FOVLAP encourages lake property owners to retain existing vegetation and to add natural vegetation to their shoreland, since this is the best and lowest cost approach to protecting lake health. In 2015, through our Vermont Fish and Wildlife Watershed Grant, we are working with lake associations to provide workshops about the interconnections between native vegetation on the shore, shallow water ecosystems and overall lake health. Find out more about vegetated buffers, blueberries, native plants, and butterfly gardens:
- Buffers for Blue Lakes – what is a buffer do and what does it do?
- Blueberry buffer information – planning, planting, and care of blueberries; where to find blueberry plants
- Lakes Like Less Lawn – three sample landscaping plans – from the Portland Maine Water District
- Six native plant lists for sunny/part sun/shady and moist/dry sites – from Maine Department of Environmental Protection
- New England broad-leaved woody plants – shrubs for your shore – from the New England Wildflower Society’s GoBotany website
- Learn about butterfly gardening and join the North American Butterfly Association’s garden certification program
- Butterfly gardens – plant suggestions for upstate New York – from the North American Butterfly Association