Minnesota's Lake Superior Coastal Program

Lake Superior Coastal Program logo.

WHO ARE WE?

Minnesota's Lake Superior Coastal Program is a voluntary federal-state partnership dedicated to the comprehensive management of our coastal resources. The Program provides technical and financial resources for the local community, by bringing federal dollars into Minnesota for the Lake Superior coastal area.

The Coastal Program’s goal is to preserve, protect, develop, and where possible, restore or enhance coastal resources along Minnesota's North Shore of Lake Superior. Our annual Grant program is an important funding source for local communities to help them balance protection of coastal resources with providing places for people to live, work, and play.

WHY A COASTAL PROGRAM?

Lake Superior has served the North Shore of Minnesota as an important economic, recreational and cultural resource.The demand for coastal resources from residents and visitors is high, and pressure for second home and recreational land development is increasing.Although we tend to think of Lake Superior as a pristine, unspoiled resource, it can be impacted by human activity.The watershed is challenged with heavy clay soils, steep changes in relief, and relatively shallow bedrock.These conditions make Lake Superior’s north shore streams and its important near-shore areas susceptible to impacts from land use changes.

Minnesota’s Coastal Program was approved in July 1999, and is administered through Minnesota DNR Waters, in Two Harbors, MN.Our Program encourages greater cooperation, simplifies governmental processes, and provides tools to implement existing policies, authorities and programs within the Coastal Boundary.The Program Manager is Pat Collins.

The Coastal Boundary includes 31 local units of government. The boundary covers 189 miles of shoreline, including the Lake Superior coast and the lower St. Louis River and its estuary.

MLSCP PROGRAM EVALUATION

The National Oceanic Administration’s (NOAA) Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) completed a performance evaluation on Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program during the week of August 4-8. Evaluations take place every four years, and include site visits, consideration of public comments on the program’s operations and overall implementation, and consultations with federal, state and local agencies and members of the public

Background Material

COASTAL HORIZONS

A two page seasonal newsletter featuring events related to MLSCP activities. This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. Average file size = 300kb
Spring 2008 | Winter 2008 | Fall 2007 | Spring 2007 | Winter 2007

PROGRAM INFORMATION

2008 Grant Administration Workshop Presentation This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. (36 pages 2mb)

News Release: Minnesota's Lake Superior Coastal Program Awards Grants for 2008 This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. (2 pages 63kb)

Past Projects

Coastal Program Staff List