Madison Reporter

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is marking the 10th anniversary of its Healthy Lakes & Rivers (HLR) initiative, a program designed to protect and restore the state’s lakes and rivers by encouraging property owners to participate in habitat restoration and runoff control projects.

Since its launch in 2015, HLR has worked in partnership with the Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Partnership. The initiative focuses on five main practices: installing “fish sticks” (woody habitat structures made from grouped trees), planting native vegetation along shorelines, implementing water diversion techniques, creating rock infiltration areas, and building rain gardens.

“Wisconsin is unique in that it has a statewide shoreline health initiative and funding to help shoreland property owners take action to create habitat and improve water quality,” said DNR Secretary Karen Hyun. “You can apply inexpensive and simple best practices on your shoreland property, and together we can protect our waters for generations to come.”

The HLR website provides resources for shoreland property owners as well as local organizations interested in participating. Available materials include fact sheets and technical guidance documents outlining each recommended practice. The site also features a free evaluation tool called “Score My Shore.” This tool guides users through questions about their lake or river property management practices. After completing the survey, participants receive a personalized score reflecting their shoreland health along with recommendations for improving water quality and habitat. Suggestions may include redirecting gutter downspouts away from waterbodies, ceasing mowing near the shoreline, or leaving fallen trees in the water to promote fish habitats.

Local partners—including lake associations, municipalities, counties, and tribal governments—can apply for cost-share grants through the DNR Surface Water Grant program on behalf of eligible property owners. Funding covers up to $1,000 per installed practice with an overall grant cap of $25,000 per application cycle. Properties must be located within 1,000 feet of a lake or within 300 feet of a river or floodplain to qualify.

Over the past decade, more than 1,000 landowners across 205 lakes and rivers have received assistance from DNR-sponsored grants to implement these best practices. Participants have reported various positive outcomes such as seeing nesting wood turtles for the first time or reducing shoreline erosion caused by runoff. Some have also noted increased visits from family members due to improved natural environments that attract butterflies.

Shoreland property owners or local organizations interested in joining these efforts can find additional information about starting projects at the HLR website.