Sensitive Lake Shore Assessment

This data layer represents Sensitive Areas of Lakeshore buffered landward by 0.25 mile. It was created by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the Sensitive Lakeshore Assessment Project in north-central Minnesota. The polygons encompass initial shoreline points given a sensitivity index score based on an ecological model incorporating existing ecosystem data (including wetlands and hydric soils) and field-collected data (including distribution and abundance of aquatic plants and high priority animal species). The project's aim was to identify lakeshore areas of unique or critical habitat, or high biological diversity. It is suggested that highly sensitive shoreland areas be afforded greater protection and prioritized for conservation. Sensitivity index scores are lake-specific and are not meant to be compared between lakes.