Shoreline FAQ #3: What about my view?

Trees and other plantings can frame your lake view.

“Sure, I like plants, but maintaining my view of the water is a higher priority.”

Many homeowners favor large expanses of lawn because they see it as the best way to protect their view. The truth is that diverse plantings can accent and improve views.

Framing views is an important principle of garden and landscape design.

• Identify which views you want to keep and enhance.
• Identify which views would be better screened. For example, perhaps you’d rather not look at your neighbor’s shed or boat house. 

Green shoreline FAQ #2: Won’t a beach attract more geese to my yard?

Just ask the goose. Sebastian the Talking Goose says geese prefer your lovely manicured lawn over a beach and natural plantings. Taking out part of your lawn to add a beach will likely mean fewer geese stop in to graze.

Green shoreline FAQ #1: Will I lose any land?

Some homeowners are reluctant to add a beach because they are concerned about losing property. While it is true that green shorelines sometimes result in smaller lawns, the square footage remains the same. Some of the lawn is replaced with a beach and shoreline vegetation.

Essentially, you’re converting your property from one use to another. A good design will maintain the ordinary high water mark line so there is no loss of dry land.

Kirkland takes innovative approach to shoreline development

The City of Kirkland’s new Shoreline Master Program update contains an innovative tool: a “decision tree” for shoreline property owners.

A homeowner can determine options to stabilize the shoreline based on:

• The home’s setback from the water
• Bulkhead height
• Depth of water at bulkhead
• Nearshore slope
• Yard slope

Options could include a full beach, beach cove, pulling back or modifying the bulkhead, slope bioengineering and adding gravel to the nearshore.

Just show me: green shoreline demonstration sites

Lid Park West, Mercer Island

People who are interested in a green shoreline often want to see examples. “What will it look like? Will it protect my property? Show me.” 

Several parks around Lake Washington have restored their shorelines. These demonstration projects are open to the public. Seeing these sites can help answer questions, although the project scale and its goals may differ from a shoreline home.

Green Shores for Homes: critical tools for greener shorelines

Green Shores will help get waterfront homes from this . . .

A new grant-funded project will develop critical tools to encourage shoreline property owners to make their shorelines greener. Tools will include a voluntary rating system for shoreline development, along with incentives.

The City of Seattle, San Juan County, Washington Sea Grant and Islands Trust in British Columbia are partnering on the Green Shores for Homes grant.

. . . To something that looks more like this.

The project will focus on both freshwater and marine shorelines.

More than 70 percent of the Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish shorelines are lined with bulkheads, rip rap or other armoring. Along Puget Sound shorelines, 25 to 60 percent of the shoreline is armored. These hard shorelines don’t provide shelter and limit food for fish, birds and other wildlife. They have also lost their natural function of replenishing beaches with sediment. 

Bellevue has big plans for Meydenbauer Beach Park

The City of Bellevue has created a plan to expand and restore Meydenbauer Beach Park and to connect the Lake Washington waterfront with downtown Bellevue.  Enhancements to the park and nearby streetscape improvements will create a pleasant place to walk, socialize and enjoy the water. The project will restore 800 feet of shoreline along Meydenbauer Bay, improving salmon habitat.

Madrona Woods: Transforming a creek and shoreline

Madrona Park shoreline

Project Summary

The Friends of Madrona Woods restored Madrona Creek from an underground pipe to a small stream leading to a new wetland cove along Lake Washington. They also transformed 10+ acres of natural area in Madrona Park from a neglected, dark, scary and weed-infested forest into an open, inviting and healthy native forest with trails, waterfalls and natural creek channels flowing to Lake Washington. Studies have found that juvenile Chinook salmon congregate near small creek mouths along the shoreline, so the project will provide valuable rearing and refuge habitat for young salmon. Map to Site.