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The owner of a homesite on South Lindstrom Lake has tapped into a state grant program for flood damage reduction to repair and improve the lakeshore on his lot, and to help replace the old house, that was repeatedly endangered by rising lake levels.

Mike Mueller, of the Department of Natural Resources, explained the state program funding was heavily utilized on properties in the Red River Valley, but it hasn’t been used all that much in this area despite our many lakes and rivers.

The home on Mentzer Trail in Chisago Lake Township South was replaced over the last year-and-a half with roughly $21,000 in assistance through the Flood Damage Reduction Grant Program. Much more was spent to actually construct the new dwelling explained Mueller, who is Regional Hydrologist for the DNR.

The aid was instrumental in getting the house moved back from the waterline and cleaning up the shoreline. (See photos.)

Mueller explained that the home now sits well-off the shoreline but more importantly the elevation of the structure is improved.

Early efforts to retard flooding left the site with a concrete block wall on the lakeshore edge that the property owner also removed along with patio remnants.

Mueller said the project has been satisfactorily completed and met its grant funding requirements.

“There’s still money available” in this state assistance program, Mueller added. The goal of the state program is to get structures off floodplains for environmental benefits and lessen costs associated with damages from flooding.

The money is funneled through the county, which serves as “fiscal agent” for the state. The County Board had unanimously authorized this grant in 2003.

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