Shoreland Ecosystem Services

WATER QUALITYHABITATNATURAL BEAUTY

Without habitat, they are gone

Wisconsin’s Lakes are Changing Faster than Ever:

Algae blooms (phosphorus pollution)

Destruction of shoreline habitat

Invading plants and animals

Steve Carpenter 2004

General-development lake type

Natural Shorelines Program ComponentsBurnett County

Technical Assistance Financial Assistance Shoreline Incentives Education and Outreach

Burnett County Shoreland Incentive Program

• An annual property tax credit/ rebate of $50

• An enrollment payment of $250• A free visit with a natural landscape

expert• Planting plant to restore a natural

shoreline• Payment that cover 70% of the cost of

plants and materials• An exclusive shirt or cap• An optional sign to post at the water’s

edge

On-the-Ground Results

Shoreline Length Preserved = 46 miles

659 Parcels! Shoreline Area Restored

= 117,677 sq. ft.

Goal II. Protect and restore healthy stable shoreland habitats.

• Restoring and protecting shorelands will provide privacy and tranquility as well as a natural space for families to enjoy nature. Several of the existing developed shorelands lack adequate natural buffers which provide critical habitat and protect water quality.

“12% of the land base contributes60% of the phosphorus load.”– Pat Sutter, Dane County Land andWater Conservation Dept

Pecatonica River Pilot ProjectTests ConservationModel forCleaner Water

St. Croix Civic Engagement Speaker Series

• Purpose: To explore & discuss new ideas for encouraging authentic civic engagement in watershed projects in the St. Croix Basin.

• To increase the collective understanding of civic engagement and how it can be encouraged and supported with the St. Croix River Basin.

• Civic ENGAGEMENT – Setting the Stage:Why it matters

Sept. 2010- Jan 2012

Definition of Civic Engagement

“Making public decisions and taking collective

actions through processes that involve discussion, reasoning, and citizen participation rather than through the exercise of authority, expertise, status, political weight, or other such forms of power.”

- Elano Fagatto and Archon Fung Dialog NOT a Debate

Building Community Capacity

TO THE SOURCE:MOVING MINNESOTA’S WATER GOVERNANCE UPSTREAM- Engaging citizens in an authentic & timely way.Report of the Citizens League, November 2009

17TO THE SOURCE: MOVING MINNESOTA’S WATER GOVERNANCE UPSTREAM

Who’s responsible today?

• Perception that clean water is government’s responsibility

• Reinforced by what we’ve set up – minimal role for citizens

• No one satisfied with citizen participation processes

• Government will never have enough staff or resources to “fix” the problem

18TO THE SOURCE: MOVING MINNESOTA’S WATER GOVERNANCE UPSTREAM

New Model of Water Governance

• People who live and work in a watershed are in the best position to reduce nonpoint source pollution

• Must engage the public as problem-solvers

19TO THE SOURCE: MOVING MINNESOTA’S WATER GOVERNANCE UPSTREAM

Civic Engagement Requires Changing the Way We Think About Governing

A belief in human capacity to govern for the common good

Encouraging the public to carry out their obligations as citizens

Supporting active citizenship (the role that obligates all citizens to govern for the common good)

Building effective institutions– improving existing organizations in order to sustain democracy and citizenship

• Lynne Kolze , MPCA

Our Goal

Public Knowledge and Values

Science and Expert

Opinion

Wise Public

Judgment