The Northwoods Land Trust’s (NWLT) Shoreland Protection Initiative aims to permanently conserve extensive stretches of natural shoreline on lakes, ponds, rivers and streams to leave a lasting legacy. Our priority is to help concerned landowners conserve sizable properties, especially those on water, to collectively protect our world-class natural resources before they become degraded and polluted.

Why? Wisconsin’s northwoods region includes one of the highest densities of inland freshwater lakes in the world. Many of these lakes have clean, clear water with attractive sandy bottoms and shorelines.  As a result, the northwoods has very high development pressure for residential waterfront and vacation home ownership.

While many private waterfront properties have been developed, there is still an opportunity to protect some of the last remaining natural shorelines so that future generations can enjoy them too. Larger waterfront properties on lakes and rivers, with surrounding forests and wetlands, safeguard our clean waters and provide important habitat for fish and wildlife.

Permanently protecting natural shoreland is one of the best ways we can protect the health and beauty of our waters. Our economy is tied to our waters, so it’s a public benefit to protect water quality through private land conservation. Protecting natural, quality water resources today, versus restoring impaired waters tomorrow, just makes economic sense.

Take action! If you are inspired and want to see more land protected along our waters…

• Become a contributing supporter, or renew your support, with a donation.
• Conserve your land, or purchase land for the purpose of protecting it.
• Learn more about the global importance of northern Wisconsin waters by exploring the resources on this webpage.
• Take it one step further. Talk with your neighbors, local officials and representatives about protecting shoreline to maintain the health of our waters, before it’s too late.

How it’s done. This Initiative has historically been supported by multi-year Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ (WDNR) lake protection grants. NWLT’s current grant award is focused in Vilas County and northern Langlade County. Landowner outreach is taking place here now in an effort to reach landowners in these counties. NWLT works with interested landowners across our seven-county service area.

Partners- Partnership departments and organizations have been instrumental in sharing information to reach waterfront landowners. In addition, our partners have a variety of programs designed to help improve and maintain shoreland areas.

Resources to learn more about the importance of protecting our waters:

• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources – Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin -Northern Highland. Information on the global significance of lake density in the Northern Highland Ecoregion of Wisconsin.
• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources – Wisconsin’s Healthy Lakes & Rivers Plan.  Healthy lakes are receiving newfound attention.
• Vilas County Lakes & Rivers Association– Local economic impact study of clear, clean lakes and the relationship to home sale prices.

“Over the past 15 years the legislature has passed many reductions in the Wisconsin shoreline protection system including a reduction in local control of shoreline zoning. Formerly, many counties had very effective shoreline protection ordinances in place to address their unique local circumstances. The best features of these ordinances have largely been eliminated in favor of weak statewide regulations that allow poorly designed shoreline development. Consequently, highly effective shoreline protection measures like buffer strips (which were formerly required by counties) must now be done voluntarily by landowners planning development on their shorelines. One of the best ways to protect lakes and rivers is through voluntary conservation easements through local land trusts.” Bob Martini, board member of the Northwoods Land Trust and Oneida County Lakes & Rivers Association.