Shoreland Management

Protecting Long Lake’s Shorelines

Long Lake shoreland management starts with healthy shorelines. Natural vegetation and other lake-friendly practices can reduce erosion and runoff, filter nutrients and sediment before they reach the lake, and provide important habitat for fish and wildlife.

Want to make your property more lake-friendly? Visit the Long Lake Stewardship Program to assess your property, learn about shoreline practices, and request a complimentary shoreline visit.

Before making changes to your shoreline property:

Check with Hubbard County Environmental Services and review the Shoreland Ordinance first.

LLAA does not make land-use or permitting decisions. Hubbard County Environmental Services administers shoreland regulations and permits for properties around Long Lake.

Hubbard County regulates and issues permits for:

  • Shoreland Management
  • Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems (SSTS)
  • Shoreland Buffers

Hubbard County Resources:

Lake-Friendly Gardening

Helpful resources for creating lake-friendly landscapes:

For ideas on plants to order, see the “Gardening Lake Friendly” presentation by Keith Manlove from the LLAA 2020 Annual Meeting.: Link to video of Keith’s presentation. 

The “Lawns & Lakes – There is a Connection!” workshop explains how lawn and landscaping practices affect water quality and offers practical ways homeowners can reduce runoff and protect the lake.

Slide Presentation

Resources

Native plants and natural vegetation can help reduce runoff while providing habitat for pollinators and wildlife.

Everyday Practices That Protect Long Lake

Protecting the lake involves more than the shoreline itself. How property is managed farther uphill can also affect runoff, erosion, water quality, and habitat.

Protect Slopes and Shorelines

  • Maintain native vegetation on slopes and bluffs.
  • Keep at least a 10-foot buffer of native vegetation at the top of a bluff, as recommended by the DNR.
  • Maintain a 25-foot or wider unmowed buffer along the shoreline where possible, as recommended by the DNR.

Reduce Runoff and Erosion

  • Preserve native trees, shrubs, and ground cover.
  • Minimize pavement and turf..
  • Use rain gardens to capture runoff from roofs, driveways, and lawns.

Protect Aquatic Habitat

  • Maintain aquatic vegetation.
  • Protect native aquatic vegetation and, when practical and permitted, leave fallen trees and branches in the water.
  • Provide habitat for fish and other aquatic life.

Manage Your Property Responsibly

  • Maintain septic systems regularly.
  • When fertilizer is needed, use phosphorus-free fertilizer (P=0) and avoid applying it where it can wash into the lake.
  • Pick up pet waste.
  • Keep fire pits away from the shoreline and dispose of ash properly.

Aquatic Plants Are Part of a Healthy Lake

Native aquatic plants are an important part of a healthy lake ecosystem. They help stabilize lake-bottom sediments, absorb nutrients, provide habitat for fish and other aquatic life, and can help protect water quality.

While aquatic vegetation can sometimes interfere with swimming or boating, removing too much native vegetation can have unintended consequences. Before removing aquatic vegetation, remember that native plants play an important role in a healthy lake, and check current Minnesota DNR requirements for aquatic plant management.

Learn more:
• MPR News: Many Minnesotans don’t value aquatic plants. The state’s lakes are paying a price
• Minnesota DNR: Aquatic Plant Management

Vegetation incorporated along a riprap shoreline can provide additional habitat and shoreline benefits.

Considering Riprap for Shoreline Protection?

Riprap is sometimes used to protect shorelines from erosion caused by waves, runoff, and ice action, but it is not the best solution for every property. Rock can reflect wave energy, reduce shoreline habitat, and does not filter runoff before it enters the lake.

Natural vegetation, shoreline buffers, and other restoration techniques can often provide erosion protection while also improving water quality and wildlife habitat. In some situations, riprap may still be appropriate as part of a properly designed shoreline stabilization project.

Already have riprap? Existing riprap can often be made more lake-friendly by adding native vegetation. Minnesota DNR resources provide guidance for incorporating perennial plants, trees, and shrubs into shoreline areas, including naturalizing existing riprap. Native plants can add habitat, help filter runoff, and create a more natural transition between the land and water.

Before installing, altering, or planting within riprap, check Hubbard County requirements and consult current Minnesota DNR guidance.

Need help with a shoreline project? The Hubbard County Soil & Water Conservation District (HCSWCD) can provide technical assistance for conservation projects, and cost-share funding may be available for eligible practices such as shoreline buffers and restoration.

Additional Resources

Shoreland Stewardship in Action

A Long Lake family in Neighborhood 2 addressed runoff from their driveway and hillside with a catch basin and two levels of rain gardens. The system captures rainwater, sediment, organic matter, and nutrients before they can flow directly into the lake.

Shoreland Management - Rain Garden
This rain garden catch basin was installed by a family in Neighborhood 2. The basin collects and filters runoff water, allowing it to slowly infiltrate into the ground instead of flowing directly into the lake with sediment, organic matter, and nutrients.

Ready to Improve Your Shoreline?

Visit the Long Lake Stewardship Program to learn about lake-friendly practices and request a complimentary shoreline visit.

VISIT THE LONG LAKE STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM