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‘Score The Shore’ Shoreland Evaluations Available Now
November 14, 2025
Dear resident:
As part of the City of Edina’s ongoing commitment to preserving and enhancing water resources, ‘Score
The Shore’ shoreland evaluations were completed at several waterbodies throughout the community this
summer. The goal of the initiative was to evaluate shoreland health and habitat conditions to establish the
current state of shoreland health and identify opportunities for protection and restoration.
The city hired a natural resources consultant to evaluate the shoreland zone using visual observations made
from a boat using standardized criteria established by the Minnesota DNR. Shoreland conditions such as
vegetation, erosion, and human impact were evaluated. The reports for each waterbody are available in the
online Water Resources Library. Access the library from www.EdinaMN.gov/1334/Water-Resources and
navigate to the ‘Score The Shore’ folder.
How to protect or improve your shoreland health score
A healthy shoreland area plays a critical role in maintaining a healthy lake—it helps filter runoff, reduce
erosion, support aquatic habitat, and buffer human impacts.
Upland and Shoreline Zones
• Don’t mow down to the shoreline. Leave an unmown buffer of at least 5 feet. Better yet, install
a native plant buffer. Bonus: the vegetation may deter geese from hanging out in your yard.
• Plant native trees and shrubs. As they grow, they provide privacy, shade, and habitat.
• Replace turfgrass with native plants. Once established, native plants require less maintenance
than turfgrass while providing attractive blooms and habitat for butterflies and birds. Visit
BlueThumb.org for resources including plant lists, design templates, and a Plant Finder search tool.
Aquatic Zone
• Protect aquatic plants. Native aquatic plants are vital to lake and pond health, and removal is
regulated by the DNR. Remove only what you need for open water access.
• Leave woody debris. These provide habitat for wildlife such as turtles, ducks, wading birds, and
aquatic insects, such as dragonfly larvae.
Other ways to protect lake and pond health at your home
Prevent water pollution at its source by taking these actions.
• Eliminate or reduce use of lawn chemicals and winter deicing salts containing chloride.
These products may have unintended consequences in a lake. Excess nutrients from lawns can
contribute to algae blooms. Chemicals, including chloride from deicing salts can be harmful to aquatic
life.
• Clean up dog waste. As it degrades, it releases nutrients and bacteria that can end up in the lake.
• Sweep up grass clippings and leaves from your driveway and street. Rain washes whatever
is on these surfaces into a stormdrain which empties into the lake or nearby pond. These are one
of the most common sources of nutrients in urban areas. Compost the material or dispose through
your yard waste hauler or at a yard waste dump site.
• Adopt a storm drain. Adopt a drain in your neighborhood and keep it clear of leaves, trash, and
other debris to reduce water pollution. Sign up at www.adopt-a-drain.org.
The city offers landscaping workshops in the spring, buckthorn drop-off days in spring and fall, and a tree
sale in spring and fall. You can sign-up to receive email updates from the City of Edina at
www.EdinaMN.gov/921/City-Email-Sign-Up.
Thank you for your attention and support as we work to protect the natural beauty and ecological health
of Edina’s lakes and ponds.
Sincerely,
Jessica Wilson, CFM
Water Resources Manager
JWilson@EdinaMN.gov
952-826-0445