Natural Shorelines

What is a Natural Shoreline?

Lakes have natural features that keep them healthy and clean. One of these features is a naturally vegetated shoreline that provides benefits for lake and wildlife health. Learn more in the Healthy Lakes video:

Natural Shoreline Installation Projects

Thornapple Lake

Site Name
Thornapple Lake - Historic Charlton Park

Planting Area
~2,000 square feet

Year of Installation
2016

Wall Lake 1

Site Name
Wall Lake 1 - Private Landowner

Planting Area
725 square feet

Year of Installation
2021

After installation: May 2021

Two years post installation: June 2023

Big Cedar Lake

Site Name
Big Cedar Lake - Private Landowner

Planting Area
2,701 square feet (37’ x 73’)

Year of Installation
2022

Before - May 2022

After - June 2023

Wall Lake

Site Name
Wall Lake 2 - Private Landowner

Planting Area
1,025 square feet (41’ x 25’)

Year of Installation
2022

Before

After - October 2022

After - August 2023

After - June 2023

What can I do to protect my lake shoreline?

If you own lakefront property, we can help you evaluate your own shoreline property. If your property isn’t quite where you’d like it to be, we can give you lots of ways to improve!

If you are all ready to install a natural shoreline or other native plant project and just need help picking out some plants, we can do that too.