Lake Steward; Protecting Our Lakes One Shoreline at a Time. 

Lily Carr

Lake Steward Program Coordinator, Minnesota Lakes and Rivers

Abstract

Minnesota has more shorelines than Alaska, Hawaii, and California combined! When these shorelines are naturally vegetated, they provide crucial habitat, infiltrate nutrient rich runoff, and protect against shoreline erosion. It is estimated that nearly half of the state's natural shorelines have been lost, and are continuing to be developed at an alarming rate of 1-2% per year. Rules and regulations have not been sufficient alone in protecting natural shorelines from development- we need to change norms!

This talk dives into one non-regulatory approach to shifting norms around how individuals view and implement the types of shorelines that protect lakes and wildlife. The Lake Steward program works at the lake association level to engage lakefront property owners and uses "positive peer pressure" to spread the word on the importance of natural shorelines through a, shame-free program.