Restoring Your Shoreline with Native Plants
Sawyer County, Wisconsin is home to a rich variety of native flora perfectly adapted to its northern climate, sandy/loamy soils, and abundant woodlands. Whether you are setting up a woodland shade garden, building a shoreline buffer, or creating a butterfly meadow, exact species and sourcing options are available locally.
Resources are available at Sawyer County to provide assistance with shoreline assessment, please contact:
Natalie Erler
Conservation Specialist & AIS Coordinator
Sawyer County Zoning & Conservation
10610 Main Street, Suite 49
Hayward, WI 54843
Main office: 715-634-6463
Direct Line: 715-638-3266
natalie.erler@sawyercountygov.org
Here’s the link to the Sawyer County information about native plants, these were the brochures mentioned in the presentation at the recent Open Board Meeting on 6/6/26.
Resources from Sawyer County and DNR on Native Plants & Shoreline Restoration
- Resources from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on Shoreline Restoration and Improvement
- Wisconsin DNR Native Plant Resources: The official state portal offers downloadable booklets on getting started with native landscaping, rain gardens, and plant recommendations for birds and monarch butterflies.
- Healthy Lakes 350 sq ft Native Planting Companion Guide: This brochure breaks down six pre-planned native gardens tailored to specific lake property needs, ranging from low-growing setups to bird and butterfly habitats.
- Shoreline Plants and Landscaping: A comprehensive UW-Extension document on transitioning away from turf grass and picking the right native vegetation for your water’s edge.