DULUTH, Minn. — With conservation groups raising concerns about rapid development along the shores of Minnesota's lakes, the Department of Natural Resources is starting the long process of crafting new rules for waterfront construction.

The DNR will host public meetings across the state in June, and is expected to have recommendations ready by mid-2009. It would take another year after that to change the regulations through the state's complex rulemaking process.
It would be the first change to statewide lakefront development rules since 1989, and only the second since 1971. Rules would govern everything from lot size, setback distance from the lake, buffer zones between homes and water, septic tank rules, subdivision limits, forest and agricultural practices and more.

Supporters say stiffer rules can't come fast enough to protect what's left of the state's undeveloped shoreline along Minnesota's 13,000-some lakes, and to keep existing development in check.

Environmentalists cite research they say shows that development on lakes has contributed to leaking septic systems and fertilized lawns that contaminate lakes with phosphorus, erosion from building sites, loss of shoreline habitat for waterfowl and other birds, amphibians and mammals, and declining spawning areas for fish.

Opponents are leery that statewide rules won't account for local circumstances and concerns, and could stifle the economic benefits of increased development on lake property.

``This is a big state and there are a lot of differences between Rock County and St. Louis County,'' said Annalee Garletz, environmental coordinator for the Association of Minnesota Counties.

After counties failed in recent years to adopt voluntary alternative shoreline standards suggested by the DNR, the Legislature in 2007 ordered the agency to start the process of setting new required guidelines. ``The mandate was pretty clear that change is needed,'' said Sen. Satveer Chaudhary, DFL-Fridley, chairman of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee.

Henry VanOffelen, of the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, said anglers, hunters and birdwatchers should attempt to offer their thoughts during the DNR's June meetings. He said the agency's advisory committee is dominated by representatives of local governments, real estate and agricultural interests who are resistant to change.

The DNR meetings will be held at the following dates and locations from 6:30 to 9 p.m.:

—Minnetonka, Minnetonka Community Center, June 3

—Faribault, South Central Community College, June 4

—Winona, Holzinger Lodge, June 5

—Windom, DNR Office, June 9

—Willmar, Prairie Woods Env. Learning Center, June 10

—Detroit Lakes, Minn. State Comm. & Tech. College, June 11

—Alexandria, Alexandria Tech. College, June 12

—Duluth, EPA Gitchee Gumee Conference Center, June 16

—Brainerd, Northland Arboretum, June 17

—Hibbing, Hibbing Community College, June 23

—Bemidji, Bemidji High School, June 24

—International Falls, Holiday Inn, June 25

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