Members Take Action to Restore, Protect Shoreline


Miles of manicured beaches may look nice to the human eye, but they're part of the reason the water quality in Johnson Lake is declining. They don't stop nutrient-rich runoff from entering the lake and encourage erosion by wind, waves and ice. Read how one property owner is taking positive steps to ensure the lake will be clean for years to come.

Shoreline Preservation Program
 

Dear Johnson Lake Homeowners,

 

We have recently enrolled in the Burnett County Shoreline Preservation Program and would like to encourage all of you to do the same. There are financial incentives and it’s so simple! More importantly, we are doing our small part to restore the clarity of our lake.

 

Basic information
• Call Burnett County Land and Water Conservation Department. 715-349-2186, or email them at LWCD@dss.co.burnett.wi.us. You can also register online at www.burnettcounty.com.
• They will put you in touch with biologist Cheryl Clemens who will come to your property, look at your current shoreline buffer, and make recommendations.
• If you already qualify (and it isn’t that hard!) you will receive $250 cash from the county after doing some minimal paperwork. You will also receive a $50 reduction of your yearly property taxes.
• If she recommends that you need to work on a more natural buffer, she will draw up a plan for you, and the county will pay 70 % of the cost.

 

Rationale

·        Vegetation serves to slow water flow, allowing runoff water to soak into the soil or be filtered by vegetation.

·        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.

 

Our personal experience
• First of all, we qualified by doing nothing!
• Secondly, it was recommended (not required) that we remove a small retaining wall and plant native shrubs and plants.
• We will be doing this in August. There is a wonderful native shrub (Bush honeysuckle or Diervilla lonicera) that we will plant.
• It was also suggested that we simply transplant natives such at big-leaf aster, columbine, and harebell from our woods to our hillside.
• We can still hand-pull weeds from our beach to keep it looking neat.    

 

Please, if you have any questions, give us a call. 715-866-4496, 651-690-5571 or email bparisien@msn.com.

 

We are happy to help in any way.

 

Barb and Lou Parisien

28097 South Johnson Lake Road

Posted: Mon - July 24, 2006 at 09:35 PM      

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