Prior Lake Spring Lake Watershed District
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Posts tagged "lakeshore"

Save your Shoreline! Join June 9 shoreline workshop.

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - May 12, 2021 - News

Is is lake shore disappearing bit by bit every year?

There are solutions that can prevent that loss and improve the water quality of your area! The District is partnering with the Scott SWCD to offer a FREE online webinar to teach you how to manage and improve your property’s shoreline.

Stabilize your Shoreline Workshop (online)

When: Wed, June 9. 6:30-7:30 pm via webinar.

RSVP for this free workshop HERE to receive the Zoom event link.

The workshop is an opportunity to learn how to protect and stabilize the area between your lawn and the lake. Natural Resource Specialist, Meghan Darley, will go over different planting techniques, and give you all the resources you need to begin your restoration process. Information will include free technical assistance to design your project, suppliers of equipment and seed, and take-home information for your reference.

Free technical assistance to help design your project and financial assistance for materials and installation may be available! The workshop is FREE, but registration is required.

View Full Article homeowner, lakeshore, shoreline, workshop

Stabilize your Shoreline Workshop: Listen Online Now

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - June 10, 2020 - News

Did you miss the Stabilize Your Shoreline Workshop? No worries – you can listen to the workshop online here.

Learn how to protect your shoreline from erosion and how keep your lake clean! Workshop is taught by Scott Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) staff. The workshop will cover different planting techniques and give you all the resources you need to begin your restoration process!

Cost-share funding may be available through the Watershed District and the SWCD to help fund your project. Call the Scott SWCD for technical assistance to plan your project or for questions about cost-share funding at 952-492-5425.

View Full Article Cates Lake, Fish Lake, Prior Lake, Spring Lake, cost-share, erosion, habitat, lakeshore, native plants, native shoreline, shoreline, shoreline restoration, shoreline stabilization, webinar, workshop

Shorts Family Stabilizes their Prior Lake Shoreline with Long Roots of Native Plants

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - September 13, 2018 - News, Prior Lake, Spring Lake

Article written by Scott SWCD staff.

Once the water receded after the flooding in 2014, Chris Short went out to survey the damage in his backyard.  It was worse than he expected.  The retaining wall that was installed in 1990 to keep the shoreline in place, was now sitting in a heap on the edge of Prior Lake. The photo at right was taken in August 2016.

The high-water levels during the 2014 flood caused the wall to collapse, leaving the bank completely exposed.  The edge of the lawn that had been against the wall was now breaking off in chunks and falling into the lake.  He knew he needed to take action because the erosion was not going to stop on its own.  Chris did not necessarily like the idea of putting in another retaining wall because the last one failed when it was needed most.

Chris wanted something that would look nice and require minimal maintenance, plus stand up to flooding, wave action, and overland flow.   After asking around to see who could help him with his shoreline, Chris was directed to the Scott Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) in Jordan.  He attended a free shoreline stabilization workshop they held in the fall of 2016 and began to work with Scott SWCD employee Todd Kavitz.

Todd proposed reshaping the shoreline to make it less steep, then planting the area to native plants.  Native plants have very long roots, which make them great shoreline stabilizers because those roots hold the soil in place.  Plus, once established, native plantings have beautiful flowers and are great wildlife habitat.  Chris liked the idea because it would “create a natural setting while helping to clean up Prior Lake.”  The Scott SWCD worked with Chris to create a design for the shoreline that would work for him and fix his erosion problem.

Scott SWCD assisted Chris in applying for cost-share for 75% of the cost of the shoreline stabilization project, which he received.

The cost-share funds were made available by the Prior Lake Spring Lake Watershed District.

Because of the technical and financial help Chris received, he was able to naturally stabilize his shoreline. The photo at left was taken August 2018. The area was regraded and planted to native seeds in June of 2017.  This spring 72 native plant plugs were added near the bottom of the shoreline for additional stabilization.  Native plantings take a few years to get established, and just over a year has passed since Chris seeded his shoreline.  Chris has had to do some work on his shoreline this summer, including clipping the planting down before the weeds in the planting went to seed.  With a few more years of maintenance, the shoreline will become even more beautiful and will continue to stabilize the shoreline for years to come.  For Chris, putting in a native shoreline is worth it because the native plants are good for the lake and he gets to see the flowers in bloom.

If you live on a lake and would like to create a more natural shoreline, contact the Scott SWCD at 952-492-5425.  They can help you design a native shoreline that works for you, and financial assistance may be available.  You can do your part for water quality and beautify your shoreline!

View Full Article Lake, Prior Lake, lakeshore, long roots, native, native plants, restoration, shoreline, stabilize

DNR cautions lakeshore property owners about using hydraulic jets

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - May 31, 2018 - News, Prior Lake, Spring Lake

Minnesota DNR News Release: May 29, 2018

Using hydraulic jets to get rid of “muck” or to uproot aquatic plants in public waters is illegal, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 

“We remind lakeshore property owners that just because you can buy a hydraulic jet does not make them legal to use in all situations,” said Jon Hansen, aquatic plant management consultant. “You may not use them in any way that disturbs the lake bottom or destroys rooted aquatic plants,”

Aquatic plants help keep water clean and fish populations healthy. Misusing hydraulic jets can destroy fish habitat and muddy the water.

Hydraulic jets, including products like HydroSweep, Aqua Blaster, Aqua Thruster and Aquasweep, can resemble a fan or trolling motor contained in a short tube and create strong currents of moving water. These products are often advertised to control or remove “muck” and “weeds” from a lake bottom; however, using hydraulic jets in this manner is not allowed in Minnesota.

A person may legally operate a hydraulic jet if it is placed high enough off the lake bed so that it does not disturb the bottom or destroy rooted aquatic plants. It should be directed upward toward the water’s surface, which can prevent dead vegetation and duckweed from collecting around docks and boat lifts. Any displacement of sediment or removal of aquatic plants as a result of operating a hydraulic jet would be deemed a violation and may result in a fine.

Aquatic plant regulations and a guide to aquatic plants can be found at mndnr.gov/shorelandplants.

For information on DNR water permits, visit mndnr.gov/permits.

View Full Article Aquatic Vegetation, Aquatic plants, Lake, Vegetation, hydraulic jets, lakes, lakeshore

FREE Restore your Shoreline Workshop – April 17th!

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - March 23, 2018 - News, Prior Lake, Spring Lake

Do you have an eroding shoreline? Want to make your shoreline more lake-friendly? Join us for our free Restore Your Shoreline Workshop!

Restore Your Shoreline Workshop
Tuesday, April 17 from 6:30 to 8:00pm
Spring Lake Town Hall, 20381 Fairlawn Ave, Prior Lake

At the workshop you’ll learn how to protect and restore your shoreline with seeded or planted buffers between your lawn and the lake. Not only will a shoreline restoration stop the erosion and protect your lakeshore property, you’ll also be helping improve the water quality of the lake you love! Flowers in your planted buffer can add a splash of color to your shoreline and provide habitat for birds and pollinators.

You may even be eligible for free technical assistance to help design your project and for cost share funds of up to 50% of the cost of materials and installation!

This free workshop is open to all Scott County residents. Visit  www.scottswcd.org or call the Scott SWCD office at 952-492-5425 to register.

 

View Full Article Lake, Prior Lake, Spring Lake, cost-share, lakeshore, shoreline, shoreline restoration, workshop

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Prior Lake – Spring Lake Watershed District

The District covers about 42 square miles in Scott County, MN. Water in the PLSLWD flows mainly from the southwest to the northeast through Spring, Upper Prior and Lower Prior Lakes, and then north through the Prior Lake Outlet Channel to the Minnesota River near Valley Fair amusement park.
Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment

Prior Lake - Spring Lake Watershed District
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372

Phone: (952) 447-4166
Email: info@plslwd.org

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