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 This link leads to an external site. is challenged with heavy clay soils, steep changes in relief, and relatively shallow bedrock.These conditions make Lake Superior’s north shore streams This link leads to an external site. 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 Ecological and Water Resources, 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 Amber Westerbur.

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.

 

NEW, ONE TIME GRANT OPPORTUNITY

Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program is currently accepting proposals for non-construction projects that help preserve, protect, develop, restore or enhance Lake Superior’s coastal resources.  It’s a special, one-time opportunity you won’t want to miss. 

The turnaround time is quick.  Proposals are due June 8, 2012 and projects must be completed by May 31, 2013. 

For full details, download a copy of the RFP.  This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 9 pages, 720kb

 

COASTAL HORIZONS

Our seasonal newsletter highlighting the projects and people of Minnesota's Lake Superior Coastal Program
Spring - Summer 2010 This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 4 pages, 285kb

 Coastal Horizons Archive

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.
 
2009 evaluation document This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 43 pages, 937 kb
2005 evaluation document This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. 24 pages, 284 kb

PROGRAM INFORMATION

Check out our Facebook page

Read about past projects on Scribd

Stories From The Coast 2009:Document covering projects funded in our first ten years. This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. (21.3mb 28 pages)

Stories From the Coast 2005:Document covering projects funded in our first five years. This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. (636kb 23 pages)

Links to Past Projects

Coastal Program Staff List