Landscaping at the Water’s Edge: An Ecological Approach · Landscaping at the Water’s Edge: An...

Landscaping at the Water’s Edge:An Ecological Approach

"Innovative Landscaping to Protect Water Quality: Reigning in runoff"

Jeff SchlossExtension Professor and Water Resources Specialist

UNH Cooperative ExtensionUNH Center for Freshwater Biology

Lake Wicwas Association Annual Meeting August 6, 2011

Center Meredith, New Hampshire

NH Lakes• Some of the cleanest and clearest lakes in the

country• However:

– Many lakes are showing signs of stress– Cyanobacteria blooms are becoming more

prevalent• Nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) play a large role

– UNH studies suggest as TP and TN increase so do toxins

Precipitation

Snow Pack

Wetland Storage

Infiltration

THE WATER CYCLE

Ground Water Movement to Streams, Lakes, Wetlands & the Oceans

Evaporation &Transpiration

Transpiration

Evaporation

Ocean

Snowmelt & Surface Runoff

Runoff

Stream Flow

10% 50% 55% 15%

Development Impactson the Water Cycle

Development Impactson the Water Cycle

5x

7x

18x

Carving Up the LandscapeCarving Up the Landscape

Courtesy of UCONN Cooperative Extension

Buffer Width Affects Water Quality

Importance of Layered Vegetation

Roots stabilize soils preventing erosion and allow plants to pump up water back into the atmosphere (transpiration)

Infiltration through forest duff

Transpiration

Evaporation

Forest duff and soils act as a “sponge”

High shrubs/grasses will also discourage geese from coming on shore

Trees, tall plants and shrubs can discourage invasive species from

spreading by shading

Landscaping does not have to be the problem

Let’s Change the Approach!

Let’s Change the Approach!

Landscaping can be the solution

Dealing With Home-Site RunoffPotential Contributing Waters Sources

• From Off-site– Roads, Neighboring Properties

• From Your Site– Driveways, Boat ramps, Foot paths,

Compacted surfaces, Patios – Roof Line, Gutters, Sump Pumps– Seeps

Site Drawing

Assessment&

Inventory

•Wet areas•Seeps/Springs•Paved Areas•Compacted

Areas•Point Sources

•Culvets•Drains•Sumps

•Paths/Trails•Concentrated

Flows•Flat Areas•Sloped Areas

Following the Flow

• Diversion -away from steep areas into vegetated areas

• Interruption- break up the flow so it can’t build up velocity

• Spread the flow over a flat vegetated area

• Increase groundwater rechargethrough infiltration

• Protect shore area with riparianbuffer

Dealing With Home-Site Runoff

Infiltration (Drip) Trench

Photos: AWWA

Rain barrels

Rain gardens

• Captures and soaks up storm water runoff

• Plants that tolerate temporary ponding

Rain gardens

Photos: AWWA

Photo Credit: Barr Engineering, Minneapolis, MN

Road, Driveway, or Parking Lot ScenarioWith a curb (curb cut needed)

Contributing Area From Road

Photo Credit: Rusty SchmidtDrainage Area

Infiltration Steps

Waterbars

Photo: AWWA

Photo: AWWA

Waterbar Series

Photo: AWWA

Plunge Pool/Dry Wells

Photo: AWWA

Swales and Berms

Swales and Berms

Swales Can Promote

Detention and Infiltration

Infiltration Trench

Check Dam

Minimize Imperviousness,Use Vegetation

Photo: AWWA

5x

7x

18x

Previous Example with Best Practices

1,500

1.5 X

0.062 X

13<3 X

50 ft Forested Buffer

Infiltration Trenches

Contact Informationand Resources

Jeffrey SchlossUNH Cooperative Extension133 Spaulding Hall, 38 Academic WayDurham, NH 03824(603) 862-3848 jeff.schloss@unh.eduPublications:Extension.unh.edu/resources

Resources Links

“Landscaping at the Water’s Edge: an ecological approach” hard copy $20 http://extension.unh.edu/resources/

Pdf version (free): http://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource001799_Rep2518.pdf

NH DES- A Shoreland Homeowner’s Guide to Stormwater Managementhttp://des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pip/publications/wd/documents/nhdes-wd-10-8.pdf

For design guidance refer to Portland Water District/ Maine DEP environmental and conservation factsheet series: http://www.pwd.org/news/publications.php#Brochures