A Guide for Buying and Managing Shoreland

Sustainable shoreland ecosystems promote a healthy community, environment, and economy.

Sustainable quality of life

A high quality of life can be achieved through low impact development that meets communities' social and economic needs while sustaining high-quality natural resources.

Water quality and watershed protection and management

Watershed-wide impacts and benefits need to be considered in all land use decisions.
All surface water needs to have healthy buffer/filter strips along the shoreline to reduce and slow runoff and to filter the remaining runoff and increase infiltration.
Land use beyond the filter strip also needs to be carefully managed.
Healthy wetland complexes are critical to good water quality.
Preservation and restoration of native vegetation on shorelines and throughout the watershed provides a diverse plant community and healthy aquatic and upland habitats.

Natural resource protection and balanced land use

Residential communities that preserve natural vegetation and habitats improve the environment.
Development in the entire watershed needs to follow established best management practices.
Sustainable farming practices are critical to having a balanced and healthy natural environment.
Commercial development needs to be integrated into the environment and done in a way that minimizes negative effects on the natural environment.

Sustainable recreation

Outdoor recreation is dependent on a healthy and attractive environment.
Recreation pursuits should allow people to enjoy the outdoors without damaging the environment.

Visual quality protection

A healthy ecosystem with sensitive development, areas of native vegetation, natural shorelines, and good habitats for birds and wildlife provides a visually attractive environment.