A shoreline buffer is a strip of vegetation, trees, shrubs, grasses, and perennials that borders the edge of a waterway. The larger this strip the better, but a buffer depth of even 10 meters (30 feet) will still provide great benefits.

Shoreline buffers are important for:

• Keeping contaminants such as sediments, fertilizers and pesticides from reaching the lake, reducing water quality and harming fish and wildlife habitat
• Preventing erosion by keeping sediments and nutrients from entering a lake and leading to accelerated algae growth, reduced water clarity, the smothering of fish eggs and more
• Shading and cooling the water
• Providing protective cover for birds, mammals and other wildlife that feed, breed and raise their young near water

To create a shoreline buffer you can either do nothing and let natural vegetation establish itself or you can design your own buffer using native plants.

Fallen trees, overhanging branches, dead standing trees, rock piles and aquatic vegetation are critical for wildlife. For example:

• Turtles use logs to bask on
• Fish use underwater branches and logs to hide from predators and to lay eggs
• Overhanging branches shade and cool the water where fish search for food and spawn
• Logs on land provide important habitat for small mammals, toads and salamanders
• Dead standing trees and cavity trees are used by many birds and mammals to create nests, raise young and provide food

A poorly installed septic system can result in health risks and water quality problems that affect you, your property value and wildlife. They can leak phosphates and nitrates into nearby lakes and groundwater, contributing to decreased water quality, algal blooms and fish kills.

If you have a septic system consider these points to keep it functioning properly and to protect your lake:

• Do not add food, grease or other non-human waste to your systems
• Do not use additives and toxic cleaners
• Have your septic system or holding tank pumped out on a regular basis and have it checked regularly to make sure everything is in good working order

In the past it was common practice to install retaining walls as a way to prevent shoreline erosion. However, it is now known that these structures actually do the opposite that they actually cause erosion, scour the lake bottom sediment and eliminate shoreline habitat.

If you have a concrete retaining wall and it needs to be replaced make sure you have the proper permits (see our Permits and Approvals section). Alternatively, consider replacing it with angular rock, also known as riprap. Riprap absorbs and deflects waves and boat wakes, and plants can even grow between the rocks helping to grip and keep soils in place even more!

If you have a concrete retaining wall that doesn’t need to be replaced, you can plant vegetation along the top of the wall. This will help filter runoff before it enters the lake and help reduce erosion by helping hold the soil in place.