Natural / Native Shorelines and Buffer Zones: Environmentally Friendly, Beautiful, and Erosion-Resistant When Combined with Riprap
Natural-riprap hybrid shoreline with edging and buffer of flowering perennials
You may want or need an extra-environmentally-friendly shoreline – either one that’s up to your standards of “green,” or the standards of the local powers-that-be, or both. You’ve come to the right place. For many years the Lakeshore Guys® shoreline restoration experts have built “native” shorelines, buffer zones, and other DNR-approved shorelines, and these days we’re building more of them than ever before.
More and more of our customers ask for a “living” shoreline, one populated with native grasses, flowers, and other local plants. Often that’s a high priority, behind only halting the erosion, and occasionally it’s our customer’s only priority. You may want a part-riprap, part-native shoreline, or you may want one that’s 100% native plantings (if erosion isn’t a big problem). You’ve got a wide range of natural shorelines to choose from.
You can contact Lakeshore Guys® now, or read on to find out more about the types of natural or native shorelines we create.
Natural Shorelines Combining Riprap and Native Plants or Perennials
Shoreline with edging and seeded buffer of native grasses and wildflowers
This kind of natural shoreline is our most popular, in that it has all the erosion-resistant benefits of our unequaled riprap shorelines and the beauty of some combination of wildflowers, native grasses, perennials, and edging. The edging isn’t purely decorative, in that it allows you to mow and string-trim it when needed. It also serves as a clear border between the parts you primp (e.g., the grass) and the parts you don’t (e.g., the flowers). The border of edging is important to the maintenance routine and to the overall look, as it separates “the wild” from “the lawn.” Thus, we pretty much always suggest it.
You’ve also got the option of using Coir Logs instead of riprap, or in tandem with it. Of course, logs don’t have the same erosion-resistance as our riprap does, but it’s possible erosion isn’t a huge problem on your particular shoreline. The same is true of a seawall, where permitted, which may be an additional option for you.
Native Shorelines: Rely on Local Plants to Create an Environmentally Friendly “Living” Ecosystem on Your Lakefront
Small riprap shoreline populated with wildflowers and native flora
You may want your shoreline to consist mainly of native plants, without much or any riprap, and without the add-ons we can provide. We can help with that, too. Our shorelines are Minnesota DNR-approved. We’ll make them erosion-resistant to the degree that is a priority.
Wetland Buffer Zones
Do you own a piece a shoreline that’s at least partly a designated “Wetland Buffer?”
You’ve probably been told by more than one entity that although you pay taxes on this portion of land (and they sure appreciate that!), you also can′t touch it.
You don′t have to be stuck with that weedy mess anymore. We have experience in working hand-in-hand with both state and county officials to create a buffer zone that will please the powers-that-be. (They especially like us because our shorelines are Minnesota DNR-approved.) We’ll deal with the red tape, so you don’t have to.
More importantly, your buffer zone will please you, because we’ll bring our 20+ years of experience, attention to detail, artistry, and old-fashioned customer service.
