Recreational vs. Environmental Lakes

If you're buying a property in Lakes Country, there's a significant determination to make. Do you want to have access to a recreational lake, one of high activity, or a more peaceful lake, like an environmental lake?

Whatever you're looking for in the land of one thousand lakes, there's something just right for your lifestyle.

On the mundane side, a lake is not determined by size or depth, as some may suggest. A lake is simply an enclosed basin filled or partly filled with water. But furthermore, what is a recreational lake, and what is an environmental lake?

We've got the answers.

Natural Environment Lakes usually have less than 150 total acres. Another feature is less than 60 acres per mile of shoreline and less than three dwellings per mile of shoreline.

These environments may have some winter kill of fish; may have shallow, swampy shoreline; and are less than 15 feet deep. Environmental lakes fall into two categories: Meandered and Non-meandered lakes.

Meandered Lakes are:

·    large streams
·    ponds
·    bodies of water

Not Meandered Lakes: National Parks, Indian Reserves, mineral claims, and any boundary line. Meander boundary lines rely on Ordinary High Water Mark.

The term ordinary high water mark means that line on the shore established by the fluctuations of water and indicated by physical characteristics such as a clear, natural line impressed on the bank, shelving, changes in the character of the soil, destruction of terrestrial vegetation, and the presence of litter and debris.

Minnesota's lakes range from the Arrowhead region's sterile rock basin lakes to the naturally fertile, shallow lakes of the southwest prairie region. Rivers vary from the Ottertail River to the small streams trickling into Lake Superior near Duluth.

These different types of lakes and rivers have diverse development standards determined by the Department of Natural Resources.

Natural Environment Lakes usually have less than 150 total acres, less than 60 acres per mile of shoreline, and less than three dwellings per mile of shoreline. They may have some winter kill of fish; may have shallow, swampy shoreline; and are less than 15 feet deep.

It's a common misconception that a natural environment lake designation indicates a wilderness setting with limits on motors, hunting, or fishing.

Recreational Development Lakes usually have between 60 and 225 acres of water per mile of shoreline, between 3 and 25 dwellings per mile of shoreline, and are more than 15 feet deep. You will find plenty of these in Lakes country.

General Development Lakes usually have more than 225 acres of water per mile of shoreline and 25 dwellings per mile of shoreline and are more than 15 feet deep.

The term "environmental lake" most likely is taken from the Natural Environment lake classification found in Minnesota's Shoreland Management Program.

Many people mistake the natural environment classification on many of Minnesota's smaller and shallow lakes. These are often wild lakes with limits on motors, hunting, or fishing. However, only to a degree. The Natural Environment classification is the strictest of the three lake classifications. However, the category mostly determines lot size, setbacks, and land uses on the adjacent land to a certain degree.

Every lake is different.

The classification has little to do with surface water use of boats or motors, hunting, fishing, or fish management.

Other regulations determine recreation on the lake.

As the larger, deeper lakes that are more suitable for recreational or general development (the other two lake classifications) become developed, there is growing pressure to form the smaller, more sensitive natural environment basins.

Hence there is no guarantee that the wilderness character that some of these lakes now have will be preserved. This is the growing concern of many local governments, outdoor recreation groups, and the DNR.

Such lakes may require more protection than currently provided in the rules.

The DNR established the shoreland management rules in the early 1970s to help govern the orderly development of land adjacent to Minnesota's many lakes and rivers.

If you are still uncertain about the classification of a lake or river and the dimensional standards that apply, contact your local planning and zoning office. Happy lake life!