This project was funded by a Capacity Support Grant from the MWCC Watershed Fund.

Project Description

To more sustainably and effectively pursue community-identified watershed conservation goals, CRC will:

• Work with lakeshore homeowners to conduct property assessments using a standardized checklist
• Share reports summarizing assessment findings and identifying areas where homeowners can implement better conservation practices
• Provide general education and outreach to enable lakeshore property owners to make more informed decisions
• Facilitate on -the-ground stewardship to reduce nutrients and other pollutants from entering local lakes, including encouraging enhanced buffer strips with native vegetation will be simple for many lakeshore residents to embrace and discouraging the use of rip-rap installations in favor of naturally engineered solutions to reduce erosive impacts on adjacent properties.

Project Outcomes and Impacts

• Developed the Lakeside Living Consultation Program and publicized it in the local newspaper, CRC’s quarterly newsletter, and CRC’s email list. Partnered with local homeowners’ associations to distribute information about the program.
• Reached out to more than 40 Salmon Lake homeowners through a community meeting and one-on-one outreach.
• Completed 15 lakeshore assessments along Salmon Lake using a standardized checklist and shared assessment reports with participating homeowners.
• Completed and published a Consultation Report that includes a summary of the Lakeside Living Program, general assessment findings, best practices for lakeshore resource management, and a copy of the assessment checklist.
• Created a StoryMap to summarize and connect all the pieces of the project.
• Published a lakeside property owner self-assessment survey on the CRC website.