Vibrant shorelines are critical to maintaining Lake Leelanau’s water quality, preserving fish and wildlife habitats, and preventing erosion.
When left to themselves, natural barriers form along the shore to protect the lake. However, on Lake Leelanau, many of these green buffer zones have been lost to lawns and impervious surfaces. The Lake Leelanau Lake Association’s Shoreline Stewards Program aims to promote best practices for landscaping, yard design, and erosion control among lakeside homeowners and businesses.
The Lake Leelanau Lake Association’s Shoreline Ambassadors are volunteers trained to evaluate shoreline environments through the Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership (MNSP). The ambassadors provide information and resources to support care of the Lake Leelanau shoreline.
Why get a Lake Leelanau shoreline consultation?
• You need information about your fertilization practices, septic system maintenance, or stormwater runoff;
• You are interested in restoring your natural shoreline;
• You are concerned about erosion and lake levels;
• You want to verify that you are being a responsible shoreline steward;
• You want to brainstorm next steps.
What will you learn?
• We can help you decide if your project is DIY or requires professional services and where to find them;
• We can provide information on the benefits of native plants, where to buy them, when to plant, and how to maintain them;
• Erosion is also a common concern. We can provide information on the different techniques for erosion control and which technique is a good fit for the site conditions;
• We can help riparians understand what work requires a permit from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and how to obtain a permit.
What can you expect from a complimentary Lake Leelanau shoreline consultation visit?
Neighbor-to-neighbor conversations! We will discuss and review your shoreline possibilities. LLLA Shoreline Ambassadors rely on MNSP guidelines to identify shoreline strategies that have the best odds of being sustainable. We cite lake-quality-oriented best management practices. During our visit, we’ll provide reference material to help inform next steps. LLLA will also provide a list of Certified Shoreline Contractors in the area, although we do not endorse any specific contractors in particular.
Riparians can schedule their Lake Leelanau shoreline consultation or request more information by emailing [email protected].
