Shoreland Education Program

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Resources for Shoreland Education

The shoreland and water quality education team has put together an extensive array of resources to help you learn more about managing shoreland and protecting water quality. The first place to turn is the Minnesota Shoreland Resource Guide, an excellent, comprehensive web resource.

There are also publications and videos available through the University of Minnesota Extension Store. You will find directions for ordering, as well as up-to-date pricing information, and more complete descriptions. Some publications are available free on the web.

Web Resources

Minnesota Shoreland Resource Guide provides "quick and easy answers" and in-depth information and highlights citizen-led shoreland projects. The site is the best place to start finding answers to your shoreland questions.

Lake Access provides real-time and historical water quality data for anglers, boaters, swimmers, and watershed residents for several metropolitan lakes. The site also provides information on studies of phosphorus pollution from lawn fertilizer.

Water on the Web helps college and high school students understand and solve real-world environmental problems using advanced technology.

CDs, DVDs, and Videos

A new 2-DVD set, "Better Living on Our Lakes and Rivers" (Item number: DV-08307. $20.00) includes the following nine video programs. If you prefer to purchase the videos individually in VHS, the item numbers follow each title. Click here to order this item.

  1. Keeping Our Shores: Shoreland Best Management Practices. (Item number: VH-6947. $15.00).
    Introduces best management practices that shoreland owners can use to protect the water quality in a lake or river. Highlights the importance of shoreline filter strips, proper septic maintenance, and appropriate lawn care practices to protect water quality, ensure safe recreational use, and maintain property values (15 minutes).
  2. The Living Shore: Best Management Practices for Shoreland Vegetation. (Item number: VH-7129. $15.00).
    Reviews benefits of shoreland vegetation and provides information on re-establishing vegetative strips along shorelines (16 minutes).
  3. Shoreland Restoration: A Growing Solution.
    Outlines why natural shoreline help protect water quality and wildlife habitat, and introduces how shoreland property owners can restore natural functions to their shorelines (15 minutes).
  4. Standing Firm Against Erosion: Best Management Practices for Shoreland Stabilization. (Item number: VH-7130).
    Covers reasons why erosion occurs and shows several different techniques for stabilizing shorelines (18 minutes).
  5. Stop Exotics, Clean Your Boat. (Available from Minnesota Sea Grant $10.00).
    Illustrates the steps boater, sailors, and personal watercraft users can take to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive plants and animals (11 minutes).
  6. Rivers: Ribbons of Life. (Item number: VH-7542. $10.00).
    Illustrates the importance of land use and land management along rivers and within a watershed, with a focus on responsible land use decisions and protecting natural vegetation along rivers (22 minutes).
  7. Fish Friendly Culverts (University of Wisconsin-Extension Tel: 1- 877-947-7827) Describes how to plan, install, and maintain effective, long-lasting culverts (20 minutes).
  8. Septic Systems Revealed: A Guide to Operation, Care, and Maintenance. (Item number: VH-6768. $15.00).
    Describes the basics of septic systems, including system features, safety, use, operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting. Serves as a stand-alone resource, or may be purchased in a package along with written material titled "Septic System Owner's Guide" in item number EP-6769.
  9. Water Conservation: Managing Our Precious Liquid Asset. (Item number: VH-6948).
    Stresses the economic savings, improved wastewater treatment, and reduction in chemical use that result from conservation. Its practical, hands-on approach takes you step-by-step through procedures such as installing low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets.

Exotics to Go! CD
A compact disk for people who need materials to give presentations about zebra mussels and other aquatic nuisance species.

Publications

Protecting Our Waters: Shoreland Best Management Practices. (Item number: MI-6946. $10.00) A packet of 18 publications explaining easy and inexpensive shoreland BMPs that lake and river property owners can adopt to protect water quality. Click here to order this item.

Shoreland Landscaping Series. (Item number: PC-07357. $5.00). Four publications provide a guide to natural landscaping and revegetation for enhancing lake quality. Click here to order this item.

Turfgrass Management for Protecting Surface Water Quality. (Item number: BU-05726. $4.00) Four publications provide in-depth information on turf management practices to protect water quality. Discusses minimizing the use of fertilizers and pesticides; using fertilizers and pesticides responsibly. Click here to order this item.

Managing Aquatic Plants in Minnesota Lakes. (Item number: FO-06955. $2.00) Identifies invasive exotic plants and explains how to determine if they are problematic. Provides control options and discusses proactive, preventative approaches. Click here to order this item.

Septic System Owner's Guide. (Item number PC-06583. $4.00) A fully illustrated guide for owners of septic systems. Includes information on safety, system features, use and operation, maintenance and trouble-shooting. Click here to order this item.

Landscaping Septic Systems. (FO-06986. $0.75) A four-page publication to assist homeowners with the location of the septic system and the selection and placement of plants near the system to create a sustainable landscape. Click here to order this item.

Minnesota Rivers: a primer. (1999) (available from the WRC, $7.00) A basic reference for those interested in Minnesota's river systems.

A Primer on Limnology. (1992) (available from the WRC, $7.00) Introduces the reader to the structure of lakes, along with human impacts and controls on lake processes.

Aquatic Invasive Species WATCH Identification Cards.
Wallet-sized cards popular amongst boaters, anglers, and others. You will find individual cards about zebra mussel, ruffe, round goby, Eurasian watermifoil, purple loosestrife, spiny and fishhook waterflea, European frogbit, rusty crayfish, and bighead and silver carp. These cards identify species' characteristics, problems posed, means of spread, and "what you can do" to prevent and slow their spread.

HELP STOP Aquatic Hitchhikers! Brochure identifies simple actions that boaters, shore and fly-fishers, personal watercraft users, sailors, scuba divers, and waterfowl hunters can take to prevent the spread of aquatic invaders.

Purple Loosestrife: What You Should Know, What You Can Do.
This brochure describes the problems posed, provides guidelines for control, and identifies alternative plantings for purple loosestrife.

Minnesota Zebra Mussel Watch Volunteer Monitor Instruction Guide and Report Form
Identifies how shoreland property owners and associations can monitor and report presence/absence of zebra mussels in lakes and rivers.

Habitattitude
Bookmark emphasizes a "don't release" message and identifies what actions aquarists and water gardeners can take to prevent the unwanted release of aquarium fish and plants into the environment.

Info-U - Answers to Common Questions

1-612-624-2200 in the Twin Cities area or 1-800-525-8636 in Greater Minnesota.

Info-U provides answers to common questions about septic systems over the phone. Call in and listen to useful information about septic system operation and maintenance and household water quality. The service is free throughout Minnesota.