Nature-Based Solutions for Resilient Shores

Climate & Resilience

Practical, living approaches that protect banks, improve clarity, and create habitat—while adapting to floods and droughts.

What "Nature-Based" Means (Plain Language)

Designs that work with water and plants, not against them. They slow waves and runoff, allow the shore to flex, and use roots, wood, and roughness to hold soil.

Why They Work (Multiple Benefits)

  • Stability

    Deep roots knit soil; woody elements break waves and reduce undercutting

  • Clarity

    Plants trap sediment and use nutrients that would otherwise fuel algae

  • Habitat

    Living edges support insects, fish nurseries, turtles, and birds

  • Resilience

    Flexible systems recover after storms and tolerate water-level swings

  • Cost & Carbon

    Lower maintenance over time; more biomass = more carbon stored in plants and soils

Choose the Right Tool (Simple Flow)

  1. Diagnose the driver: Waves/wakes? Runoff? Ice? Traffic? (Match solutions to the cause.)
  2. Start upland: Fix gutters, downspouts, and slopes so less water reaches the bank fast
  3. Size the buffer: Aim for 10–15 ft minimum, 25–35+ ft where space allows
  4. Protect the toe: Gentle sites can use coir/fiber logs; higher energy needs rock toe with plantings
  5. Add structure carefully: Coarse woody habitat (logs/branches) placed where safe adds shade and breaks energy

Core Practices (Mix & Match)

  • Structure: 60–70% grasses/sedges, 30–40% flowers; shrubs/trees upslope for shade and roots
  • Layout: Taller species to the sides/back; a narrow access/view window near the center
  • Soil cover: Keep mulch or live cover year-round; re-seed bare spots after storms

  • Install along gentle banks to catch small waves and trap sediment
  • Pin and stake securely; backfill voids with soil; plant sedges/rushes through the netting
  • Inspect after storms; re-seat if shifted

  • Use stone only at the toe sized for site energy; bury the first course and key into banks
  • Plant between rocks with sedges, rushes, and willow live stakes
  • Step the bank back above the toe; avoid vertical walls

  • Leave safe natural wood; add small log bundles anchored low in quiet zones
  • Benefits: shade, insect habitat, juvenile fish refuge, local wave-break

  • Capture first-flush roof/drive water before it reaches the shore
  • Provide stable overflows for big storms

  • Re-connect shallow shelves or ponded areas where past ditches cut things off (with approvals)
  • Plug small cuts that drain wetlands; plant hydric species to restore roughness and storage

  • Keep soil biology intact: Minimize tilling and heavy fertilizer
  • Leaf strategy: Mulch in planting beds; keep leaves off pavement and out of ditches
  • Plant long-lived natives (deep roots, woody biomass) and reduce mowing

Access Without Sacrificing Function

  • Plan one durable path to docks/swim areas; armor with stepping stones or open-joint pavers
  • Keep wakes low near shore; repeated passes undo plant establishment

DIY vs. Hire a Pro (Rules of Thumb)

DIY-Friendly:
  • Buffers
  • Small rain gardens
  • Coir logs on gentle banks
  • Simple woody placements in low-traffic areas
Pro-Help:
  • Steep/eroding banks
  • High-energy sites
  • Failing walls
  • Any in-water work that likely triggers permits

Seasonal Care (Quick Calendar)

Spring:
Check for winter/ice damage; re-stake coir; re-plant losses; cut old stems to 6–8 in after insects emerge
Summer:
Spot-weed monthly; keep wake low; water new plantings during drought
Fall:
Add seed to thin patches; leave stems/seedheads for habitat

Common Myths—And Better Takes

Myth

"Rock walls are the only durable fix."

Better Take

Hybrid edges with rock toe + plants handle energy and protect habitat

Myth

"Native plants are messy."

Better Take

Curved beds, clean edges, and grouped plantings read as intentional

Myth

"We must clear plants for views."

Better Take

Keep views with windowing and species height choices

Quick Worksheet (Plan Your Shore)

Primary driver: Waves/Wakes / Runoff / Ice / Traffic
Target buffer width: ______ ft (min 10–15; goal 25–35+)
Toe protection: None / Coir log / Rock toe (sized to site)
Runoff fix upstream: Rain garden / Swale / Disconnect downspouts
Woody habitat spots (safe): ______________________________
Permits needed? Y / N / Unsure → check early

Bottom Line

Start with buffers and runoff fixes, protect the toe, then add wood and plants for structure. These living, flexible shores stay stable, filter water, and provide habitat—even as water levels swing.

Key Insight

Nature-based solutions work with water and plants, not against them. They're flexible, resilient, and deliver multiple benefits—stability, clarity, habitat, and carbon storage.

Related Topics

Key Takeaways

  • Work with water and plants, not against them
  • Start with buffers (10-15 ft min, 25-35+ ft ideal)
  • Fix runoff upland before it reaches shore
  • Use soft solutions first (coir logs, plants)
  • Rock toe + plants = hybrid strength
  • Living shores adapt to water level swings

Multiple Benefits

  • ✓ Stability (roots + wood)
  • ✓ Clarity (trap sediment)
  • ✓ Habitat (fish, birds, insects)
  • ✓ Resilience (flex with storms)
  • ✓ Carbon storage

Buffer Width Guide

  • 10-15 ft: Minimum effective
  • 25-35 ft: Great protection
  • 50+ ft: Maximum benefit

Core Practices

  1. Vegetated buffer
  2. Coir/fiber logs
  3. Rock toe + plants
  4. Woody habitat
  5. Rain gardens/swales
  6. Wetland touch-ups
  7. Carbon-smart landscaping

Start Your Living Shore

Contact your lake association or conservation district for site-specific guidance on nature-based solutions for your shoreline.

Get Started