Website for the Lac Courte Oreilles Shoreland Restoration project as part of LPT-487-15.

After picture of the native planting that was installed on the Bedwell property.

This article explains COLA’s shoreline buffer project for the LCO lakes and provides meaning to the assessment map in the context of overall lake health. This article also provides direction on steps property owners can take to enhance or improve their shoreline buffer on their own, or how to seek grant funded buffer projects through COLA.

Presentation on the methods of the shoreland condition assessment for Lac Courte Oreilles as well as the results based off of parcels of land. Includes results of a citizen survey about erosion of shoreland.

Before Picture of the native planting that was going to be installed on the Bedwell property

After picture of the native planting that was installed on the Bedwell property.

After picture of the native planting that was installed on the Bedwell property.

After picture of the native planting that was installed on the Bedwell property.

After picture of the native planting that was installed on the Bedwell property.

Picture taken during the installation of a native planting that is on the Bedwell property

After picture of the native planting that was installed on the Bedwell property.

After picture of the native planting that was installed on the Bedwell property.

Broken Arrow Shoreline and Cabins Get Facelift - If a shoreline could say “thank you,” there is 500 feet on Lac Courte Oreilles that would breathe a sigh of relief and say just that. Beginning in mid-February rock riprap was placed along 200 feet of the BACA shoreline. Then, in early May Envirolok bags were filled onsite with the soil/compost for the plants and placed in conjunction with the rock riprap. Biologs are also being used to restore and stabilize another 120 feet of the shoreline. Pulford said without the native shrubs and other traditional vegetation to hold the upland soil in place (known as the “buffer”) the shoreline is lost—in this case approximately 12-15 feet of shoreline has eroded away since the mid- 80s and has been washed into the lake.

In 2017, owners of the BACA cabins finished a major shoreline restoration project that began back in November 2016. The shoreline was seriously damaged, after years and years of neglect, with the ultimate blow dealt in the July 2016 storm when many trees went down in straight line winds.

In 2017, owners of the BACA cabins finished a major shoreline restoration project that began back in November 2016. The shoreline was seriously damaged, after years and years of neglect, with the ultimate blow dealt in the July 2016 storm when many trees went down in straight line winds.

COLA takes another giant step in stewardship; shoreland restoration project begins now - Cathy Bross will be the first Lac Courte Oreilles lake homeowner to play a part in the Lac Courte Oreilles shoreland restoration project, scheduled to begin shortly on her 280-foot shoreline on Winter Bay.

Courte Oreilles Lake Association is sponsoring a project to design and install shoreline buffer restorations on Lac Courte Oreilles and Little Lac Courte Oreilles Lakes. Project tasks include: 1) Shoreline buffer design/restoration on approximately 25 shoreline sites; 2) Modeling to estimate TSS and TP reductions from buffer restorations; 3) Develop and distribute shoreline buffer educational materials. Shoreline restorations shall follow standards set forth in NR 191.24(3) unless mutually agreed to in writing with the regional lake biologist before implementation occurs. Shoreline restorations using grant funding for plants or labor require a Department approved restrictive covenant that permanently establishes the vegetative buffer on the parcel. Maintenance, operation, and protection will be specified in a ten-year contract for each BMP site. The Department may perform site inspection and/or monitoring. Project deliverables include: a report and map summarizing project activities including modeling results and educational materials developed, square feet of shoreline buffer restored, individual property shoreline restoration plans, pre-post photos of funded restorations, signed 10 year maintenance agreements, and copies of all Shoreland Vegetative Protection Agreements.

Shoreland Restoration

Courte Oreilles Lake Association is sponsoring a project to design and install shoreline buffer restorations on Lac Courte Oreilles and Little Lac Courte Oreilles Lakes. Project tasks include: 1) Shoreline buffer design/restoration on approximately 25 shoreline sites; 2) Modeling to estimate TSS and TP reductions from buffer restorations; 3) Develop and distribute shoreline buffer educational materials.