Buffer Up ! Waterside Buffer Rebate Program
CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALTH AND BEAUTY OF LAKE LINGANORE !
In fall 2016 , Lake Linganore Association ( LLA ) with LLA committee , Friends of the Lake ( FoL ), introduced a Waterside Buffer Rebate Program to encourage Members to plant vegetative buffers using attractive garden designs and native plants . Buffers reduce polluted runoff from ending up in the lakes and beautify yards and the lake edges . All homeowners who contribute stormwater runoff to the storm drain , creeks and lakes qualify .
You can apply any time after January 1 , 2022 for the budget cycle beginning March 1 , 2022 . Qualified homeowners can be reimbursed $ 300 , $ 600 or $ 900 based on the number of stormwater practices achieved and total expenditure .
WHAT IS A WATERSIDE BUFFER ?
Buffers are strips of vegetation , which include native ground covers , herbaceous plants , shrubs , and trees , as well as the organic matter that accumulates on the ground . They serve as transitional areas where land and water meet to create unique and highly productive ecosystems .
WHY ARE BUFFERS IMPORTANT ?
Waterside buffers are essential for healthy lakes . They :
• Absorb excess nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen from natural and human sources
• Limit flooding by absorbing storm water runoff
• Filter sediment and pollutants from construction runoff
• Prevent erosion
• Provide shade and nutrients for fish and wildlife
• Enhance the beauty of our lakeshore homes
RESIDENTIAL STORMWATER LANDSCAPE PRACTICES ARE ALSO NECESSARY .
These practices are designed to disperse runoff in the yard and keep it out of the storm drain that sends polluted runoff to the lakes . They include :
• Terracing
• Check dams with rocks or logs and branches
• Dry ponds and wells
• Rain gardens
• Swales and berms
• Rain barrels
• Conservation landscaping
• Combinations of the above
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
• Review the program in your Member Account ( see " Review and Apply " below ).
• Set up a yard evaluation with FoL chair , Erin Johnson , by emailing buffer . lakelinganore @ gmail . com
• Submit “ before ” photos , a plan , and proposed plants list
• Submit your buffer documents with the needed LLA ECC application ( see below ).
• Once approved , you have one LLA fiscal year budget cycle to build your buffer area
• Erin Johnson will review your project to see that it meets the recommended best practices
• Send in your “ after ” photos and a receipt for materials , labor , and native plants to receive your rebate .
REVIEW AND APPLY To review the program : 1 . Login to your Member Account 2 . Click the “ Knowledge Base ” menu item 3 . Select “ Friends of the Lake Programs ” 4 . Click " FoL Waterside Buffer " to learn about the initiative and review the documents affiliated with the program After completing the above , you can set up a yard evaluation with the FoL chair .
To submit the buffer documents with the ECC application : 1 . Login to your Member Account 2 . Click on the " Applications or Requests " menu-item . 3 . Click " Add New Service Request " 4 . Select " ECC Application for Landscaping ( new beds only )" from the " Request Type " drop-down menu 5 . Upload the required buffer program documents when prompted
You will need the following items in one document to upload :
• A copy of your plat with a rough drawing of where things will be placed
• Before pictures
• A description of your written plan or a copy of the assessment e-mail or professional landscape proposal including NATIVE plants
32 LakeTalk August 2022