Waterfront Restoration’s Fall Shoreline Checklist: Protect Your Lakefront in Time for Winter
As July comes to a close, we look forward to soaking in these weeks of fun-filled lake days and long summer nights before fall festivities begin again. The seasons change quickly, and it can seem like fall and winter prep starts just as summer is in full swing. As a lakefront homeowner, the last thing you want is to feel overwhelmed by the idea of next Spring’s installation at your property. That’s why we have assembled a list of our best practices in the fall months to make setting up for next summer a little bit smoother!
Stop Muck Build-Up Before it Starts
Muck is a soft, organic material that results from continued build-up of decaying aquatic plants, fallen leaves & pine needles, and waste from fish and natural sediment. When these materials remain settled on lake beds for long periods of time, they compost into a thick layer of “Muck”. Muck is typically identifiable by its squishy, almost slimy texture, making many lakefronts less desirable to swim and wade in. While a certain amount of muck build-up is perfectly natural, an excess of organic matter can cause issues with water quality, murkiness, and nutrient overload within lake ecosystems.
Best Ways to Prevent Muck Build-Up on Your Lakefront
The best method of muck-management starts with prevention. Excavating the lakebed might seem like the most effective way to rid your shoreline of muck, but this method is often advised against due to its tendency to disrupt existing lakebed ecosystems. Natural, non-invasive strategies are typically recommended to clear your lakebed of that extra organic matter.
The first step in muck prevention is frequent maintenance. Removing aquatic weeds and other debris before they decompose is the surefire way to stop a thick layer of material from forming. It is best practice to inspect your beach, retaining walls, docks, and boat lifts for any left over leaves or waste that may contribute to a muck issue down the line.
At Waterfront Restoration, we perform yearly fall shoreline cleanups, to ensure your beach does not accumulate any muck build-up during the Winter months and Spring thaw. The last thing any homeowner wants is to deal with last winter’s muck build-up on the first warm spring weekend of the season!
Benefits of Muck Reduction Pellets
For further treatment, Muck Reduction Pellets tend to produce great results for immediate water clarity. Muck Pellets are biological products that withstand storage and activate only when dissolved into water. They work by employing multiple strains of microbial cultures known as the Bacillus species. These microbes are what we call “good bacteria”. They produce enzymes that break down existing organic matter in muck, leaving your water clearer after just a few applications.
At Waterfront Restoration, we recommend a combination of regular maintenance visits for shoreline cleanups, along with application of muck pellets to naturally breakdown excess muck. To learn more about our recommended brand of Muck Reduction Pellets, you can follow the link below to learn if the product may be the right one for you:
Inspect Your Shoreline for Erosion Before Winter
Simply put, erosion is the displacement of shoreline soil by wind and water. Although erosion is common along many different types of shorelines, it can quickly become a cause of structural damage to your property. Many climate dependent factors play into the progression of erosion on lakefronts, so Fall is one of the best times to evaluate early warning signs.
What Causes Erosion on Minnesota Lakes?
Summer storms can be a major cause for eroding shoreline. The physical wave action caused by strong winds batters the shore, washing away soil and weakening the existing bank. Even after these storms have passed, storm water runoff can carry soil into the lake through driveway paths and steep slopes.
Further into the Fall and Winter, you may see other sources of erosion. As temperatures drop and the ice layer forms into a solid state, the water volume expands by around 9%. The sheer force of ice sheet expansion puts an immense burden on the structural integrity of docks, boat lifts, and natural shorelines. Erosion and structural wear can be costly from year to year, so keeping environmental erosion in check is important to preserve lakefront properties.
How to Prevent Shoreline Erosion at Your Lakefront
Although these causes of erosion can seem unpreventable, there are a few measures every lake homeowner can take to ensure shoreline erosion is kept at bay. Because stormwater runoff causes erosion and a plethora of other lakefront issues, maintaining a steady drainage system on your property is essential. Directing downspouts away from shore, implementing strategic landscaping to buffer runoff, and repairing sloped areas that may turn into channels are all best practices in preventing run-off erosion.
Lakefront properties that are dealing with active erosion may require further physical measures against receding shoreline. While strategic landscaping is a great way to reduce erosion from runoff, it can often be attributed to strong wave action from boats and storms. Many homeowners install a retaining wall of large rocks called “riprap” to absorb waves before they hit the shoreline. Riprap can help shelter the shoreline from erosion and promote a healthy ecosystem for native vegetation and wildlife. At Waterfront Restoration, we can help weed out riprap and retaining walls to make sure your lakefront is looking good while protecting against shoreline damage and erosion.
Simple Tips Before Winter Arrives
So far, we have recommended some larger measures you can take against structural damage and organic build up over the winter, but what about some simple, practical tips to make next Spring the easiest install yet?
Document Your Shoreline Before Winter
Out of sight out of mind. After a long fall and winter, it can be easy to forget where exactly the shoreline fell or how you had the swimming buoys marked last year. Take photos of where everything is located, so you can assess your waterfront needs each season and have a map for next Spring’s install.
Clean and Store Lake Equipment
Wash and clean small watercrafts, sail boats, and rafts before storing them for the winter. If you have any dock attachments or boatlifts that can be removed and stored, make sure to stow those away too. This will help your equipment last longer, and will hopefully save you the fear of finding a family of spiders living in an old kayak!
Schedule Spring Lake Weed Removal Before the Season Fills Up
Make sure to contact us about setting up a cleanup plan for next year! At Waterfront Restoration, we send out renewal plans and estimates as early as February. If you are thinking about planning to use our services for next year, you can schedule a consultation with a member of our sales team to find out if a Spring cleanup and Summer weed removal maintenance plan is right for you.
Prepare Now and Enjoy Your Lakefront!
Preparing your shoreline for fall and winter doesn’t have to be a major project. At Waterfront Restoration, we help homeowners take their time to enjoy everything the lake has to offer.
A few maintenance visits toward the end of Summer can ensure an easy removal plan before the freeze and keep your lakefront looking great year-round. But for now, we hope everyone can sit back, relax, and enjoy their August!
