Natural Shoreline Resources

Lakefront property owners have the ability to manage their land, and shoreline/riparian areas in a manner that respects a lake’s ecological integrity.  With the majority of Michigan’s inland lake shoreline having been developed, the conservation of natural riparian transition between upland and aquatic environments is more important than ever.  Below are links to resources which we encourage lakefront property owners to explore.

Simple practices such as refraining from using fertilizers/pesticides on your lakefront property, using phosphorus-free fertilizers, reducing the amount of turfgrass and exposed soils which lead to sedimentation, and thinking ‘outside the box’ when it comes to shoreline landscaping, are all easily practicable by property owners and can have meaningful beneficial impact to a water body.

Proper maintenance of home sewage treatment systems (septic systems) is a necessity. More than 1.3 million homes and businesses in Michigan depend on septic systems to treat wastewater. If not maintained, failing septic systems can contaminate groundwater and harm the environment by releasing bacteria, viruses, and household toxics to local waterways. Proper septic system maintenance protects public health, the environment, and saves the homeowner money through avoided costly repairs.