Erosion: Shoreline (continued)

Causes of Shoreline Erosion include:

Removal of native aquatic and shoreline vegetation that buffers the land from the water Removal of ice ridges Excessive, chronic recreational activity too close to the shore

Erosion at Fish Lake in Maple Grove, Minnesota (top photos), was creating an undercut bank. Biologs were set into the undercut bank and native plants were planted in the soil above. The roots grew into the logs, stabilizing the shore, and halting the erosion.

Little Bass Lake Resort in Itasca County (bottom photos), was losing about 6 inches of shoreline each year due to erosion. The native upland vegetation had been replaced with turf and the aquatic vegetation had been completely removed by the previous owner. With no aquatic vegetation to absorb the wave energy, the exposed shoreline supporting only shallow-rooted turf was easily eroded away by mild wave action.

To remedy the problem, the eroding shore was revegetated with native plants.

Aquatic plants were reestablished using transplants from existing beds in the lake, as prescribed by the DNR transplant permit. To prevent further shoreland erosion while the aquatic plants were becoming established, coconut fiber logs and willow bundles were anchored at the toe of the eroding shore.