The Score My Shore Shoreland Evaluation Survey walks you through questions about the physical aspects of your lake or river property, as well as how you manage it. Questions are set up by property zone: Upland, Transition, and In-Water areas. The Survey also includes a section for you to identify habitat restoration and runoff and erosion control projects that currently exist on your property.
This survey is dynamic
This survey is designed to be easily viewed on a smart phone or tablet so you can walk your property while answering questions. Your answers may lead you to different questions and ultimately a custom score. You can save your results and come back after you have implemented best practices to improve your score. Many questions include helpful links to additional information and clarifying images. You can click on these images to expand them for easier viewing. Your final score will help you understand the property's management context - Entry, Restoration, Enhancement or Protection - and specific projects that could improve not only your score but help the waterbody too!
Who is this survey designed for?
This survey is designed for typical shoreland properties and may not be a great fit for unique properties and locations. There may also be nuanced exceptions to some of the answers; try your best to choose the response that most closely matches your property.
A typical shoreland property is relatively flat, doesn't drain a large area, and has some natural area. Homes and other structures are usually within a few hundred feet of the water's edge, and there are no remarkable features like rock outcroppings or cliffs between the home and water. Some properties may be beyond the scope of the Healthy Lakes & Rivers Best Practices the survey suggests. These practices probably aren't a good fit if your property is on slopes greater than 20%, drains more than two acres, has substantial visible erosion, or is mostly cleared and covered with hard surfaces like rooftops, driveways, and roads. Learn if Healthy Lakes & Rivers practices are right for your property.
What happens to my information?
Using this survey is entirely voluntary! Users have the option to submit their results anonymously, which means your survey results are not tied to your contact information. Please note that choosing to share this information can be beneficial as many lake and river organizations offer assistance to waterfront property owners. Responses will not be used for regulatory purposes, no matter how the user decides to complete the Score My Shore Survey.