5.5 Ground Truthing

Pelican Lake is mostly inhabited by low density residential area. A small amount of commercial businesses and agriculture can be found near the lake. Nearly the entire shoreline is developed. Little Pelican and Fish Lakes are the least developed. The majority of shoreline has been riprapped. Smaller sections include beaches and natural vegetation.

5.5.1 Shoreland Inventory

The shoreland area encompasses three components: the upland fringe, the shoreline, and shallow water area by the shore. A photographic inventory of Pelican Lake shoreline was conducted on July 17, August 21, and September 16, 2004 by Blue Water Science. The objectives of the survey were to characterize existing shoreland conditions which will serve as a benchmark for future comparisons.

The criteria for natural conditions were the presence of 50% native vegetation in the under story and at least 50% natural vegetation along the shoreline in a strip at least 15 feet deep. Shorelines and uplands at the 75% natural level were evaluated as well.

A summary of the inventory results is shown in figure 5.11 below. Based on subjective criteria over 40% of the parcels in Pelican Lake shoreland area met the natural ranking criteria for shorelines and upland areas. This is about average compared to other lakes found in the Northern Minnesota data set. In the next five to ten years proactive volunteer native landscaping could improve the natural aspects of some of parcels.

Fig 5.11 Shoreline inventory (Blue Water Science, 2004).

Both of the pictures above are from Pelican Lake. The left parcel would rate as having a shoreline with a buffer greater than 50% of the lot width and an understory with greater than 50% natural cover. [bottom] The right parcels would not qualify as having a natural shoreline buffer greater than 50% of the lot width. Also the understory in the upland area would be rated as having less than 50% natural cover.

Below is a summary of shoreland inventory results for lakes using an evaluation based on shoreland photographs. For each lake the percentage of shoreline and upland conditions with greater than 50% natural conditions is shown. The first tier of lakes are located in northern Wisconsin which are 4 to 5 hours from a major metropolitan area. The middle tier of lakes are about an hour's drive from the Twin Cities, and are considered to be "country" lakes. The lower tier of lakes are in the Twin City Metropolitan area and are categorized as urban lakes. Several lakes of the "urban" lakes have most of their shoreland owned by the city and there is a high percentage of natural conditions. Pelican, Little Pelican, Bass and Fish Lakes are considered country lakes for this inventory. Natural shoreland conditions for the lakes are about average compared to the other country lakes.

Fig 5.12 Percent of shoreline on other Lakes greater that 50% natural

5.3.2 Shoreland Evaluation of Individual Parcels

Results of individual parcel evaluations are published in a report available from the PGOLID Water Resource Coordinator. To obtain these results, please contact Moriya Rufer at 218-846-1465 or lakes.rmbel@eot.com. A key to parcel locations is shown on the map below.

A "parcel" represents either a photo of an undeveloped shoreline area or an approximation of a developed lot. It's possible several lots were missed or boundary lines were misinterpreted. However, the overall picture of the shoreland conditions should be accurate.

Fig 5.13 Key to parcel locations on the Pelican group of Lakes

Pelican Lake : 60-207 (July 17, 2004); 456-658 (August 21, 2004)
Channel from Pelican to Little Pelican: 118-128 (Sept 16, 2004)
Little Pelican: 129-218 (Sept 16, 2004)
Bass: 1-25 (Sept 16, 2004)
Fish: 26-116 (Sept 16, 2004)

Next page: Chapter 6. Minor Watershed Inventory