Lakescaping is the process of restoring (vegetating) a shoreline in order to correct an erosion problem or to improve water quality of the lake.  At the heart of every lakescaping concept is the creation of a buffer zone along the shoreline.  A buffer zone is a natural strip of vegetation along a property's frontage that acts as a protective barrier and filters potential contaminates that may otherwise find free flow into the lake.

Do you have a mowed yard to the waters edge?  If you do, you may want to consider changing the landscape of your shoreline and incorporating lakescaping techniques.

Buffer zones benefit the lake and lakeshore owners in a number of ways:

• 1.      Emergent vegetation, like bulrushes and cattails, reduce shoreline erosion caused by wind and boat traffic.
• 2.      The natural vegetation serves as a filter strip that helps prevent lawn fertilizer and pesticide runoff from reaching the lake.
• 3.      Aquatic vegetation helps purify lake water by removing contaminants and by calming water, which allows suspended soil particles to settle to the lake bottom.
• 4.      Buffer zones reduce the amount of fertilizer and herbicide needed on a lakeshore property because the resulting lawn is smaller, and native plants in the buffer zone do not need fertilizer or herbicides.
• 5.      Buffer zones reduce the acreage of lawn and the amount of time needed for mowing and lawn maintenance.
• 6.      Unmowed wildflowers, grasses, and sedges along the shore create a biological barrier that will deter Canada geese from loitering on the lawn.

Want to know more?  Go to www.dnr.state.mn.us/restoreyourshore