ONEIDA COUNTY - Oneida County wants to take care of all of its 1,100 lakes.

That’s why it’s using state grant money to help landowners improve their shorelines.

“People have got less money in their pockets and everything’s been tight, we just want to get the word out that we have some funding,” said Jean Hansen, Oneida County’s conservation specialist.

The county has gotten about $60,000 every year since 2001 to help landowners with their shoreline.

The county put between $15,000 to 18,000 into one Lake Minocqua property to help prevent soil erosion and improve the water quality.

But the landowner has to match that, a requirement to get the grant money.

“We work with the people that want to work with their shoreline and help it out. We’re not regulatory, we don’t make people restore their shorelines. It’s only if they want that shoreline to be protected and have less sediment into the lake,” Hansen said.

Hansen hopes more people take advantage of the grant.

“You have to think back to, if you like butterflies, if you like hearing frogs, if you like to fish, all that is all intertwined into good shoreline management,” she said.

If you’re not quite ready to get out the checkbook just yet, you can still talk to the county about setting up a plan for the future.

Oneida County Land and Water Conservation Department, 715-365-2750.

Story By: Lex Gray