The days are getting longer and the temperatures are rising. The mornings spent sipping coffee on the dock are becoming closer to reality than a nostalgic idea that helps us get through winter. As we start to "think spring," now is the time to start preparing for any work to be done on your shoreline. We invite you to read our latest article to help you prepare for spring shoreline work, think about if you need to apply for a permit to do your work, and give you some helpful tips from a recent interview with EGLE staff for successfully getting your project permitted.
The Time Is Now!
Did Monday’s high temperatures and sunshine get you itching to get out in your garden like it did for us? Now is the time to think about getting ready for those sweet summer days and time on the lake. But remember, as a lakefront property owner, you have a lot of power and responsibility to help keep Lake Leelanau clean and clear, and part of how you do that is on your shoreline.
Natural shorelines with vegetative buffers are like a natural filtration system, keeping pollutants from running off into the lake and polluting our water. Not only do they help protect the lake, but the deep-rooted native shoreline plants also help protect your shoreline from erosion. We have a lot of resources to help you learn about native plants, their benefits, and how to choose them. Please explore the links below to learn more.
- Preparing for Native Planting - Preparing for planting native plants
- Shoreline Plants - What to think about when selecting plants and when to plant them
- Michigan Native Plants Demystified - the 411 on native plants and how to select them. Stay tuned for Leelanau Conservation District and Grand Traverse Conservation District’s spring native plant sales beginning in May.
- Re-establishing Natural Shoreline Guide
To Permit or Not Permit
Planting native plants along your shoreline does not require a permit from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). However, any proposed modification to a wetland or anything that alters the shoreline below the Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) requires a permit. The OHWM is the line between upland and bottomland identified by the presence of a distinct change in character of the land caused by successive changes in water levels. Obtaining a permit from EGLE can take up to 60 days, so act now if the work you are planning to do this spring requires a permit!
Examples of activities which require a permit are:
- Dredging, filling, constructing or placing a structure below the OHWM, such as beach sanding and installation of riprap, seawalls, bioengineered shorelines, a breakwater, or a permanent dock,
- Constructing or operating a marina,
- Interfering with the natural flow of water,
- Securing new woody debris or turtle logs,
- Connecting a ditch, pond, or canal to an inland lake or stream,
- Filling or draining a wetland,
- And more!
Resources and tips for getting applications permitted
There is nothing as frustrating as taking the time to fill out a permit application only to get it back after 60 days with it denied or with significant modifications. We recognize that the task of applying for an EGLE permit can be daunting. We’re here to help! Our staff recently had a chat with our local EGLE staff to learn about some of the common “do’s and don’ts” for applying. Here are a few tips and tricks for applying for an EGLE Inland Lakes and Streams Permit.
- Read the FAQs: Before you start your permit application, read through their Frequently Asked Questions for Land and Water Interface Project Permitting. This will help you avoid a lot of common mistakes and better understand the process.
- Follow Best Management Practices: There are many practices that are widely and scientifically recognized as being the best ways in which to manage land, known as Best Management Practices (BMPs). While they vary for different situations, EGLE has provided a great summary of different BMPs for different scenarios. Please scroll down to the bottom of their Shoreline Protection page to see their new BMP fact sheets.
- Make it Match: Make sure that your application and your site plan match and are descriptive of what you are trying to accomplish. Ensure any plan measurements (i.e., width, height, fill material, quantity of material, etc) match on the site plan drawings and the application.
- Use the Inland Lake Shoreline Energy Assessment Tool: This year, EGLE published a new tool that allows you to evaluate the potential for erosion on your shoreline. Many of the fields in an EGLE permit are included in this assessment tool, and by completing it you get a report at the end which can be included in your permit application. The tool is very informative and EGLE staff now fill out this assessment for your application, if you do not, so get a leg up and learn a thing or two in the process!
- Know about Wetlands: Make sure you know whether your project is in a wetland or not. EGLE staff will look at your uploaded photos and check the Wetlands Map Viewer to see if your project is in a wetland, but you should know this information before you apply for your permit, as it might impact your site plan. Only bioengineering projects are permitted in wetland areas.
- Avoid Certain Activities: The State is looking more critically at new vertical seawalls. Seawalls can create unintended impacts to the surrounding aquatic environment. Though still permitted in certain cases, they are much less likely to be permitted if there are alternatives that follow Best Management Practices (see link above).
Unsure if you need a permit? Schedule a Pre-Application Meeting: If you are still unsure about whether you need a permit or not, you can schedule a pre-application meeting with your local EGLE Land/Water Interface Permitting Staff member. See who your representative is and get their contact information here.
Schedule a Shoreline Consultation
Everyone can do their part to protect Lake Leelanau from their shoreline and the Lake Leelanau Lake Association is here to help you. If you want to protect our lake and do something to improve your lakefront property but don’t know where to start, our trained Shoreline Ambassadors can come to you for a complimentary shoreline consultation. During a shoreline consultation, we will give you advice on how and where to plant native plants, how to control erosion, and how best to manage your property to protect Lake Leelanau. Learn more about the program here, or click below to schedule your own shoreline consultation.
Main photo credit: Nancy Popa