Partnering for Shoreline Protection

Background Burnett County, located in northwest Wisconsin within a few hours of the Twin-Cities metropolitan region, is home to over 500 lakes (see Figure 1). Heavy development pressures and a strong local identity with the lakes have fueled interest in protecting their health and aesthetic appeal. The county enjoys a long history of partnerships for lake management that includes county agencies, local organizations and lake associations, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, University of WisconsinExtension, and others. In recent years, partners have had a specific interest in getting lakeshore property owners to protect and restore the natural vegetation along their shorelines. In addition to hosting meetings and a variety of educational offerings, Burnett County began an innovative incentive program that provides lakeshore property owners an annual tax credit ($250 the first year and $50 each year after) for maintaining a 35-foot strip of natural vegetation along the shoreline. This effort, the Burnett County Natural Shorelines Program, allows property owners to keep some of the shoreline open for lake access and a viewing corridor, and it offers additional technical and financial assistance for restoring degraded areas. Although the incentive is relatively small compared to prices for lakeshore homes and lots, more than 500 people have enrolled in the program, protecting or restoring more than 40 miles (or roughly 4 percent) of Burnett County shoreline. While the program has been a helpful tool, local partners recognize