Why is natural aquatic habitat important?

Financial advisors will tell you that a diverse stock portfolio is your
best bet to protect your investments under a wide range of market
conditions. That same advice is equally true when it comes to aquatic
habitats. Diverse aquatic habitats are our best bet for sustaining
healthy lakes and the fish and wildlife that are dependent upon them.

Lakes are complex ecosystems that are like an ecological stock market
comprised of a diversity of plant and animal species. Ecological
systems naturally fluctuate between highs and lows just like the stock
market. But only a diverse ecosystem easily rebounds after a downturn.
Healthy lake habitats support food production, spawning areas, and
shelter for young fish including not only the “blue chip” species
like walleye, bass, and pike that are recreationally important to us,
but also less familiar, though equally important, prey species like
minnows and perch.

But human lakeshore development is severely testing our lakes. Healthy
lakes have a diversity of natural habitats along their shorelines, the
same areas people are choosing to build homes. Current behaviors of
many lakeshore residents are no longer sustainable. When we remove
nearshore and aquatic plants, add sand blankets, or place monster docks,
we erode the ecological capital that makes our lakes resistant to
change. The behaviors of the past that were viewed as reasonably
acceptable at low levels of development are no longer appropriate today,
where our lakes are increasingly reaching full development capacity.
As Minnesotans, we must not be reckless with our valuable lake assets.
Here are three easy things you can do this summer to improve the aquatic
environment near your lakeshore.

· First, stop mowing down to the water’s edge. Let the grass
grow long in a 10-to-20-foot buffer strip along the shoreline. Longer
grasses will help stop the nutrients that cause algal blooms from
entering your lake.

· Second, get a tune-up. Make sure your boats and water bikes are
functioning properly so gas and oil pollutants won’t poison the
waters, plants and fishes along your shoreline.

· Third, minimize your footprint. Oftentimes, smaller beaches and
docks will still accommodate your recreational needs, but will be less
intrusive to aquatic plants and wildlife.
For more lakes information email us at lakewaves@dnr.state.mn.us .