Protecting Your Shorelines
with Landscaping
and Buffers
Considerations in
Shoreline Management
1. Riparian Landscaping
(Buffers)
2. Maintenance Practices
& Stewardship of
Lakeshore Property
3. Resources for
Information &
Plant Materials
Landscaping on
Shorelines
• Need to rethink
what we consider
a beautiful
shoreline
• Shift away from
manicured lawn
to natural
landscapes
Photo: MN DNR, 1999
Landscaping for Wildlife and Water Quality
.
Traditional
Traditional Lawn
Lawn
vs.
vs. Natural
Natural
““Lakescaping”
Lakescaping”
Landscaping for Wildlife and
Water Quality. MN DNR, 1999
Disadvantages of
Traditional Lawn
• Increased runoff/pollutant load
• Prone to erosion
• High maintenance (labor, resources)
• May require chemical additions
• Loss of wildlife habitat/corridors
• Loss of species diversity
• Lack of interesting landscape
Landscaping for Wildlife and
Water Quality. MN DNR, 1999
Advantages of
Landscaping with Native
Riparian Vegetation
• Pollutant reduction
• Bank stabilization
• Low maintenance once established
• Provides wildlife habitat/corridors
• Increased diversity of landscape
• Provides privacy
• Nuisance waterfowl deterrent
Let’s Talk…
Let’s Enjoy!
Creative
Lakescaping Ideas
• Target wildlife habitat (plants
that attract certain species)
• Select rare/interesting species
(example: Wild rice)
• Look at natural areas
in your region to get ideas
of what a “natural“
lakeshore looks like
Succession to
a “Lakescape”
Landscaping for Wildlife and
Water Quality. MN DNR, 1999
The “Nature”
of a Lakescape
Landscaping for Wildlife and
Water Quality. MN DNR, 1999
Riparian Buffers Can
Deter Nuisance Waterfowl
•• Maintaining
Maintaining aa buffer
buffer of
of vegetation
vegetation
(Dense
(Dense shrubs
shrubs or
or vegetation
vegetation
>
>3
3 ft.
ft. high)
high) can
can deter
deter Canada
Canada
geese
geese from
from frequenting
frequenting your
your property
property
•Turf
•Turf grass
grass right
right up
up to
to lakeshore
lakeshore is
is ideal
ideal
habitat
habitat for
for Canada
Canada geese.
geese. Food
Food source
source
with
with close
close proximity
proximity to
to water
water and
and clear
clear
view
view of
of predators.
predators.
Landscaping for Wildlife and
Water Quality. MN DNR, 1999
Other Waterfowl
Deterrents
Photo: Cygnet Enterprises West
• Herding dogs
• Remote control
cars/boats
• Laser beams
• Chasing or hazing
• Egg addling
• Pyrotechnics
• “Gator Guard”
• Chemical (ReJex-iT)
Beware PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE!
(Lythrum salicaria)
• Highly invasive exotic
perennial
• Outcompetes native
vegetation
• Forms monocultures
• Little wildlife value
• One plant can produce
2 million seeds annually
• Can be present in
“wildflower” mixes
Other Exotics/Invasives
to Avoid
• Reed Canary Grass
(Phalaris arundinacea
Photo: USDA PLANTS Database
Other Exotics/Invasives
to Avoid
• Crown vetch
(Coronilla varia)
Photo: USDA PLANTS Database
Other Exotics/Invasives
to Avoid
• White and Yellow
Sweetclover
(Melilotus alba and
M. officinalis)
Photo: USDA PLANTS Database
Other Exotics/Invasives
to Avoid
• Russian Olive
(Eleagnus
angustifolia)
Photo: USDA PLANTS Database
Other Exotics/Invasives
to Avoid
• Common Buckthorn
(Rhamnus cathartica)
Photo: K.E. Bolin and NPS Plant
Conservation Alliance
Other Exotics/Invasives
to Avoid
• Tartarian
Honeysuckle
(Lonicera tatarica)
Photo: Kenneth J. Sytsma &
Wisconsin State Herbarium
How do I get started?
•• Research
Research your
your area
area
-- View
View natural
natural areas
areas in
in your
your region
region
-- Talk
Talk to
to DNR,
DNR, Conservation
Conservation District
District personnel
personnel
-- Consult
Consult publications
publications
•• Sketch
Sketch your
your plans
plans
•• Approach
Approach as
as other
other landscaping
landscaping with
with planting
planting
zones
Photo: MN DNR, 1999
zones and
and vegetation
vegetation
Landscaping for Wildlife and Water Quality
mapped
mapped
•• Order
Order plants
plants in
in advance
advance
(Nurseries
(Nurseries may
may require
require
Advance
Advance notice
notice for
for
large
large projects)
projects)
•• Educate
Educate neighbors
neighbors
Increasing Acceptance
of Natural Landscaping
•• Let
Let others
others know
know what
what you’re
you’re doing
doing
is
is intentional
intentional
•• Signs
Signs are
are available
available explaining
explaining
natural
natural landscaping
landscaping
•• Increases
Increases in
in wildlife
wildlife sightings
sightings on
on your
your
lakeshore
lakeshore property
property
Maintenance/Stewardship
Practices
• Fertilizer Use
- Low or no phosphoruscontaining fertilizers
- Soil tested to determine fertilizer
needs (County Extension Offices)
• Mowing
- Mulch grass clipping
- Maintain grass height > 3 inches
• Leaf Litter
- Do not rake leaves into the water
- Do not burn leaves near water
Maintenance/Stewardship
Practices (cont.)
•• Ashes
Ashes (Do
(Do not
not allow
allow ashes
ashes from
from barbeques,
barbeques,
firepits,
firepits, etc.
etc. to
to enter
enter water…source
water…source of
of
nutrients.
nutrients.
•• Car
(Wash cars
cars on
on permeable
permeable
Car washing
washing (Wash
surfaces
surfaces to
to allow
allow for
for infiltration
infiltration into
into soil.)
soil.)
•• Pet
(Properly dispose
dispose in
in garbage
garbage
Pet waste
waste (Properly
receptacles,
receptacles, flushing,
flushing, pet
pet waste
waste
composter)
composter) Wastes
Wastes contribute
contribute nutrients
nutrients
and
and bacteria.
bacteria.
•• Snag
Snag management
management (Retain
(Retain downed
downed limbs,
limbs,
branches,
branches, debris
debris in
in shoreline
shoreline area
area for
for
aquatic
aquatic habitat).
habitat).
Resources for Native
Landscaping
• Publications
• Web Sites
• Native Plant
Nurseries
• Conservation
personnel (DNR,
conservation
districts)
• Nature groups/
organizations
MN DNR, 1999
Landscaping for Wildlife and Water Quality
Publications:
Publications:
1)
1) Landscaping
Landscaping for
for Wildlife
Wildlife and
and Water
Water Quality.
Quality. Minnesota
Minnesota Department
Department of
of Natural
Natural
Resources.
Resources. 1999.
1999. Available
Available from
from the
the Minnesota
Minnesota Bookstore.
Bookstore. Phone:
Phone: 800-657-3757.
800-657-3757. Excellent
Excellent
information
information including
including before/after
before/after landscaping
landscaping photos
photos and
and sketches;
sketches; plant
plant species
species listings
listings and
and
habitat
habitat requirements
requirements
2)
2) Through
Through the
the Looking
Looking Glass-A
Glass-A Field
Field Guide
Guide to
to Aquatic
Aquatic Plants.
Plants. Wisconsin
Wisconsin Lakes
Lakes
Partnership.
1997.
Available
through
the
Wisconsin
Extension
for
$20
+
shipping.
Partnership. 1997. Available through the Wisconsin Extension for $20 + shipping. Phone:
Phone:
715-346-2116.
715-346-2116. One
One of
of the
the user-friendliest
user-friendliest taxonomic
taxonomic books
books available.
available. Provides
Provides drawings,
drawings,
habitat
habitat requirements,
requirements, wildlife
wildlife value
value for
for aquatic
aquatic plants.
plants.
3)
3) The
The Water’s
Water’s Edge-Helping
Edge-Helping fish
fish and
and wildlife
wildlife on
on your
your waterfront
waterfront property.
property. Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Department
of
Natural
Resources.
2000.
General
overview
of
benefits
of
maintaining
Department of Natural Resources. 2000. General overview of benefits of maintaining aa
shoreline
shoreline buffer
buffer on
on your
your property.
property.
4)
4) Michigan
Michigan Native
Native Plant
Plant Producers
Producers Association,
Association, 2002
2002 Source
Source Guide,
Guide, Michigan
Michigan
Genotype
Seeds
&
Plants.
Contains
a
list
of
members
with
addresses
and
phone
Genotype Seeds & Plants. Contains a list of members with addresses and phone numbers,
numbers,
as
as well
well as
as aa listing
listing of
of plant
plant materials
materials available.
available.
5)
5) Restore
Restore Your
Your Shore.
Shore. Minnesota
Minnesota Department
Department of
of Natural
Natural Resources.
Resources. Available
Available from
from the
the
Minnesota
Minnesota Bookstore.
Bookstore. Phone:
Phone: 800-657-3757.
800-657-3757. Interactive
Interactive CD
CD Rom
Rom which
which contains
contains step-by-step
step-by-step
how
to
of
restoring
native
lakeshore
vegetation,
worksheets,
example
projects
and
how to of restoring native lakeshore vegetation, worksheets, example projects and an
an index
index of
of
over
over 400
400 plant
plant species.
species.
Web
Web Sites:
Sites:
1)
1) http://www.macd.org/native
http://www.macd.org/native plants/npproducts.html
plants/npproducts.html
Michigan
Michigan Conservation
Conservation Districts.
Districts. Contact
Contact names
names and
and numbers
numbers for
for Michigan
Michigan Conservation
Conservation Districts
Districts
with
with services
services and
and products
products they
they provide.
provide.
2)
2) http://www.agnr.umd.edu/MCE/Publications/Publications.cfm?ID=13
http://www.agnr.umd.edu/MCE/Publications/Publications.cfm?ID=13
University
University of
of Maryland,
Maryland, Department
Department of
of Agriculture
Agriculture and
and Natural
Natural Resources.
Resources. Riparian
Riparian Forest
Forest Buffer
Buffer
Design,
Design, Establishment
Establishment and
and Maintenance.
Maintenance. How-to
How-to guide
guide for
for streambank
streambank restoration
restoration including
including
planting
planting zones,
zones, suggestions
suggestions for
for plant
plant species
species and
and maintenance.
maintenance.
3)
3) http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/greenacres/toolkit/chap4.html
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/greenacres/toolkit/chap4.html
U.S.
U.S. Environmental
Environmental Protection
Protection Agency.
Agency. Natural
Natural Landscaping
Landscaping for
for Public
Public Officials.
Officials. Provides
Provides how-to
how-to
information
information for
for various
various habitats
habitats including
including site-preparation,
site-preparation, plant
plant selection
selection and
and maintenance.
maintenance.
4)
4) http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/plntguid/plntguid.htm
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/plntguid/plntguid.htm
U.S.
U.S. Department
Department of
of Agriculture.
Agriculture. Midwestern
Midwestern Wetland
Wetland Flora
Flora Field
Field Office
Office Guide
Guide to
to Plant
Plant Species.
Species.
Provides
photos,
distribution
and
detailed
species
information
for
midwestern
wetland
plant
Provides photos, distribution and detailed species information for midwestern wetland plant species.
species.
5)
5) http://www.gvsu.edu/wri/isc/bear/ripguide/lawncare.htm
http://www.gvsu.edu/wri/isc/bear/ripguide/lawncare.htm
Annis
Annis Water
Water Resources
Resources Institute.
Institute. Grand
Grand Valley
Valley State
State University.
University.
Web
Web Sites
Sites cont.
cont.
6)
6) http://plants.usda.gov/
http://plants.usda.gov/
U.S.
U.S. Department
Department of
of Agriculture.
Agriculture. PLANTS
PLANTS database.
database. Allows
Allows aa search
search for
for plant
plant species
species by
by common
common
or
scientific
name.
Provides
photos,
distribution,
plant
tolerances,
and
species
characteristics.
or scientific name. Provides photos, distribution, plant tolerances, and species characteristics.
7)
7) http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fwt/back_issues/1996/Lakescap.pdf
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fwt/back_issues/1996/Lakescap.pdf
Minnesota
Minnesota Department
Department of
of Natural
Natural Resources.
Resources. Brief
Brief page
page on
on benefits
benefits of
of native
native landscaping.
landscaping.
8)
8) http://www.crjc.org/riparianbuffers.htm
http://www.crjc.org/riparianbuffers.htm
Connecticut
Connecticut River
River Joint
Joint Commission.
Commission. Guidance
Guidance and
and general
general information
information on
on stream
stream and
and riverbank
riverbank
plantings
plantings and
and maintenance.
maintenance.
9)
9) http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/exotics/purple.html
http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/exotics/purple.html
Minnesota
Minnesota Sea
Sea Grant.
Grant. Detailed
Detailed information
information on
on purple
purple loosestrife
loosestrife including
including history,
history, identification,
identification,
and
control
measures.
and control measures.
10)
10) http://www.lakegeorgeassociation.org/
http://www.lakegeorgeassociation.org/
Lake
Lake George
George Association,
Association, New
New York.
York. Example
Example of
of aa large-scale
large-scale lake
lake association
association and
and projects
projects and
and
activities
implemented.
activities implemented.
11)
11) http://lakewhatcom.wsu.edu/gardenkit/Lakescaping/RiparianPlanting.htm
http://lakewhatcom.wsu.edu/gardenkit/Lakescaping/RiparianPlanting.htm
Washington
Washington State
State University.
University. Example
Example of
of aa Washington
Washington State
State model,
model, but
but isis an
an excellent
excellent listing
listing of
of
the
necessary
process
of
lakescaping.
Some
adaptations
are
possible
if
you
work
with
a
the necessary process of lakescaping. Some adaptations are possible if you work with a
knowledgeable
knowledgeable Michigan
Michigan landscape
landscape expert.
expert.
Web
Web Sites
Sites cont.
cont.
12)
12) http://www.shorelandmanagement.org/quick/w.html
http://www.shorelandmanagement.org/quick/w.html
Minnesota
Minnesota Shoreland
Shoreland Management.
Management. Contains
Contains an
an extensive
extensive library
library of
of on-line
on-line publications
publications and
and
links
links pertaining
pertaining to
to owners
owners of
of shoreline
shoreline properties.
properties. AA great
great resource.
resource.
13)
13) http://www.for-wild.org/index.htm
http://www.for-wild.org/index.htm
Wild
Wild Ones
Ones Natural
Natural Landscapers,
Landscapers, Ltd.
Ltd. This
This isis aa non-profit
non-profit organization
organization with
with aa mission
mission to
to educate
educate
and
share
information
with
members
and
community
at
the
“plant-roots”
level
and
to
promote
and share information with members and community at the “plant-roots” level and to promote
biodiversity
biodiversity and
and environmentally
environmentally sound
sound practices.
practices. Local
Local and
and regional
regional chapters
chapters exist
exist in
in the
the
Midwest.
Midwest.
14)
14) http://www.chesapeakebay.net/pubs/subcommittee/nsc/forest/handbook.htm
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/pubs/subcommittee/nsc/forest/handbook.htm
Chesapeake
Chesapeake Bay
Bay Riparian
Riparian Handbook.
Handbook. AA Guide
Guide for
for Establishing
Establishing and
and Maintaining
Maintaining Riparian
Riparian Forest
Forest
Buffers.
A
481
page
downloadable
document
extensively
detailing
all
aspects
of
riparian
Buffers. A 481 page downloadable document extensively detailing all aspects of riparian
buffers.
buffers.
15)
15) http://www.treelink.org/woodnotes/vol1/no1/rrres.htm
http://www.treelink.org/woodnotes/vol1/no1/rrres.htm
Riparian
Riparian Restoration
Restoration Roundtable.
Roundtable. An
An extensive
extensive listing
listing of
of links
links citing
citing techniques
techniques and
and examples
examples of
of
riparian
restoration
projects.
riparian restoration projects.
Native
Native Plant
Plant Nurseries:
Nurseries:
1)
1) See
See list
list of
of Michigan
Michigan Native
Native Plant
Plant Producers
Producers Association
Association (publications)
(publications) available
available as
as aa
handout
http://www.for--wild.org/michigan/MNPPA.
wild.org/michigan/MNPPA.pdf
pdf)
handout (http://www.for
(http://www.for-wild.org/michigan/MNPPA.pdf)
2)
2) Prairie
Prairie Nursery.
Nursery. Westfield,
Westfield, WI.
WI. Phone:
Phone: 800-476-9453.
800-476-9453. www.prairienursery.com.
www.prairienursery.com.
3)
3) J&J
J&J Transplant
Transplant Aquatic
Aquatic Nursery.
Nursery. Wild
Wild Rose,
Rose, WI.
WI. Phone:
Phone: 800-622-5055.
800-622-5055.
www.tranzplant.com.
www.tranzplant.com.
4)
4) Kester’s
Kester’s Wild
Wild Game
Game Food
Food Nurseries,
Nurseries, Inc.
Inc. Omro,
Omro, WI.
WI. Phone:
Phone: 800-558-6727.
800-558-6727.
www.kestersnursery.com
www.kestersnursery.com
5)
5) Spence
Spence Restoration
Restoration Nursery.
Nursery. Muncie,
Muncie, IN.
IN. Phone:
Phone: 765-286-7154.
765-286-7154.
www.spencenursery.com.
www.spencenursery.com.
6)
6) Heartland
Heartland Restoration
Restoration Services,
Services, Inc.
Inc. Fort
Fort Wayne,
Wayne, IN.
IN. Phone:
Phone: 219-489-8511.
219-489-8511.
hlandrest@aol.com.
hlandrest@aol.com.