Planting Vegetated Buffers to Improve Water Quality.

We have been promoting Florida Friendly Landscaping for many years and I believe we are starting to see changes in landscaping norms.

http://www.floridayards.org/index.php

Here is a link to a photo gallery comparing traditional and Florida Friendly projects.
http://www.floridayards.org/landscape/gallery.php

If you want more information, please let me know.




Stephen Kintner
West volusia Audubon
United States

You may look into volunteer monitoring programs through the US EPA. Many years ago I was at the National Volunteer Monitoring Conference (I think it was that one) and there was a presentation on a program in Wisconsin or Minnesota with the slogan, "Are you feeling blue because your lake is green?"

It was all about reducing nutrient loading in lakes. Perhaps you can locate it.

I also learned somewhere that vegetation prevents geese from taking up residence on your property. They love it when the grass grows right to the water's edge.

good luck

Ginger Wireman
Environmental Educator
WA State Dept. of Ecology, Nuclear Waste Program
United States

Maine DEP and our partners (Soil & Water Conservation Districts, lake associations, water districts) have been trying for years to promote the use of buffers. We have tried a number of methods from workshops, walk-n-talks, demonstrations, Clean Water Act 319 funds for cost share, development of materials like our Buffer Handbook
http://www.maine.gov/dep/blwq/docwatershed/bufa.htm and most recently LakeSmart http://www.maine.gov/dep/blwq/doclake/lakesmart/

We have done some focus groups and limited evaluation. (some can be found at http://www.maine.gov/dep/blwq/doceducation/nps/outreach.htm - I apologize it isnt all there and this page is not exclusive to buffers but NPS/stormwater issues in general). We have attempted to identify barriers as well as incentives. One of the observations I have made and was indirectly supported by focus group results, is that it is easier to get people to plant a buffer where one presently does not exist if they are a new property owner or in the process of redoing. It seems new property owners have the mental mind set to change things while those who have lived some place for a while are less likely to invest and change their landscape unless they are undertaking a house remodeling project. Catching new landowners seems to be important.

We have also done some work with norms which we are applying through the LakeSmart program. Trying to push the norm to be a buffer and a lawn to be the exception.

And while not a norming message sorta the reverse, we do say things like we dont want our lakes to be like Massachusetts (sorry Massachusetts) this is Maine.

We have also done some research on the use of terms frankly buffer sucks. We are now trying to use more visually appealing terms a ribbon of forest, interesting variety of shoreline plants, shoreline gardens habitat

There are a multitude of barriers and trying to over come enough of them to make a difference seems to be a challenge. Right now we are pinning our hopes on LakeSmart .


Kathy Hoppe
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
United States

Hello Heidi,

There is plenty of work in the area of water sensitive urban design (WSUD) going on in Australia with some promotion to residential householders about how they can include WSUD on their property. Some links below.

http://www.planning.sa.gov.au/go/wsud
http://www.yourhome.gov.au/technical/fs75.html
http://wsud.melbournewater.com.au/content/fact_sheets/fact_sheets.asp

Sharon Marks
Live & Learn Environmental Education

Hi Heidi,
There is more good information from Australia found on the Melbourne Water Website on the Stream frontage Management program where Melbourne Water partner with the landowners to plant out riparian buffer zones. Information is also available on this site regarding Community engagement programs relating to rivers and creeks. Please see

http://www.melbournewater.com.au/content/rivers_and_creeks/our_programs_and_projects/our_programs_and_projects.asp

Hope this helps.

Lisa Wangman
Urban Landcare Project Officer
Phillip Island Landcare
Australia

The Florida Lake Management Society has two programs, "Love Your Lake" and "Shoreline Grants", that provide education and small grants to help homeowners improve wildlife habitat and improve stormwater quality. Visit their website at http://flms.net/ and select the "Programs" tab.

The Hillsborough County Adopt-A-Pond program provides its volunteer groups with a notebook with lots of information to help them manage their ponds effectively, including adding appropriate vegetation. You can find it on the Hillsborough County Water Atlas:
http://www.hillsborough.wateratlas.usf.edu/upload/documents/AAP-notebook2008.pdf

Jan Allyn
Recording Secretary
Pinellas Chapter, Florida Native Plant Society
United States

You could go to the Virginia Storm Water Management Handbook http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil_and_water/stormwat.shtml and download Minimum Standard 3.05 on Landscaping.
Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council http://www.chesapeakelandscape.org/ has a lot of leads.
The Northern Virginia Regional Commission http://www.chesapeakelandscape.org/ has useful handbooks for homeowners and property managers.

Steve Gorzula
United States

Cows and Fish is an Alberta Riperian Habitat Management Society and they have been quite successful working in rual communitites and uban settings alike.

http://www.cowsandfish.org/index.html

Amy Ross
Water Educator
The City of Calgary
Canada
calgary.ca/waterservices

One thing I have noticed is that "water words that work" in one place may not be effective elsewhere. Someone mentioned buffer is not a good word, but it has been working well here in MT, since it replaced the politically charged setback.

We are just finishing a media campaign that used TV, radio, online banner ads (and in one county billboards)that is being evaluated extensively. I would be happy to share those materials with you. We run a Living by Water workshop and tour every year, and run ads monthly.

Our biggest barrier is that many people think buffers look messy. Now we promote the concept of the waterfront garden. We developed a garden design that encourages use of native species (and why)that is being distributed in brochure form to garden centers. We are also working on demo projects so people can see that they can design a buffer that works for them.

Patti Mason
Flathead Conservation District
United States

Hi Patti,

Could you provide more information on your "Waterfront Garden" designs? Are they available on the web? I looked at you site, but could not find them.

Gary Fish
Manager, Pesticide Programs
Maine Board of Pesticides Control
United States
http://www.YardScaping.org

Minnesota has been very successful with a 3-year old program called Blue Thumb -Planting for Clean Water, which encourages people to use native plants, raingardens and shoreline plantings to protect lakes and streams. www.BlueThumb.org has info on the whole program, while www.bluethumb.org/shorelines is specifically about buffer plantings and has 4 sample shoreline designs. We have 60 public and private partners in the region and have helped people to install more than 1000 raingardens, a few hundred shoreline projects and countless native gardens and plantings.

Angie  Hong
Water Resource Educator
Washington Conservation District
United States