Protect Shoreline With Incentives
In 2008, after years of study, Minnesota's best and
brightest published the Minnesota Statewide Conservation and
Preservation, MSCP, plan.
The fragmentation and development of riparian areas and forest
habitats is a major threat to ecological health.
The MSCP finds that one of the most pressing ecological problems
in Minnesota is the over-development of riparian areas and forest
habitats.
Excessive property tax pressure drives the subdivision and sale
of shore line property. Two-thirds of the waterfront property in
Minnesota is privately held, yet these owners labor under instense
property tax pressure.
Furthermore, the plan notes that so far regulation, zoning and
enforcement have been unable to mitigate the destruction of
sensitive areas. The rejection of the Draft Shoreline Rules by
Governor Pawlenty is further evidence that regulation by itself is
not enough to protect our water quality.
The plan suggests using incentives to promote the protection or
restoration of our forests and water fronts.
Studies by MSRPO and the US Forest Service have found that more
than 85% of seasonal owners do not want to sell or subdivide their
land.
Yet they are. The reason is tax pressure - very few can afford
to hold large areas of shoreline or forest habitat.
The problem is best summarized by a statement made by a Lake
Vermilion assessor, "We used to mine iron ore, now we mine
lake shore."
Minnesota must stop mining its forests and shore lines
for revenue...
Minnesota
* cannot buy all of the land needed to preserve our water
quality and critical forest habitats.
* cannot enforce the regulations currently on the books
* cannot update regulations
* land owners want to do the right thing by and large, but
cannot afford to hold onto their land and shore line.
Get Educated
How You Can Help: