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Permits may be needed for lake shoreland projects |
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Wednesday, 28 May 2008 |
Lakeshore property owners are reminded that removing aquatic plants, treating nuisance algae, swimmer’s itch control, or altering shoreline may require a permit from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
DNR staff members who issue permits for shoreline alteration or aquatic plant removal can help lakeshore owners avoid harming the lake or river near their home, said Steve Enger, DNR Division of Ecological Resources.
“We encourage shoreline property owners to keep alterations as small as possible,” Enger said.
“Changing the shoreline or improperly removing aquatic plants can seriously damage the lake in the long term.”
Without a Permit: Cutting, pulling, raking, or harvesting submerged vegetation, like pondweeds, watermilfoil, or coontail, in a small area for recreation is allowed.
Conditions:
•the cleared area may not exceed 2500 square feet in size
•the cleared area may not extend more than 50 feet along your shore, or more than one half your frontage width, whichever is smallerif the cleared area does not reach open water, a 15-foot wide channel to open water may be added the vegetation must be removed from the water.
Without a Permit: Cutting, pulling, raking, or harvesting floating-leaf vegetation, like water lilies, to create a channel to open water for recreation is allowed.
Conditions:
•the cleared channel is not more than 15 feet wide and goes straight to open water
•the cleared channel must remain in the same place from year to year
•the vegetation must be removed from the water.
Aquatic plant management or APM permits ($35 per property for a one-year permit) are needed if your plans include:
•using herbicides or algicides
•removing emergent vegetation, like bulrush, cattails or wild rice
•installing or operating an automated plant control device (such as the Crary WeedRoller, Beachgroomer or Lake Sweeper) removing floating leaf vegetation, in an area larger than a 15 foot wide channel (see above) controlling submerged vegetation in an area larger than 2,500 square feet or wider than 50 feet (see above) removing or relocating a bog of any size.
What is not allowed:
•excavating the lake bottom for aquatic plant control
•use of hydraulic jets
•using lake-bottom barriers to destroy or prevent the growth of aquatic plants
•removing aquatic vegetation within posted fish-spawning areas
•removing aquatic plants from an undeveloped shoreline
•removing aquatic plants where they do not interfere with swimming, boating, or other recreation.
Many lakeshore property owners are restoring their shoreline property to a more natural condition.
The DNR supports protection and restoration of shoreline, but encourages property owners to plan these projects carefully.
A permit from the DNR is required to plant aquatic vegetation below the ordinary high water mark of public waters. This will help reduce the potential for adverse impacts from these projects.
There is no charge for this permit.
Lakeshore owners who are considering projects that would alter their shoreline or lake bottom should review the DNR Division of Waters permit requirements before work begins.
Certain types of alterations below the ordinary high water level of public waters or public waters wetlands require an individual Public Waters Work Permit.
Activities that fall under this requirement include excavating, dredging, filling, draining or the placement of structures, including docks of a certain size.
Information on both the Aquatic Plant Management Program and the Public Waters Work Permit Program is available on the DNR Web site at HYPERLINK “http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/permits/water/index.html” http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/permits/water/index.html or by calling (651) 296-6157 or toll free 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367).
For more information about the Public Waters Work Permit program, contact the area hydrologist at a local DNR Area Office or call the DNR Division of Waters at (651) 259-5700.
A public service message provided by the Comfort Lake Forest Lake Watershed District.
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