To raise awareness of what landowners can and can’t do within the 250-foot shoreland zone, and especially within the 75-foot buffer from the “highest astronomical tide line,” the Harpswell Conservation Commission will publish “The Power of Plants,” a series of informational articles by local arborists, experts in shoreline stabilization and other contractors. While regulations on building placement, tree clearing and access may seem restrictive, these limitations seek to promote healthy coastal buffers that protect structures, increase property resilience and improve the value of our homes for many years to come.
As we build new homes and expand existing ones, we often remove more trees than are necessary. Maintaining a healthy stand of trees around your home has numerous benefits, including shade, higher property value, retaining water on-site, and providing a buffer against winter winds and nosy neighbors. Arborists will discuss the merits of protecting mature trees, as well as opportunities to maintain views and create new views to the shore.
Below the tree canopy, we’ll discuss the numerous benefits of maintaining healthy understory vegetation and a thick layer of “duff,” or decomposing organic matter. Plants create habitat and slow down water flow, keeping more water in your well and reducing the runoff that erodes your slopes down to the shore. Strong root systems hold the soil together, and saplings quickly fill canopy gaps as old trees reach the end of their lives. Experts will discuss strategies for moving water and adding plant species to improve the understory.
The majority of Harpswell’s coastline consists of bluffs, which are steep slopes composed of sediment. Other properties are characterized by bedrock outcroppings, salt marshes and beaches. In the case of bluffs, we’ll discuss techniques to protect the important “toe” of the slope and maintain vegetation to hold our bluffs together through the strongest of storms.
Does your coast need expensive rock-hardening with intensive permits, or is there a cheaper and more sustainable way to improve your shoreline’s resilience? Shoreline stabilization experts will offer a variety of hard-armoring and nature-based strategies, speaking to constructability and permitting implications.
You will hear from a small group of practitioners, but this area has a wealth of local arborists, contractors and shoreline stabilization specialists with the expertise to support your property. In particular, the state of Maine has provided a list of licensed arborists and information about how to select the best practitioner online.
Stay tuned for more conversations about the 75-foot coastal buffer and how it can protect the beauty, value and future of your home!
Jamie Hark is a landscape architect and member of the Harpswell Conservation Commission.
