BACKGROUND   To comply with local watershed regulations in constructing their new home, the homeowners elected to place a 30 foot wide buffer strip along the shoreline.  To fit into the rest of the landscape and the overall look they desired with their property, an elegant design was created for their family to be interactive with the shoreline restoration.

SITE SPECIFIC CONCERNS/GOALS Erosion was a significant concern from the beginning of this project due to the sandy soils and steep slopes.  Accessibility with equipment had to occur before construction of their new home.  While on the site, the new home was being built which created a large stockpile of exposed soils that were of great concern with our shoreline restoration occurring downhill. 

SOLUTIONS  An excavator uncovered and removed approximately 30 tons of buried cinder block from along the shoreline, leaving sandy exposed soils to be regraded and stabilized with several types of erosion control blanket and shredded hardwood mulch. Coconut fiber rolls (Biologs) were installed near the toe of the slope to form a transitional area between aquatic and upland areas. Plywood wave breaks were installed lakeside from the Biologs. An inviting and usable small beach was constructed with a natural stone retaining wall to hold the upside slope.  After enjoying the beach, a series of stone steps leads uphill to a permeable path constructed with clean, small granite filling NetPave25 grids. This path leads to a permeable stone patio to sit and enjoy the beautiful lake and gorgeous plantings.  Not only are these plantings wonderful to observe but they provide an amazing amount of filtering capacity.  95% of pollutants are removed with a 30’ wide buffer strip.  Stormwater runoff generated from the house and property carrying an array of pollutants (heat, phosphorus, sediments) is cleaned and slowed before entering the lake system.Native plantings included aquatic emergent species, the transitional zone of plantings tolerant of wet and dry conditions, and the upland areas of diverse full sun prairie species.