Waterfront Property
Finally you have purchased your dream home by the water and no doubt looking forward to spending many hours enjoying the beauty of your surroundings. As a waterfront property owner, you have a unique opportunity to serve as an environmentalist and at the same time protect your investment.
Follow these simple guidelines and increase the value of your waterfront property as well as preserve it for future generations, this will also have significant benefits for our lakes and the environment.
Landscaping
· Maintain a natural landscape, i.e., keep or replenish native trees, woody plants, shrubs, wildflowers, native grasses and a ground cover of low-growing vegetation
· Leave or maintain a buffer zone of natural vegetation
· Plant native bulbs, perennial flowers and similar ground cover to add color
· Consider preserving or re-creating a natural, wooded setting. You can have a wooded setting and still maintain the view of the lake. Many landowners find that trees add a scenic "frame" to the lake’s "portrait"
· Ensure that you have appropriate stormwater and erosion controls that follow the natural contours of the land and use materials and systems that promote infiltration rather than runoff
· Limit paving sidewalks, driveways and rooftop areas - these tend to encourage erosion
· Consider planting a rain garden, which will promote rainwater infiltration and help control runoff
Lawn Care
· Consider smaller lawns with shrub borders or native plantings to replace the lawn area
· Choose grass and/or groundcover that minimizes maintenance, fertilizer and pesticide application
· Consider allowing natural vegetation to reestablish itself
· Water infrequently but thoroughly
· Mow only when necessary—the ideal height for healthy grass is 2.5-3 inches.
· Use nonmotorized lawn mowers for small lawns
· Leave grass clippings on the lawn
· Avoid using fertilizers and broadleaf herbicides
· Pull weeds by hand in small yards
· Rake leaves as soon as possible after they fall
Shoreland, Wildlife Habitat and Aquatic Plant Protection
· Maintain a natural shoreline
· Preserve aquatic plants. Remove only the plants absolutely necessary for swimming or boating
· Reestablish rooted aquatic plants
· Use organic materials(shrubs, brush, logs, etc.) combined with plants for erosion control
· Use riprap (specific gradations of rock along the shore) only if organic materials are not effective in controlling erosion
· Preserve or reestablish existing vegetated stream corridors
· Ensure that there is adequate and appropriate stream bank vegetation
· Preserve trees, trees that have fallen in lakes, tree trunks and branches to provide protection for fish and aquatic life
Building and Remodeling
· Follow the guidelines outlined in this checklist
· Consult the Green Built Home Checklist for more recommendations on landscape conservation and enhancement, measures to protect topsoil and control erosion, and storm water management through use of permeable paved surfaces and rain water dispersion/diversion
· Construct docks, decks, and other outdoor structures from sustainable, low-toxicity materials such as ACQ treated wood or recycled plastic composite materials (no CCA-Chromated Copper Arsenate-treated lumber
· Maintain the existing elevation of the lot so as to not significantly change the flow of water from the land
· Place buildings and other structures away from ravines, dry creek beds, and other such waterways
IMPORTANT NOTE:
There are federal, state and local laws and regulations that govern many aspects of shoreland property maintenance, including: remodeling, cutting vegetation, landscaping and building on lands within the shoreland zone (which normally is 300 feet from a stream or 1,000 feet from a lake.)
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