Technical and Educational Resources to Help Maintain, Restore Your Shoreland

Check out the growing network of state and local government staff and resources, lake organizations and private businesses who can provide you with technical expertise to help you maintain or restore natural shorelands.

For instance, the Sawyer County Lakes Forum and the Sawyer County Land and Water Conservation Department send citizen ambassadors to visit waterfront properties to educate their owners on shoreline protection and refer them to the conservation department for assistance. Read: Star Home Project [exit DNR].

Three Resources to Get You Started

• Protecting Your Waterfront Investment: 10 Simple Shoreland Stewardship Practices [PDF exit DNR]
• DNR Shoreland management - Listing of downloadable publications about why and how to restore shorelands
• Landscaping for Water Quality and Wildlife Habitat in Wisconsin [exit DNR] - Extensive web site with modules that walk you through every step of the process.

Who to Call for Help

• Wisconsin Native Plant Sources and Restoration Consultants [PDF ] - List of Private Consultants
• UW-Extension Lakes Program [exit DNR]
  Patrick Goggin
  Lake Specialist
  (715) 295-8903
• Wisconsin Association of Lakes
  Susan Tesarik
  Education Coordinator
  (608) 661-4313 or
  Toll free (Wisconsin only) (800) 542-5253
• River Alliance of Wisconsin [exit DNR] - The organization's Local Groups Program supports formation of river and watershed protection groups by providing training, technical and organizational assistance.
• Your local lake association - Lake associations [exit DNR] are a great place to start to learn more about what you can do to keep or restore natural shorelands on your property.
• Your local Land and Water Conservation Department
  Land and Water Conservation Directory 2008- 2010 [PDF exit DNR] - List of county land conservation contacts to call or email

Educational Opportunities Near You

Here are a few we're sponsoring with other organizations and governments:

• Lake Friendly Landscape Workshops, Balsam Lake
  July 10 - Native Plantings
  Aug. 7 - Design Workshop and tour of rain gardens and native plantings
  Workshops free to Balsam Lake District residents; $10 for everybody else.
  Contact for a registration form: (715) 268-9992 harmonyenv@amerytel.net
• Wisconsin Association of Lakes event listings [exit DNR]
• Wisconsin's Chapters of The Wild Ones event listings [exit DNR]