Now is a good time to plan next summer’s lake projects

Each year, riparian landowners across the Northwoods take steps to keep their lakes healthy. Healthy lakes are good for all of the organisms who live in them, including fish. With fishing being a billion-plus dollar industry every year in Wisconsin, keeping fisheries healthy and productive is big business. Now is the ideal time for landowners on lakes, rivers, and streams to start planning those projects and setting a timeline for completion.

Not all projects a landowner might undertake are huge, expensive projects, even small improvements can make a world of difference. Many of those small projects can qualify for grants through the Healthy Lakes Grant Program. These reimbursement grants are made to help individual property owners with smaller projects they wish to complete on their land, shoreline, or even in the water.

Healthy Lakes and Rivers Grants can be applied for by qualified lake organizations, towns or counties on behalf of landowners. These grants reimburse landowners up to $1,000 for each best practice they decide to undertake on their landscape. 

The entity or municipality applying on behalf of multiple landowners can be awarded up to $25,000 per year. The landowner must ensure that the best practice will remain on the landscape for at least 10 years after completion. 

There are several different best practices covered under the plan. These best practices are best for landowners who have runoff on their property that flows evenly or in small channels into their lake or river. That runoff should also come from an area of impervious surface that is 1,000 square feet or less. 

The start of planning can begin now and should include an environmental grants specialist, a local Department of Natural Resources lake biologist, or with a stop in or call to the county land and water conservation department.

There are several best practices that can be created through the Healthy Lakes and Rivers Program. They range from fish sticks, a best practice that uses wood in the water to create habitat, to shoreline projects, all the way up to diversions that can be used to redirect water on upland portions of a property. 

All of these things have one thing in common. They are meant to, as the name implies, keep lakes and rivers healthy which, in turn, can help to keep fish populations healthy.

Fish sticks

Fish sticks are a practice specific to lakes. Trees are taken from nearby upland areas around the lake. These create large, woody structures that are placed strategically in the lake and anchored to the shoreline. 

More than one structure can be placed along a shoreline, with a total of one for every 50 feet of shoreline. 

Fish sticks are meant to benefit fish and create spawning habitat as well as cover for small or young fish, helping them stay away from predators. But fish sticks also benefit other wildlife. They can benefit shoreland and wetland birds, invertebrates and all types of other species that utilize near shore areas for food, cover and reproduction throughout their life cycles. 

Upland trees are used in these projects, keeping near shore trees on the landscape. Those trees must come from father than 35 feet away from the shoreline. Trees near the shoreline help to stabilize the soil on shorelines as well as provide habitat. When they naturally die off and fall into the water, they add even more habitat for aquatic beings such as fish

Placement of fish sticks also benefits shorelines. They can be used in some instances to reduce the power of waves from wind and watercraft, slowing those forces before they hit the shore. This can lead to fewer erosion issues.

Installation of fish sticks is one practice that can be reimbursed up to $1,000 through the Healthy Lakes and Rivers Program, but it will also require a DNR permit. Installation of fish sticks may also require a local permit. The county land and water conservation department can help landowners navigate all of those scenarios.

Native plantings along shorelines

This best practice involves installing a 350-square-foot native planting near the shoreline. Native plants go much farther to hold soil in place than traditional turf grass. Their roots are deeper, allowing them to keep erosion at bay. 

Native plants also provide excellent habitat for native birds, insects, butterflies, moths and even birds. While doing all of those things for wildlife, they can also provide aesthetic beauty for landowners and lake goers. 

One thing landowners should remember before applying for a native planting project to be reimbursed through the Healthy Lakes and Rivers Program is that they must certify that the best practice will remain on the landscape for at least 10 years. 

This can often require fencing for the first few years to keep deer, rabbits and other wildlife out until the plants become established. 

Rain gardens

Rain gardens can be a beautiful addition to any riparian yard or, truly, any yard with an area that remains wet after a rainfall. As with the two practices above, the idea of a rain garden is to keep water where it falls, rather than allow it to run off into the lake or river.  

The size of a rain garden depends on the area it is serving, just as above. The normal size for a typical single family home is from 150 to 600 square feet. Again, this depends on the amount of runoff the rain garden is intended to capture. 

Rain gardens should be at least 10 feet from the house or any other dwelling to avoid capturing water too close to a foundation or basement and potentially causing damage. They should be placed in full or partial sun locations.

Rain gardens have a specific slope they should maintain, and all of the specifics of that can be found on the Health Lakes and Rivers website. The general idea is to move water to the leading edge of the rain garden, nearest the lake, where a berm is provided to hold that water, allowing it to soak into the soil where it is slowed and filtered before heading into the lake.

There are a variety of native plants that can be used in rain gardens. Many of them enjoy “wet feet,” but also do well in the drought-like conditions that are often common with late summers. Again, the county land and water conservation department is a good place to start to learn more about these plants. Alternatively, the local garden center is another great resources when looking for native plants that will do well in a rain garden setting.

Rock infiltrations

A rock infiltration, as the name implies, is an area of rock that allows water to infiltrate down into the soil rather than simply running off of impervious surfaces into the lake or river nearby. 

These best practices are often installed along walkways or driveways and work best in sandy soil or loamy soil. In order to qualify for the grant program, rock infiltrations must be installed within 1,000 feet of a lake or 300 feet of a river. 

The idea is to keep water where it falls, in essence, and allowing contaminants to be filtered out of the run off before it enters the lake or river. 

Rock filtrations will also help to mitigate erosion from runoff.

These infiltrations are made with a pit connected to a trench, covered in rock. The size of each is dependent upon the size of the area of the impervious surface the infiltration is meant to service. This best practice also needs to take into account the permeability of the surrounding soil. A soil that soaks in moisture more quickly could mean a smaller rock infiltration than a harder, compact soil that promotes more run off.

With this best practice, too, the landowner will work with the county land and water conservation department. The staff will help to design and/or construct this practice. Zoning permits may also apply, which land and water department staff can help to determine.

Diversions 

Diversions are another upland best practice aimed at keeping runoff from entering directly into surface waters without being filtered through the soil. Again, runoff is also mitigated with these best practices and must be done within 1,000 feet of a lake or 300 feet of a river. 

Diversions use treated lumber, a shallow trench and/or a berm to divert water from a path, driveway or other impervious surface. The water is then redirected to a well-vegetated area or another infiltration practice. Multiple diversion practices may be needed in some locations to achieve proper results. 

Those interested in learning more about best practices and reimbursement through the Healthy Lakes and Rivers Program can find more information by visiting healthylakeswi.org or by contacting the county land and water conservation department, who can assist landowners through everything that is needed to enroll in the program, and who can also apply on behalf of the landowner.

Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].