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Waterfront property owners have firsthand knowledge of the special contribution lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and lagoons make to Alabama’s quality of life. Owners of Alabama yards located on a waterfront must address certain challenges and responsibilities. As a next-door neighbor to these natural resource treasures, you must make it your mission to practice good environmental stewardship.To design and maintain a landscape that borders a waterfront of any sort requires a strong focus on the natural environment, as well as on environmental impact. If you presently live on the waterfront or are considering moving to a waterfront location, review these points to make the most of your landscape so that you can create a yard that is beautifully functional for you and environmentally safe for the natural resources of our state.
SALTWATER CONSIDERATIONS
Naturally sloping shorelines, particularly when buffered by a fringe of marsh grass, help smooth out waves and reduce cloudiness in the water. In addition, shoreline plants contribute to the food web, attract wildlife, such as wading birds, and help prevent erosion at the water’s edge.The area in which shoreline plants grow is known as the littoral zone, the boundary between land and water. Unfortunately, seawalls have traditionally been placed directly in this intertidal, littoral zone. If you desire to restore a natural shoreline with natural vegetation, you face a complex decision. Begin by inquiring about your city, county, and state ordinances to determine whether removal is an option.
Littoral zone: the area between high and low tide in coastal waters, or the shoreline of a freshwater lake. If you can legally replace a shoreline protection structure with a natural littoral zone along your property, your options will be limited by several factors:
Shoreline protection alternatives comprise very site-specific considerations, and you need expert advice. The Alabama Sea Grant Marine Extension agent in your county, natural resources employees of local governments, and the Alabama Department of Conservation State Lands Division are good places to find help and information. Keep in mind that submerged land is not your property, but belongs to the State of Alabama. For information on permitting requirements, contact the Alabama Department of Conservation State Lands Division Coastal office.
- Depth of your lot
- Distance from the waterline to upland structures
- Wave impact against your shore
- Your budget
- Shoreline condition of neighboring properties
FRESHWATER CONSIDERATIONS
Lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds also have littoral zones, which offer many benefits.Littoral Zones:
To protect a freshwater resource from nutrient and pesticide runoff, consider designating a “maintenance-free zone” of at least ten feet between your lawn or landscape and the water body. Don’t mow, fertilize, or apply pesticides to the littoral zone.
- Slow the velocity of runoff
- Filter nutrients and sediments from runoff
- Hold soil in place
Enhance natural wetland vegetation with additional plantings. Suggestions for native vegetation, water tolerance, and light tolerance are available from the Tennessee Valley Authority Riparian Plant Selector.
MAN-MADE LAKES AND PONDS
If your property does not border or contain a natural waterway, consider building one. A pond is relatively easy to maintain, and it can add value, beauty, and ecological soundness to your yard. It does not matter whether your pond measures in square feet or acres, it will contribute significantly to wildlife in your area.Selecting a good pond site requires evaluating many factors, including slope, soil type, water table, septic tank and house foundation setbacks, and utility easements. When planning, try to strike a balance between what your permit allows and what would fit most naturally into the landscape.
In Nature, Alabama Lakes and Ponds Feature Some Common Characteristics:
STORMWATER CONTROL PONDS (RETENTION PONDS)
- They are usually located at the lowest elevation in a landscape.
- They have a high edge-to-depth ratio which means that they are wide and shallow.
- A shallow depth increases the amount of littoral shelf area, the area receiving maximum sunlight penetration. The shelf area provides a place for plants to root and quickly becomes a beehive of pond life activity. Alabama ponds less than four feet deep often exhibit complete plant coverage. (It takes 6-10 foot depths to maintain open water.)
If you live on a waterfront, evaluate stormwater runoff patterns to determine if you are inadvertently “dumping” runoff from your landscape directly into the natural waterway. One way to filter runoff is by installing a series of swales and channels, followed by a small pond as a final collection point for runoff.A pond provides a natural filter for potential waterway pollutants. Vegetation and filter traps act as active filtration systems for pollutants, and the settling action in the pond itself serves as another way to remove pollutants. A well-built pond that supports plant life can significantly improve the quality of water draining into Alabama’s waterways and the aesthetics of your property.
Another advantage these systems offer is extending the “soak time” of stormwater, or increasing the amount of water allowed to percolate. Water that percolates through soil recharges ground water directly, as opposed to water that empties into waterways.
If you find yourself managing one of these natural stormwater filtration systems, follow our DO'S and DONT'S checklist to maintain them properly:
Pond Management Do's
Pond Management Don'ts
- DO plant appropriate native aquatic, emergent and upland vegetation — they stabilize soil greatly.
- DO use pond water for non-potable irrigation needs.
- DO fertilize surrounding areas with the least amount of fertilizer possible, always using a slow-release type.
- DO use organic compost in lieu of fertilizer.
- DO use mulch around plants to retain moisture.
- DO keep pet wastes out of water bodies.
SEASONAL PONDS
- DON’T allow livestock to graze pond bank sides.
- DON’T swim in or eat fish caught in stormwater ponds.
- DON’T allow invasive plants to clog waterways.
- DON’T direct grass clippings into stormwater ponds.
A common pond type, and perhaps the easiest to imitate as a yard feature, is a shallow “seasonal” pond, typically 2'-5' deep and 25'-150' across. Variations in seasonal rainfall cause fluctuations in water level, appearance, and function.In winter, standing water recedes, often drying down completely, depending on the pond’s water depth, soil type, and the local water table. But even in this “dry-down” condition, a seasonal pond offers moisture sources, the damp habitats required by many amphibians, reptiles, birds, and small mammals.
If You Wish to Construct a Pond to Replicate these Important Habitats, Choose an Area that:
- accommodates the shallow and wide profile
- already contains suitable plant life and soil types
- provides access for wildlife
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