Introduction
Maine's lakes and streams are among our state’s greatest natural assets. As residents, we take for granted the availability of clean surface waters for fishing, swimming, and escaping from the hubbub of our daily lives. In fact, more and more people are choosing to live on or near lakes.
How do population increases in the watershed (the land whose surface water drains into the lake) put pressure on water quality? As land becomes more developed, trees and shrubs are removed to make room for our homes, businesses, and roads. This causes an increase in the amount of impervious area, which results in greater amounts of storm water runoff. The runoff sweeps the watershed of loose sediment and debris (called nonpoint source pollution, or NPS) and carries the pollution to the lake.
Over time, development anywhere within the watershed, whether along a stream or lake, combined with NPS pollution, can have serious effects on the quality of our lakes and streams. Values of shorefront properties are dependant on healthy waters, as are recreational opportunities such as camping, fishing, and boating. Visual signs of NPS pollution include increased weed growth along lake shorelines, reduced water clarity, algal blooms, sediment deltas, and altered wildlife habitats. Since the values of shorefront properties are dependent on healthy waters, it is vital to control NPS pollution.
We, as property owners, can...
reduce the effects of polluted runoff,
protect the quality of our lakes and streams,
and improve property values
by establishing new vegetated buffers or enhancing existing ones!
Vegetated buffers, or areas of vegetation situated between the built environment and the water, trap sediments, excess nutrients, and other pollutants, prevent erosion, and help to stabilize sloped areas and the shoreline.
The purpose of this handbook is to help you get started on planting your shoreline. There are many options for design and plant materials, and we've included information to help you with your planning. Although the primary focus of this handbook is lakefront areas, the same principles apply to all waterfronts throughout the watershed
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