BACKYARDS ON THE BAY  A yard care guide for the coastal homeowner

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• TABLE OF CONTENTS
  
• INTRODUCTION
  

• SECTION 1: Diagram of good vs. bad backyard on the bay

• SECTION 1A: Salt Marsh Diagram

• SECTION 2: Evaluation of your yard's impact on the Bay.

• SECTION 3: Bay friendly yard care tips

• SECTION 4: Coastal Erosion and Seawalls

• SECTION 5: Septic Systems

• SECTION 6: How to create a buffer of Native Plants

• SECTION 7: How to determine if you need a permit

• APPENDIX 1: Coastal Buffer
  Site Plan
• APPENDIX 2: 
  Native Plant List
• APPENDIX 3: Invasive Plants
• APPENDIX 4: Planting Guidelines
• APPENDIX 5: Sources of Native Plants
• APPENDIX 6: Technical Assistance
• APPENDIX 7: References and Sources of Information

Section 1: Learn How to Live in Harmony with Narragansett Bay.

The following diagrams compare two yards along a narrow salt marsh: one yard has a high impact on the marsh and the Bay, the other has a low impact. The low impact yard has a clear line between the managed yard and the natural shoreline buffer and salt marsh. The buffer of native vegetation helps prevent erosion, filters out pollutants that runoff the lawn and provides shelter and food for coastal birds.

High Impact Yard

Low Impact Yard

On the other hand, the high impact yard, has no clear line between the yard and the marsh. The lawn actually extends into the salt marsh and some of the marsh grasses have been mown. Since there is no natural buffer of native shrubs between the marsh and the yard, any fertilizers or pesticides applied to the lawn or septic system waste can run off directly into the salt marsh.

In the high impact yard, grass clippings and yard waste are being dumped in the salt marsh and its buffer, smothering the salt marsh plants. Since there are no native shrubs or native grasses growing along the edge of the shoreline, erosion of the shoreline bank is occurring. The shrubs in the low impact yard help prevent erosion since they have a deeper root system than lawn grasses and can better hold soil in place.

During flood tides in the high impact yard, the tide comes up on the lawn. In the low impact yard, the native shoreline plants that are tolerant to salt provide a buffer between the managed landscape and the high water. (See Detail A below)

| TABLE OF CONTENTS | INTRODUCTION | SECTION 1 | SECTION 2 | SECTION 3 | SECTION 4 | SECTION 5 | SECTION 6 |
SECTION 7 | APPENDIX 1 | APPENDIX 2 | APPENDIX 3 | APPENDIX 4 | APPENDIX 5 | APPENDIX 6 | APPENDIX 7 |