This competitive grant program would be implemented by the local Soil and Water Conservation Districts and administered by the Board of Water and Soil Resources. Description of Issue Water Quality Shoreland vegetation improves water quality, provides vital habitat and enhances the aesthetic value of Minnesota's beautiful lakes, rivers, and streams. The introduction of sediments, nutrients, and chemicals into rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands in Minnesota is contributing to a decline in water quality. Dissolved oxygen is vital to aquatic plant and animal life. Sediments that run off the land into water bodies create a variety of problems.
Smaller particles known as suspended sediment are responsible for increased turbidity.
Increased turbidity decreases penetration of sunlight, which can impact aquatic plant growth. Larger particles tend to fill in valuable aquatic areas such as wetlands and river side channels and backwaters. Many of these chemicals may affect an organism's proper development and reproductive capacity. Unfortunately, much of our shoreland has been disturbed by human changes to the landscape. Particularly in developing areas, shorelands are often the first to be developed.