North Shore Homeowners Guide to Managing Stormwater
Lake Superior near Split Rock Lighthouse (Photo courtesy of MPCA Flickr)
High Falls on the Pigeon River (photo courtesy of MPCA flickr)
A Region of Superior Water
The North Shore of Lake Superior is known for its lush forests and freshwater. As we all know, water is one of the most important natural resources we have on Earth. We use water to clean, drink, water our plants, and much more. In areas with large volumes of freshwater, such as the Great Lakes, water does more than just, well, water. Communities rely on the Great Lakes as a source of drinking water, food, recreation, jobs, spirituality, and culture. Water supports large industries like fishing, shipping, tourism, and other livelihoods. Without clean water, life could not go on.
Green Stormwater Infrastructure
Thankfully, through simple and effective Green Stormwater Infrastructure management practices, the way we manage and care for our properties can benefit the entire watershed. Planting trees and rain gardens, using green roofs and vegetated swales, and installing pervious pavers and rain barrels, are all natural solutions to water pollution. Not only do these green practices protect and restore clean water naturally, your property will benefit from them too!Â
Home depicting a variety of green stormwater infrastructure practices (water color illustration by Maury Aaseng)