guidance

A protected or restored area of multi-layered native vegetation, organic material, and noncompacted soils that provides a protective buffer for the lake from developed areas. The vegetated buffer protects water quality, stabilizes shorelands, and provides vital habitat.

Simple yard and garden maintenance practices that can save time, effort, and money, and help keep lake waters safe for people, pets, and wildlife.

Associations form for many reasons. In Vermont, lake associations coordinate and provide a voice for the lake community on a diversity of issues ranging from private road maintenance; shoreland, water quality and wildlife issues; native plantings; boating safety; sharing local berry recipes and lake stories; to outlet dam ownership situations. Shoreland owners and lake recreationists benefit greatly by working together to protect the lake.

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.