From the TAPP (Think About Personal Pollution) Guide to a Water-Friendly Yard
Photos by Nancy Miller, TAPP Project Coordinator

If you live on the shore of a lake, pond, river or stream, your stewardship is especially important. Establish a buffer zone of plants along the water's edge and a "no-mow" zone along the bank.

Vegetation will help filter sedimentation from stormwater and, to a lesser degree, pollutants, before they reach the water. The important thing is to avoid maintaining a manicured lawn all the way down to the edge of the shoreline. A closely mowed lawn really provides little filtering action, and lawn fertilizers, weed killers and other pesticides can easily be washed into our waterways. A berm / swale system along the shore can be used to slow stormwater runoff and give it more time to soak into the soil. A buffer of taller plants and grasses, particularly native vegetation, will filter stormwater from your yard without blocking your view.

For problem areas, biodegradable straw or jute matting is available for erosion control. The matting can be laid along the bank to stabilize the area. Plants will grow right through, and over time the matting will disappear. Ask your local nursery for a source.

For more information on protecting your shoreline, pick up a free copy of Waterfront Property Owners Guide, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, December 2001 (available from the Florida DEP Nonpoint Source Management Section at 850-245-7508).