A Guide for Buying and Managing Shoreland
Section 8: Natural Shoreland
Preserve and restore native shoreline vegetation
Natural Resources Benefits - Diverse and healthy habitats
- Protecting water quality improves the health and diversity of the aquatic environment
- Healthy and diverse shoreland vegetation provides good habitat
- Good habitats improve the health and diversity of shoreland and upland birds and wildlife
- Natural shoreline is attractive as seen from the water and the land
- Natural vegetation screens structures and makes them less intrusive
- Native vegetation provides color, texture and variety
- Diverse and healthy plant communities are visually attractive
Water quality benefits
- Reduced water runoff - Precipitation is slowed and redirected through the upper story, mid-story and ground level vegetation. A mostly natural landscape has only 10% runoff.
- Filtered water runoff - Pollutants are prevented from entering the water. Sediments are reduced and water quality is preserved. Excessive nutrients are eliminated and excessive aquatic plant growth is controlled.
- Increased ground water infiltration - Water is filtered before it enters the ground and results in cleaner drinking and agricultural use water. Increased infiltration recharges underground aquifers. Natural landscapes infiltrate 50% of precipitation.