Riprap
Riprap is defined in Le Sueur County Ordinance as coarse stones randomly and loosely placed along an unstable shoreline to help prevent and reduce erosion and runoff. Practices such as native plantings and riparian buffers should be attempted first, prior to installing your riprap. There are occasions where vegetative practices alone will not help reduce erosion and runoff issues. Riprap should only be used when there is existing erosion and runoff issues.
Ordinance revisions were approved on June 1, 2021 to exclude riprap from the grading, excavating, and filling definition, and require live cuttings, plant plugs, or other native vegetation plantings to be installed in conjunction with the riprap. Riprap will now be a considered a permitted use as long as all requirements and standards are met. If you have additional grading, excavating, and filling activities that are needed prior to installing the riprap, you must also include this information within the land alteration permit. Any proposed grading, excavating, and filling requirements within the bluff, would still need a conditional use permit.
In order to install riprap within Le Sueur County jurisdiction, it must meet the installation requirements (listed in riprap worksheet). If you are able to meet all of the requirements, you will only need to fill out a land alteration permit and riprap worksheet (see documents below). Your land alteration permit and riprap worksheet must be approved by the Environmental Services Department prior to starting your project.
If you are unable to meet the requirements (listed in riprap worksheet), additional permitting will be required prior to installing your project.
2023 Shoreland Land Alteration Permit (pdf)
2023 Shoreland Land Alteration Permit (pdf fillable form)
2023 Shoreland Land Alteration Permit As-Built (pdf)
2023 Shoreland Land Alteration Permit As-Built (pdf fillable form)