Bee the Change! Protect Pollinators with a Natural Shoreline
July’s Lake Steward video from MLR
Native shorelines filled with flowering plants, grasses, and shrubs provide critical food and shelter for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators and insects (like dragonflies that eat mosquitos!). These natural areas offer a steady supply of nectar and pollen while protecting water quality and preventing erosion. By leaving your shoreline in its natural state, you create a thriving habitat that supports pollinators and keeps your lake healthy.
This shoreline series is a project with Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates. Go here to learn more about the Sauk River Chain of Lakes Association's Lake Steward initiatives.
Meet our latest Lake Stewards!
Newest Lake Stewards on the chain!
Congrats to Tim and Kersten Thellin, off Schneiders Lake, our latest SRCLA Lake Stewards! After years of maintaining a beach on a non-swimmable portion of the lake (the bottom is very mucky), the Thellins were looking for other options to beautify their shoreline. After contacting Richard Gallea and learning about the Lake Steward program, they met with Greg Berg from the Stearns Conservation District to discuss a possible shoreline restoration.
Working with the county's guidelines, Greg and his team are available to assist with technical information, design, cost share (75%), and implementation. Once they had a plan from the county, they met with three contractors and ended up selecting Minnesota Native Landscapes. The plan was to complete the project in 2024, but excessive rain and some travel plans pushed the project to the spring of 2025. "The plantings are just starting to flourish, but so far we're very happy with how this is looking. Working with Greg has been great, and we had complete control over plant selection. I can't wait to see what this will look like once things start filling in. Not only will we have a beautiful shoreline that will bloom throughout the season, but we’re doing our part to help minimize harmful runoff into the Chain, “ said Kersten.
SRCLA offers subsidies to shoreline owners for projects like native buffers, as does the Stearns Conservation District.
Please contact Rick Reimer, Land Use Lead, at rick.reimer64@gmail.com if you’d like to discuss options.
Natural Shorelines = Healthy Lakes June Video
June’s Lake Steward video from MLR
Loons need clean and clear water to dive and find food for their babies. Natural shorelines are crucial for loons to slow and filter runoff to keep our lakes clean and clear for them. Natural shorelines also provide nesting habitat, nursery areas, shelter, and foraging grounds. Loons also use natural shoreline materials to build their nests nearby. You can help your lake and loons by planting a natural shoreline. Become a Lake Steward! It's easy and there's help.
This shoreline series is a project with Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates. Go here to learn more about the Sauk River Chain of Lakes Association's Lake Steward initiatives.
Natural Shorelines = Healthy Lakes May Video
A short video on the Lake Steward program from MLR
Natural Shorelines help our lakes' water quality, wildlife, and pollinators. Learn how you can become a Lake Steward and join others across Minnesota in helping to keep our lakes healthy and beautiful.
This shoreline series is a project with Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates. Go here to learn more about the Sauk River Chain of Lakes Association's Lake Steward initiatives.
Sustaining Our Lakes, One Property at a Time: A Call for Collective Action
Lake Steward Opportunities
The water may be frozen, but there is action happening beneath the surface of icy lakes and rivers. Under the thick layers of ice, aquatic ecosystems are preparing for the spring melt. You can too - read Lake Steward Coordinator, Lily Carr's blog post "Sustaining Our Lakes, One Property at a Time: A Call for Collective Action" to learn more about the simple actions to take and plans you can make to give back to Minnesota's unique waterways.
As Lake Stewards look forward to warmer days by the shore, now is the time to plan how you'll do your part to keep our waters clean. It all starts at the shore. Lawns to Legumes Grants for Fall 2025 have just opened. Apply to reimbursement-based funding of up to $400 for your shoreline restoration - deadline to apply is May 15, 2025 Click here to apply.
To learn more about becoming a Lake Steward on the Chain and funding a significant portion of your shoreline restoration, visit the SRCLA Lake Steward page and/or contact our Land Use program chair, Richard Gallea, at rjgallea@gmail.com.
MN Lakes and Rivers Webinar Recording Now Available
MN Lakes and Rivers Webinar Recording Now Available
Minnesota Lakes and Rivers (MLR) recently conducted a webinar that focused on efforts to improve the condition of the state's shorelines. Speakers included:
💦 Paul Radomski from the Ecological and Water Resources Division, who shared insights into the scientific tools we’re using to protect shorelines.
💦 Kirsti Marohn from Minnesota Public Radio, who discussed her reporting this summer on the issue of vanishing shorelines.
💦 Sue Henken-Thielen, who shared her experiences as a dedicated Lake Steward.
💦 Steve Corbin, one of our valued shoreline evaluators.
The webinar provides a lot of useful information, including insights into the Lake Steward program, which the SRCLA board sponsors along with many other lake associations around the state.
You can view a recording of the webinar via this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa4O-7RtHao
See the latest Lake Stewards!
Latest Lake Stewads on the Chain!
Congratulations to our latest Lake Steward family...the Juelfs! The Juelfs applied for Lake Steward status for their property on Bolfing Lake and it qualified!
Have you been thinking about taking the Lake Steward quiz but aren't sure if your property will qualify?
If so, we encourage you to take the quiz! Several homeowners who are interested in learning more about native buffers and other shoreline 'best practices' have done so, which results in an opportunity to meet with an SRCLA Land Use committee member to see what would be required to have their parcel qualify for the program. And we can connect you with county professionals at the Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) that will draw up custom plans to meet your needs. Subsidies are available that can cover up to 90% of the cost, too!
Take the quiz today!
Lake Steward Program Gains Momentum!
See our first five Lake Stewards!
As you may have read about in recent issues of The Chain Link, the SRCLA is sponsoring a Lake Steward program that's being rolled out statewide by the Minnesota Lakes & Rivers organization.
Five families have taken a short quiz about how they're managing their lakeshore property, covering things like the presence of native buffers, fertilizer & pesticide use, etc. Qualifying properties are awarded a cool metal sign that can be displayed on their dock or shoreline to signal their support for the best practices that help reduce nutrient runoff into our lakes.
Congratulations to the first five families to be designated as Lake Stewards on the Sauk River Chain of Lakes!
If you'd like to see if your parcel qualifies, please use this link to take the quiz and get the process started: Lake Steward Quiz
Come join the club!
