Overall Cook County’s lake and rivers are very clean. Implementing shoreline buffers on lakes and streams where land and water meet help to keep our water that way. Clean water in Cook County means a good economy for tourism, great recreation and fishing opportunities, and safe drinking water.
Implementing a shoreline buffer using a diverse mixture of native plants provides important water quality functions by slowing and filtering water runoff as it moves to the lake or stream. Healthy shorelines with native buffers support fish and wildlife.
In addition, shorelines with buffers are more resilient to wave and ice erosion. Healthy shorelines near Cook County’s lakes, streams and wetlands reduce runoff, filter pollutants, and provide important habitat functions that benefit fish and wildlife.
Healthy shorelands and aquatic vegetation – why are they important to water quality?
Two free workshops are being offered by the Cook County Soil & Water Conservation District in July.
Healthy Shorelands will be held Tuesday, July 7, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. at Grand Marais Rec Hall. Come learn why a shoreland buffer on your property can go a long distance for clean water. There will be indoor learning (light lunch included!) followed by an opportunity to plant and restore a shoreland. Come for all or part of the workshop.
Aquatic Vegetation will be held Wednesday, July 8, 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Pines in Lutsen. Join us on a pontoon as we venture to Caribou Lake to learn about native and invasive aquatic plants. Indoor learning will take place prior to being on the lake for a better understanding of the plants. Please bring in any aquatic vegetation you would like identified. Stay for a free lunch after the workshop.
Please pre-register at 218-387- 3649 or kerrie.berg@co.cook.mn.us.
These opportunities have been made possible by the Cook County Soil & Water Conservation District, Cook County Invasives Team, MN Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment and in part under the Coastal Zone Management Act, by NOAA’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, in cooperation with Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program.
Theresa Oberg
Cook County Soil & Water
Conservation District
Leave a Reply