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An infiltration trench is a stone-lined shallow channel that collects and infiltrates stormwater runoff from developed areas including walkways, driveways, parking lots, and roofs.

Infiltration steps are framed with timbers and filled with stone to infiltrate stormwater and prevent erosion.

Filter berms are vegetated mounds of earth with gradually sloping sides that slow and soak up stormwater runoff. The berm is filled with sand or stable, well-drained soil.

Dry wells are subsurface storage areas that allow for infiltration of concentrated stormwater. They are typically cylindrical holes in the ground filled with stone.

Lake friendly driveways are those that are minimized, not eroding, have proper surface materials, shed water quickly, avoid water running down the driveway, and divert as much runoff as possible to stable vegetated areas and away from surface waters. These road maintenance practices save money in the long-term, prevent repairs and replacement, and reduce susceptibility of flash flood damage.

Roof downspouts can be disconnected from surface waters by disconnecting from underground drains or surface runoff and directing flow to a stable vegetated area, another stormwater treatment practice, or by capturing roof runoff in a rain barrel for water reuse.

There are many ways to protect and conserve your land to meet environmental, financial, and family goals. Protecting the natural conditions of your shoreland ensures the long-term health and resiliency of your lake while benefitting your family, lake community, and future generations.

Check dams are stone piles placed in a concentrated flow of water like a swale or drainage ditch to slow and filter stormwater and promote ponding.

Bioengineering uses native plants, biodegradable products, and other natural materials to stabilize shorelands, prevent erosion, protect property, and support healthy lake ecosystems. It is often referred to as “soft-scape engineering,” living shoreland restoration, or naturebased solutions. A suite of methods mimic naturally stable shorelines by creating vegetated lakeshore banks and a stabilized bank toe.

In Vermont, natural lakeshores are wetlands, forests, and/or bedrock. Few lakes have naturally occurring sandy shores. Shoreland best management practices can help to maintain artificial beaches and recreational areas while also protecting water quality and wildlife habitat so we can ‘share the shore’. Stabilized and naturally vegetated areas, such a s upland meadows or lakeshore buffers, filter upland runoff and delineate beaches, pathways, and lake access points, preventing sand and other pollutants from washing into the lake.