trees, shrubs, and natural ground cover are typically replaced by lawns. Native aquatic plants and coarse woody habitat are also removed from the shoreline and in the lake. The loss of natural shorelines and shore-lands is the biggest threat to the overall health of Michigan inland lakes. This study incorporates lake shoreline survey techniques to assess the status of the shoreline of a representative northern Michigan lake and compares the results to lake shoreline assessment surveys from across the State. The importance of statewide education and outreach programs and local government controls for lake shoreline and shore-land protection are also discussed.

(28:10) Are you a Shoreland Steward? Julia Kirkwood, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy & Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership

Protecting a lake is more than picking up pet waste and not using phosphorus-based fertilizer. So what else can you do? Come learn about MI's online Shoreland Stewards survey and how you can use it to assess your lakefront property management practices. The survey asks questions related to management practices in each of the four sections of a shoreland property: upland, buffer, shoreline, and lake. See if your property qualifies for a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Level and if not then how you can use the survey results to make some changes.