Natural shoreland

Preserve and restore native shoreline vegetation

Natural Resources Benefits - Diverse and healthy habitats

• Improved 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

Visual Qualities

• Visually attractive natural shoreline
• Natural shoreline is attractive from the water
• Natural vegetation screens man-made intrusions 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