Saving a shoreline: Area students, residents, volunteers combine efforts to restore Little Sand Lake

Story and photos
by Christine Lupella
Editor, Pine River Journal Editor, Pine River, Minnesota

A year ago, the shoreline of Little Sand Lake was littered with garbage. Ruts from ATVs and heavy boat trailers led from the dirt road straight into the lake.  The topsoil was gone, leaving layers of sand to wash into the fragile lake.

Little Sand Lake is located east of Pine River, several miles back in the woods off Highway 47. Greg and Mary Johnson are the sole residents on the tiny environmental lake. They live on the side opposite the deteriorating access area, which is owned by Cass County.

The Johnsons called Cass County Commissioner John Stranne to find out how to improve the situation.

Their inquiry led to a project that eventually involved the Cass County Land Department, University of Minnesota Extension Service-Cass County, area Shoreland Volunteers, Master Gardeners, the Mississippi Headwaters Board, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency “319 Non-Point Source Pollution Project,” and Pine River-Backus High School students.

“Everyone just kind of got on board,” said Eleanor Burkett, U of M Extension educator.  “A lot of people helped with this--that¹s what¹s so neat about it.”

Burkett worked with PR-B Environmental Science teacher Tom Lupella.  His classes were studying development and the effects of development on the environment.

PR-B student Nathan Davis waters while Little Sand Lake resident Mary Johnson holds a seedling in place. They planted sedges and dogwood to stabilize the shoreline.

“We just fit right into that,” Burkett said.  On several cold, windy May mornings, PR-B Environmental Science students put their book learning into action.  They spent several hours at the lake digging holes and planting delicate seedlings--with the hope that in another year or two, the shoreline will again be lined with tall grasses, flowers, shrubs and a variety of other plants native to Cass County.

“The students really had a good time (planting) and it seemed like they were really learning a lot,” Burkett said.

Lupella said he was hoping the students would “have some ownership” in the project.

Pine River-Backus High School environmental education students Caitlyn Janovec and Andy Haehmel plant seedlings.

“The idea (of the project) is that people can still enjoy the lake,” Burkett said.  People can carry in boats and canoes; however, no large motors are allowed in Little Sand Lake because it is classified as a natural environment lake.  (See side story.) Burkett said the project is important because it took an abused area and restored it to a protected place. “The beauty of this is that after a couple of years there is very little maintenance,” Burkett said.  She said this can be a benefit to shoreland homeowners as well.”

For more information on shoreland restoration and management, contact the University of Minnesota Extension Service-Cass County at 218-587-8280.  You can also find information on the Internet at www.shorelandmanagement.org.

Pine River-Backus High School environmental students, Cass County area Master Gardeners, the University of Minnesota Extension Service-Cass County, Cass County Land Department and local residents cooperated to restore the shoreline on Little Sand Lake.

Sidebar: Lake Classifications

Natural Environment Lakes usually have less than 150 total acres,less than 60 acres per mile of shoreline, and less than three dwellings per mile of shoreline. They may have some winter kill of fish; may have shallow, swampy shoreline; and are less than 15 feet deep.

Recreational Development Lakes usually have between 60 and 225 acres of water per mile of shoreline, between 3 and 25 dwellings per mile of shoreline, and are more than 15 feet deep.

General Development Lakes usually have more than 225 acres of water per mile of shoreline and 25 dwellings per mile of shoreline, and are more than 15 feet deep.

-Information from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

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