Sensitive Lakeshore Identification
Paul Radomski, Project Manager - paul.radomski@dnr.state.mn.us
1601 Minnesota Drive
Brainerd, MN 56401
tel. (218) 833-8643
Survey Team:
Donna Perleberg, Aquatic Plant Ecologist
Pam Perry, Nongame Wildlife Lake Biologist
Kristin Thompson, Nongame Wildlife Biologist
Kevin Woizeschke, Nongame Wildlife
Project purpose (summary)
This is a cooperative project between Cass County and the Minnesota DNR. The goal of the project is to identify areas along lakeshores that provide unique or critical ecological habitat. Once those areas are identified, local and state resource managers will use the information to help ensure that sensitive habitats are receiving sufficient protection.
Minnesota's recently developed Alternative Shoreland Management Standards provide several tools for local governments to protect water quality. One of the key tools in the new standards is a process th
at allows local units of government to increase the protection of ecologically sensitive shoreland. Areas that are identified as sensitive, such as sections of shoreline, whole bays, or whole lakes, can be put into a more protective zoning category (e.g., local governments can reclassify a natural environment class to a special protection class). Lakes that would benefit the most with the application of this innovative tool are some of Minnesota's most valuable lakes—large lakes with significant undeveloped shorelands.
Cass County and the DNR are working together on a pilot effort to test this new tool. The DNR established objective, science-based criteria to identify sensitive shoreland parcels on seventeen large lakes that Cass County identified as high priority sites (e.g., Ten Mile, Woman, and Leech). These lakes represent some of the county's largest and most valuable waters. These lakes also contain extensive areas of undeveloped shoreland and are excellent locations to test the capabilities of this new shoreland tool.
Once the DNR's sensitive shoreland assessment surveys are finalized, Cass County plans to use the information to evaluate whether its current zoning codes sufficient protect those sensitive areas. The county may implement sensitive shoreland area zoning in certain areas to enhance water quality and near-shore habitat protection.
Background information
Sensitive areas are places that provide unique or critical ecological habitat. These areas along the shore or in near-shore areas of the lake are crucial to the health and well-being of fish, wildlife, and native plants. Many fish and wildlife species, including many species of greatest conservation need, are highly dependent on naturally vegetated shorelines as habitat for feeding, resting, and mating and juvenile life stages. Development and land alteration in the immediate shoreland and on the shoreline may have significant negative impacts on these species. Shoreland zoning ordinances, implemented by local units of government, regulate development activities and can help minimize impacts.
Procedures
The sensitive lakeshore protocols being tested by the DNR consist of three components: field surveying lakeshores to assess habitat quality and use by high priority animal species, developing an ecological model that objectively incorporates various field assessments into a sensitivity index (see map above), and compiling and delivering information on sensitive lakeshores to various land and resource managers. This is the same general approach used by the Minnesota County Biological Survey.
Project Partners
Cass County, Environmental Services Department
Leech Lake Reservation, Division of Resource Management
Funding
Funding for this effort was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), and by the State Wildlife Grants program, Grant # T-10-R-1, administered by US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Products
Minnesota's Sensitive Lakeshore Identification Manual
This 66-page manual provides an introduction to sensitive lakeshores. It is a tool for researchers and managers interested in surveying aquatic vegetation, near-shore fish and frogs, and shoreland birds. It also includes information on ecological models used to delineate sensitive lakeshores. This manual also includes a chapter for citizen groups interested in assessing lakeshore conditions.
Minnesota's Sensitive Lakeshore Identification Manual (1.6 Mb) 
Sensitive Lakeshore Reports for Individual Lakes
- Ten Mile Lake (2.2 Mb)
- Woman Lake (2.2 Mb)
