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

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

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 7: How to determine if you need a permit from the Coastal Resources Management Council

If you live within 200 feet of a coastal feature (salt marsh, tidal creek, coastal pond, beach, dune, rocky shore, coastal bluff or manmade shoreline), the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) may require a permit for certain types of activities on your property.

Since 1971, Rhode Island has regulated the development and alteration of coastal resources through the CRMC. Over the years, the CRMC has enacted and planned guidance and regulations to help protect, enhance, and where possible, restore the coastal resources of Rhode Island.

Homeowners interested in creating or enhancing a buffer should contact the CRMC staff for guidance and to determine if any permits are required for the planned changes to your landscape (CRMC, Oliver Stedman Government Center, 4808 Tower Hill Road, Wakefield, RI 02879 401-222-2476.) CRMC staff will work with homeowners to develop an appropriate and attractive buffer zone.

Use the following chart as a preliminary guide to determine if you need a permit from CRMC for the activity:

Do you have the following type of work planned within 200 feet of a coastal feature?	Permit Required	No Permit Required
Planting shrubs, plants or trees in established lawn and landscaped areas		*
Pruning of existing trees in established lawn of landscape areas		*
Mowing of grasses in established lawn or landscaped areas		*
Landscaping within existing shrub or forested shoreline area	*
Thinning of undergrowth/brush in naturally vegetated areas	*
Clearing of undergrowth/brush in naturally vegetated areas	*
Filling or grading	*
Creating a path to the shoreline	*
Construction of septic systems or seawalls	*

Permits are needed for:

work in naturally vegetated areas within 200 feet of the coastal feature
work in buffer zones already established by permit condition.

Permits are not required for:

maintaining an existing lawn or landscaped area.

Phragmites is a wetland plant and therefore cutting or altering Phragmites is prohibited by the CRMC. A property owner must submit an application for a coastal wetland restoration plan to manage Phragmites.