Selecting Waterfront Property
Choosing the Right Waterfront Property
Many things should be considered when buying waterfront property, including lake or river quality, shore quality, regulations for using the lake or river, local amenities, what the surrounding area offers, neighbors, costs, how the body of water looks at various times of year, and much more. All this is discussed in detail in order to help buyers of waterfront property make the right choice. (20 pp)
Life on the Edge... Owning Waterfront Property
A comprehensive guidebook published by Published by University of Wisconsin Extension Lakes for waterfront property owners covering topics ranging from selecting the right property to understanding land and water regulations. Available for order ($10) from Wisconsin Lakes, 715-346-2116, or http://www4.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/publications/. (Book )
Many things should be considered when buying waterfront property, including lake or river quality, shore quality, regulations for using the lake or river, local amenities, what the surrounding area offers, neighbors, costs, how the body of water looks at various times of year, and much more. All this is discussed in detail in order to help buyers of waterfront property make the right choice. (20 pp)
Life on the Edge... Owning Waterfront Property
A comprehensive guidebook published by Published by University of Wisconsin Extension Lakes for waterfront property owners covering topics ranging from selecting the right property to understanding land and water regulations. Available for order ($10) from Wisconsin Lakes, 715-346-2116, or http://www4.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/publications/. (Book )
Shoreland Zoning Regulations
A Property Owner's Guide for Protecting and Managing Shorelands in Bayfield County
Provides information about shoreland regulations in Bayfield County, what to consider when purchasing property, and how to manage your property. (28 pp)
What the Landowner Needs to Know about Shoreland and Wetland Zoning
Wisconsin DNR publication that answers common zoning questions. (2 pp)
Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) and Shoreland Wetland Zoning
Wisconsin DNR publication that answers questions about OHWM and public/private ownership. (2pp)
Pier Planner
Wisconsin DNR publication intended to assist waterfront property owners to design and place a new pier that does not require a DNR permit. (4 pp)
Construction Site Storm Water Permits
DNR informational webpage on erosion control plan requirements for construction projects. Links to permits and publications.
Provides information about shoreland regulations in Bayfield County, what to consider when purchasing property, and how to manage your property. (28 pp)
What the Landowner Needs to Know about Shoreland and Wetland Zoning
Wisconsin DNR publication that answers common zoning questions. (2 pp)
Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) and Shoreland Wetland Zoning
Wisconsin DNR publication that answers questions about OHWM and public/private ownership. (2pp)
Pier Planner
Wisconsin DNR publication intended to assist waterfront property owners to design and place a new pier that does not require a DNR permit. (4 pp)
Construction Site Storm Water Permits
DNR informational webpage on erosion control plan requirements for construction projects. Links to permits and publications.
Caring For Your Shoreland Property
Self-Evaluation Checklist for Waterfront Property
Use this handy checklist to assess the need for water quality improvements on your property. (4 pp)
Protecting Your Waterfront Investment: 10 Simple Shoreland Stewardship Practices
Healthy watersheds make healthy lakes and higher property values. Created for people who live on developed waterfront lots, this publication decribes three major ways to protect your property investment. (11 pp)
Safeguarding our Shorelands for the Future
A Wisconsin DNR website that includes information on buying and caring for your shoreland, and provides links to further resources. (Website)
The Water's Edge
This brochure reveals the advantages of a natural, wildlife-friendly shore, and describes how you can restore, create, or maintain a natural shore without needing to give up your lawn and dock. In short, you can have your lawn, your dock, and wildlife too. (12 pp)
Fresh Look at Shoreland Restoration
A green lawn running down to the water’s edge allows 18 times more sediment and seven times more phosphorus to run into the water than a natural shore allows. A natural shore also hosts a multitude of wildlife, much of it tiny, all of it important to the health of the environment. The authors suggest ways for owners of lake property to create a natural shore buffer of native vegetation between land and water. (4 pp)
Protecting Our Living Shores
The authors sketch the intricate interconnection between plants, animals, and water along Wisconsin shores. They discuss the grasses, flowers, and trees that can be planted to restore a shore to its native state, and suggest ways to minimize negative effects of man on the environment. (6 pp)
Protecting and Restoring Shorelands
The authors describe how to begin restoring a shore to its native state. A shore with native vegetation can provide wildlife habitat, flood control, shoreline stability, and privacy. It also improves water quality as it filters sediment, nutrients, pesticides, and microbes from surface runoff. (8 pp)
Sensible Shoreland Lighting
Here are ways to preserve the beauty of the night at your shore property by installing lamps that give just enough light, but no more. (11 pp)
The Lake in Your Community
Describes lake ecology, lake problems and solutions, citizen roles in lake protection, benefits and costs of lake management. (24 pp)
Use this handy checklist to assess the need for water quality improvements on your property. (4 pp)
Protecting Your Waterfront Investment: 10 Simple Shoreland Stewardship Practices
Healthy watersheds make healthy lakes and higher property values. Created for people who live on developed waterfront lots, this publication decribes three major ways to protect your property investment. (11 pp)
Safeguarding our Shorelands for the Future
A Wisconsin DNR website that includes information on buying and caring for your shoreland, and provides links to further resources. (Website)
The Water's Edge
This brochure reveals the advantages of a natural, wildlife-friendly shore, and describes how you can restore, create, or maintain a natural shore without needing to give up your lawn and dock. In short, you can have your lawn, your dock, and wildlife too. (12 pp)
Fresh Look at Shoreland Restoration
A green lawn running down to the water’s edge allows 18 times more sediment and seven times more phosphorus to run into the water than a natural shore allows. A natural shore also hosts a multitude of wildlife, much of it tiny, all of it important to the health of the environment. The authors suggest ways for owners of lake property to create a natural shore buffer of native vegetation between land and water. (4 pp)
Protecting Our Living Shores
The authors sketch the intricate interconnection between plants, animals, and water along Wisconsin shores. They discuss the grasses, flowers, and trees that can be planted to restore a shore to its native state, and suggest ways to minimize negative effects of man on the environment. (6 pp)
Protecting and Restoring Shorelands
The authors describe how to begin restoring a shore to its native state. A shore with native vegetation can provide wildlife habitat, flood control, shoreline stability, and privacy. It also improves water quality as it filters sediment, nutrients, pesticides, and microbes from surface runoff. (8 pp)
Sensible Shoreland Lighting
Here are ways to preserve the beauty of the night at your shore property by installing lamps that give just enough light, but no more. (11 pp)
The Lake in Your Community
Describes lake ecology, lake problems and solutions, citizen roles in lake protection, benefits and costs of lake management. (24 pp)
Identifying and Controlling Erosion
Self-Evaluation Checklist for Waterfront Property
Use this handy checklist to assess the need for water quality improvements on your property.
Erosion Control for Home Builders
From every acre of a construction site in Wisconsin about one and a half dump trucks of soil will wash into a nearby lake or stream unless the builder takes steps to control erosion. The lost soil encourages weed growth and algae in lakes, creates poor fishing conditions, and generally degrades the environment. This publication offers strategies that home builders can employ to prevent erosion. (4 pp)
Impervious Surfaces: How They Impact Fish, Wildlife and Waterfront Property Values
This publication was developed for waterfront property owners and local officials. It does not discuss all of the potential impacts of impervious surfaces; rather, it primarily focuses on impacts to waterfront property values, fishing and wildlife. Healthy fish, abundant wildlife, and clear, clean water all depend on the individual decisions that we make on our waterfront properties. Order a copy or download the .pdf file.
Controlling Runoff and Erosion from Your Waterfront Property. A Guide for Landowners
This guidebook provides landowners with practical, how-to information to address runoff and erosion from waterfront property. The descriptions and illustrations walk the reader through methods to assess runoff concerns and to address them through minimizing, diverting, and infiltrating runoff water. (36 pp)
Use this handy checklist to assess the need for water quality improvements on your property.
Erosion Control for Home Builders
From every acre of a construction site in Wisconsin about one and a half dump trucks of soil will wash into a nearby lake or stream unless the builder takes steps to control erosion. The lost soil encourages weed growth and algae in lakes, creates poor fishing conditions, and generally degrades the environment. This publication offers strategies that home builders can employ to prevent erosion. (4 pp)
Impervious Surfaces: How They Impact Fish, Wildlife and Waterfront Property Values
This publication was developed for waterfront property owners and local officials. It does not discuss all of the potential impacts of impervious surfaces; rather, it primarily focuses on impacts to waterfront property values, fishing and wildlife. Healthy fish, abundant wildlife, and clear, clean water all depend on the individual decisions that we make on our waterfront properties. Order a copy or download the .pdf file.
Controlling Runoff and Erosion from Your Waterfront Property. A Guide for Landowners
This guidebook provides landowners with practical, how-to information to address runoff and erosion from waterfront property. The descriptions and illustrations walk the reader through methods to assess runoff concerns and to address them through minimizing, diverting, and infiltrating runoff water. (36 pp)
Shoreland Landscaping
Rain Gardens: A Household Way to Improve Water Quality
Rain gardens can be your personal contribution to cleaner water, healthier fish and wildlife, and an improved environment for your family and community. This colorful, eight-page brochure shows you how, and includes tips for constructing a productive rain garden (8 pp).
Rain Gardens: A How-to Manual for Homeowners
Native perennial flowering plants grown in a shallow depression recharge groundwater supplies and reduce pollutants washing into lakes and streams. (32 pp)
Yard Care Series: Shoreline Plants and Landscaping
Shoreland development can have profound effects on water quality. These can be minimized, however, with a landscaping plan that emphasizes and incorporates a variety of plants adapted to conditions near the water's edge. This publication offers suggestions for getting started and an extensive list of plants suited to Wisconsin's streambanks and lakeshores. (16 pp)
Wisconsin Native Plant Sources and Restoration Consultants
Booklet with a list of nurseries that sell native plants and seeds. (12 pp)
Aquatic Plants of the Upper Midwest: A photographic field guide to our underwater forests
This guidebook is designed to be comprehensive and user-friendly for professionals and casual users alike. Magnified inset photos and detailed descriptions make identification as easy and enjoyable as a day on the water. Available from Wisconsin Lakes for $36 each, (715) 346-2116, or http://www4.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/publications/. (Book)
Rain gardens can be your personal contribution to cleaner water, healthier fish and wildlife, and an improved environment for your family and community. This colorful, eight-page brochure shows you how, and includes tips for constructing a productive rain garden (8 pp).
Rain Gardens: A How-to Manual for Homeowners
Native perennial flowering plants grown in a shallow depression recharge groundwater supplies and reduce pollutants washing into lakes and streams. (32 pp)
Yard Care Series: Shoreline Plants and Landscaping
Shoreland development can have profound effects on water quality. These can be minimized, however, with a landscaping plan that emphasizes and incorporates a variety of plants adapted to conditions near the water's edge. This publication offers suggestions for getting started and an extensive list of plants suited to Wisconsin's streambanks and lakeshores. (16 pp)
Wisconsin Native Plant Sources and Restoration Consultants
Booklet with a list of nurseries that sell native plants and seeds. (12 pp)
Aquatic Plants of the Upper Midwest: A photographic field guide to our underwater forests
This guidebook is designed to be comprehensive and user-friendly for professionals and casual users alike. Magnified inset photos and detailed descriptions make identification as easy and enjoyable as a day on the water. Available from Wisconsin Lakes for $36 each, (715) 346-2116, or http://www4.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/publications/. (Book)
Aquatic Invasives
Invasive Species
A Wisconsin DNR website with comprehensive information about aquatic invasive species (AIS) and how you can protect your lake. View DNR AIS publications at http://www4.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/CBCW/pubs.asp. (Website)
Fishing with Bait: What Wisconsin Anglers Need to Know to Prevent Spreading the VHS Fish Virus
Brochure that addresses the most common questions about the new VHS rules and using minnows as bait. (trifold brochure)
Clean Boats, Clean Waters Volunteer Watercraft Inspection Program
Help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive plants, animals, and pathogens. (trifold brochure)
Japanese Knotweed: A New Threat to Wisconsin's Waterways, Lakeshores, and Wetlands
Learn how to identify and control. (3 pp)
Protect Your Pond or Water Garden: Regulated Aquatic Invasive Plants
WDNR publication on regulated plants sold or used for water gardens or ponds. (2 pp)
A Wisconsin DNR website with comprehensive information about aquatic invasive species (AIS) and how you can protect your lake. View DNR AIS publications at http://www4.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/CBCW/pubs.asp. (Website)
Fishing with Bait: What Wisconsin Anglers Need to Know to Prevent Spreading the VHS Fish Virus
Brochure that addresses the most common questions about the new VHS rules and using minnows as bait. (trifold brochure)
Clean Boats, Clean Waters Volunteer Watercraft Inspection Program
Help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive plants, animals, and pathogens. (trifold brochure)
Japanese Knotweed: A New Threat to Wisconsin's Waterways, Lakeshores, and Wetlands
Learn how to identify and control. (3 pp)
Protect Your Pond or Water Garden: Regulated Aquatic Invasive Plants
WDNR publication on regulated plants sold or used for water gardens or ponds. (2 pp)
Lake Recreation
Boating in Wisconsin
Wisconsin DNR Boating website. Sign up for safety classes to get an operator’s license, register your boat or read a copy of current Wisconsin boating regulations. (Website)
What's in Your Tackle Box? Get the Lead Out
A rack card showing that lead-free tackle prevents wildlife poisoning.
Wisconsin DNR Boating website. Sign up for safety classes to get an operator’s license, register your boat or read a copy of current Wisconsin boating regulations. (Website)
What's in Your Tackle Box? Get the Lead Out
A rack card showing that lead-free tackle prevents wildlife poisoning.