Restore Your Shore

Restoration Resources

With shoreline development at an all time high, natural shorelines are becoming a scarce resource in northern Wisconsin. In the last ten years, annual building permits in Burnett County have increased by seventy percent. A recent survey estimated that only about thirty percent of the county's shoreline parcels have an adequate natural buffer. There are many compelling reasons to reverse this trend:

Keep the water clean

A thick cover of vegetation and an intact duff layer of leaves and pine needles serve to slow water flow allowing runoff water to soak into the soil or be filtered by the vegetation. The deep roots of native grasses and shrubs help to hold soil in place. Soil carries nutrients, which are better kept on your shore than in the lake, where they can fuel algae growth.

Provide a home

Diverse mixtures of native trees, shrubs, and groundcover are important for the creatures that make their homes near the water. Trees and shrubs along the water's edge provide shade for fish and places for shoreline birds to nest and find food. Plants in the water and near the shore provide cover for fish, frogs, salamanders, turtles, and the aquatic insects that feed them.

Think about how your waterfront experience is enhanced by the sight of a loon or heron on the water, a turtle sunning itself on a log, or the call of a frog at dusk. All of these creatures depend on vegetation near the shore.

Create natural beauty

Buffers of natural vegetation screen views to and from the lake and create a wonderful sense of privacy. Take a look at your property from the water. Does it create the northwoods atmosphere you were looking for when you bought property here?

Do Your Part

Many landowners are deciding to voluntarily restore shoreline buffers. These landowners and their human and animal neighbors will be reaping the benefits for years to come. Financial incentives are available to help landowners pay for plants, materials, and labor to install shoreline buffers. Additional incentives are available when you agree to permanently protect your shoreline. Call the Land and Water Conservation Department for details.

Burnett County Shoreline Buffer Restoration

Burnett County requires that a natural zone of vegetation at least 35 feet deep be left intact next to the water. However, on many shoreline parcels, the protective zone of vegetation has been removed or greatly altered. To help mitigate the impacts that occur when structures closer than the allowed setbacks are enlarged or altered, the buffer zone must be reestablished.

Restoration Resources

Web Sites

Plant Identification and Photos

http://wiscinfo.doit.wisc.edu/herbarium/
Vascular Plants of Wisconsin is produced by the Herbarium, Department of Botany, UW-Madison. This is probably the best and most complete site for Wisconsin plants. Search by scientific name, habitat type, status, county, family, genera, or common name. The results give a detailed description of the plant and most have a photo and distribution map. Also available is a link to the Atlas of Wisconsin Prairie and Savanna Flora, and a key to WI conifers and rare lichens of WI.

http://biology.uwsp.edu/idtest/home.htm
Common Plants of Wisconsin was developed by UW-Stevens Point. The program will help to identify more than 200 species of plants found in Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest. Search by a key word or phrase. The results give photographs, detailed life history, distribution, and occurrence. A highlight of the site is a plant identification quiz that can be modified to a variety of skill levels. This site is a macromedia product and requires a free program called Authorware Web Player (link on the site).

http://www.klines.org/joanne/
Wisconsin Plant of the Week developed by a WI DNR employee. The features provide excellent photos of the plant as well as a detailed life history. The archive of past-featured plants is listed by scientific name.

http://plants.usda.gov
Search for plants found throughout the United States by common or scientific name. The search produces photos, life history, and range maps. Another feature lists literature references specific to the plant. Sponsored by the USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service.

http://www.wssa.net (go to plant photos)
Weed Science Society of America developed this web site. The Photo Herbarium includes over 200 common American herbs, plants, and weeds. The photos are listed alphabetically by common name. You can choose from either high or low-resolution photos. This site also has information on invasive plants.

Sources of Native Plants

http://clean-water.uwex.edu/pubs/native/index.html
Wisconsin Native Plant Sources is a .PDF of a publication developed by the UW-Extension. The publication lists nurseries in Wisconsin and surrounding states and the type of native plants they carry.

Available from Burnett County Land and Water Conservation Department

The Living Shore

Shoreland Restoration: A Growing Solution.

Shoreline Buffer Restoration - A Guide for Landowners

A Guide for Developing and Managing Shoreland in Burnett County

Burnett County Natural Shorelines Program

For Additional Assistance

The Burnett County Land and Water Conservation Department offers technical and financial assistance for shoreline buffer restoration. Call the office to get advice about plants, shrubs, and trees appropriate for your property and directions on how to get them established. Native plant identification guides are also available to borrow.

To Reach Us

Burnett County Land and Water Conservation Department
7410 County Road K, #109
Siren, WI 54872
715-349-2186

Email

lwcd@burnettcounty.org