Keeping in mind the ordinances that regulate shoreland buffer areas,
the location of existing native plants and identifying the site
conditions you would like to change, you are now ready to plan your
shoreland restoration design!
Concept Design
Sketch out the shoreland buffer area on paper. Include the…
· House and any
other structures
· Current
view-shed and lake access
· Existing native
trees, shrubs, downed limbs, logs, and snags
· Area(s) of bare
ground and/or erosion
· Location of the
pier
· Area(s) where non-native
vegetation will be removed prior to restoration
Now visualize your restoration project. For help in selecting native
plants appropriate for your site, refer to the list of plants specific
to your site type.
Determine Site Type/Choose Plants
· Select native plantings
that add a variety of vertical structure, from low ground cover plants
to shrubs and trees. All of these forest layers are extremely important
for wildlife and for protecting water quality.
Of course it takes time for trees to reach sub-canopy or canopy
height, but you can plan for the future now by incorporating them into
your design.
· Include some
pieces of coarse woody debris to add variety in landscape aesthetics and
for wildlife habitat.
· Shape the access path
to the lake in a curved design and cover it with material that will
intercept and percolate run-off water, such as gravel or wood chips.
· Re-locate structures
from the buffer area to enhance your efforts and meet current zoning
codes.
· Control erosion
directly into the lake and retain soils from burying desirable
vegetation. A variety of options are available for use in different
locations. Logs, half-logs,
bio-mat or bio-logs can be used to prevent erosion and stabilize
soils. Silt fencing, straw bales, and landscape cloth can be used to
retain eroding soils. Once your plantings are established, their roots
will also help prevent erosion.
General Guidelines to
Remember When Planning Your Restoration
·
Increase the amount of coarse woody debris in the aquatic,
shoreline, and upland zones in order to add aesthetic variety; provide
wildlife resting, hiding, and feeding habitat; and create moist
microsites for plants and animals.
·
Plant trees and shrubs that will hang over the water’s
edge in order to provide wildlife habitat, provide a source for future
coarse woody debris, and create shade in the shallow water area.
·
Increase the amount of shrub cover that is crucial to many
songbirds, especially some of the warblers that are facing population
declines. You can add
shrubs in clusters, at varying distances between the shoreline and your
house, in such a way that they frame, rather than block your view.
·
Plant tree species so that you have a mix of coniferous
and deciduous trees, to help increase the diversity of the canopy along
the shoreland. Such
diversity is aesthetically pleasing and important for wildlife.
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