Water Quality Buffers - Lakescaping
Many shoreline owners and visitors enjoy lakes and streams for their wealth of wildlife, beauty and tranquility. Traditional landscape ideas teach us to accept neatly mowed, highly maintained lawns as a sign that we care for our land. This method of caring has destroyed the features that make it possible for us to observe and enjoy wildlife and has contributed to degrading water quality in our lakes, streams, and wetlands as well as significant streambank and shoreline erosion. Historically, the solution to erosion, which was caused by maintaining a lawn to the edge, was to place rocks or other heavy items to keep the soil in place. These "hard armoring" practices may stabilize the streambank or shoreline if they are designed and constructed properly, but they are often very expensive and create an area that is almost devoid of wildlife habitat and other benefits. If we want to continue to enjoy our water resources and the wildlife that live within and use them, a change in how we view "the perfect shoreline" is needed. The goal of lakescaping is to recreate the natural shoreline that once occurred on the land.
Lakescaping is the creation of a buffer zone of native vegetation extending from in the water up onto the shoreline. This buffer zone:
- Controls shoreline erosion by stabilizing the soils and reducing the impact of waves
- Protects the lake by filtering runoff from the land
- Provides fish and wildlife habitat
- Deters nuisance geese (geese have an aversion to vegetation over 18", fearing the possibility of a predator)
- Provides privacy
- Reduces long-term maintenance requirements (it doesn't require weekly mowing
The Importance of Vegetation
Vegetation is one of the most important elements in the natural protection of land. Roots and stems tend to trap fine sand and soil particles, forming an erosion-resistant layer. Vegetation absorbs some of the water's energy, slowing down potentially erosive currents. As well as stabilizing the soil, vegetation also acts as a shoreline buffer that slows runoff entering the stream or lake and removes nutrients from the runoff. Although the term lakescaping implies lakes, lakescaping is appropriate for streams, wetlands and ponds as well. It is one way that you as a landowner can contribute to preserving and improving the quality of our water resources and wildlife habitat. A lakescaped shoreline can include a variety of wildflowers, grasses, sedges, shrubs and trees. Native plants should be used because they'll grow best without the need for input of fertilizers and water. Many native plants have extensive and deep root systems to hold the soil in place.
