Create fish and wildlife habitat.

FISH STICKS

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Fish Sticks are feeding, breeding, and nesting areas for all sorts of critters – from fish to song birds. They can also prevent bank erosion – protecting lakeshore properties and your lake.

Improve wildlife habitat, natural beauty, and privacy, and decrease runoff.

350 FT² NATIVE PLANTINGS

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Native Plantings include grasses and wildflowers with shrubs and trees. Choose an option based on your property and interests – from bird/butterfly habitat to a low-growing garden showcasing your lake view.

Prevent runoff from getting into your lake.

DIVERSION

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Diversion Practices move water to areas where it can soak into the ground instead. Depending on your property, multiple diversions may be necessary.

Capture and clean runoff.

ROCK INFILTRATION

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Rock Infiltration practices fit in nicely along roof drip lines and driveways and provide space for runoff to filter itself. They work best if your soil is sandy or loamy.

Create wildlife habitat and natural beauty while capturing and cleaning runoff.

RAIN GARDEN

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Rain Gardens multi-task - they improve habitat and filter runoff while providing a naturally beautiful view.

A man and a woman discussing a shoreline project with a lake in the background

Evaluate the health of your shoreland property.

SCORE MY SHORE

Use the Score My Shore Shoreland Evaluation Tool to walk through questions about the physical aspects of your shoreland property and how you manage it.

I own shoreland property.

You can make a difference. Learn about Healthy Lakes & Rivers best practices for your property and how to find help.

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I'm a Partner Organization.

If you belong to a lake or river organization, municipality, or tribal government, you can help make Healthy Lakes & Rivers together in your community!

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Let’s make Healthy Lakes & Rivers together!

Improve Your Shoreland Property

Healthy Lakes & Rivers includes 5 simple and inexpensive best practices that improve habitat and water quality on your shoreland property. Check out the best practices, supporting technical guidance, and other information to install a project on your own. Alternatively, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has competitive Healthy Lakes & Rivers grants for eligible applicants like local units of government, qualified lake or river organizations, and others who can apply for funding on behalf of shoreland property owners.

How healthy is my lake or river property? I want to Score My Shore to find out!

man fishing by lake home utilizing five healthy lakes best practices, Illustration: Karen Engelbretson

RESULTS of grant-funded projects

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COUNTIES

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LAKES/RIVERS

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PROPERTIES

500

BEST PRACTICES

Results matter! Take a look at everything that we’ve accomplished.
Success Stories

38 counties, 199 lakes, 1050 properties, 1826 best practices. Results matter! Take a look at everything that we’ve accomplished.
Success Stories

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I own shoreland property.

I'm a Partner Organization.

Let’s make Healthy Lakes & Rivers together!

Improve Your Shoreland Property

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