On a sunny day in late October, over a dozen volunteers and KLWA board members gathered to learn about basic property improvements to reduce runoff and minimize erosion. The hands-on property improvement demonstration took place on Kezar’s Upper Bay and was organized by KLWA’s LakeSmart team. Thanks to Colin Holme (Executive Director of Lakes Environmental Association) and Mark Priola (Green Artisan Design landscaping) for joining us to donate their landscaping expertise. Follow along to see how we transformed a trail on this beautiful property to be more lake friendly.
Under blue sky and tall pines, Colin talked with our volunteers about the importance of diverting water from the driplines of the main structure away from the paths and lake. This is best done by directing water into a vegetated buffer - in this case a robust forested area below the house. Reducing runoff and encouraging filtration of water by vegetation reduces adding sediments and nutrients to the lake.
At this property, runoff from the roof of the main structure was traveling down the main path to the lake. The runoff was eroding the path and delivering nutrients such as phosphorus into the lake. Our task was to install several water bars along the main path, meeting the landowner’s goal to reduce runoff and improve safety and walkability of the trail.
After the introduction to water bar construction, and fueled with donuts and blueberry squares, volunteers divided up and the work began. Together we built a series of water bars to divert the water into the vegetated buffer areas so that the water can be absorbed before it goes into the lake. A water bar is a simple swale at about a 30 degree angle that directs water where you want it to go. We started at the top of the trail, installing a half buried log sourced on the property.
A water bar composed of a half-buried log. Note that the swale (shallow ditch) of this water bar is located above the log and extends into the buffer to direct water.
The group also installed several lower water bars composed of rocks from alongside the trail. These are built with a similar approach to the half-buried log, with rocks packed in below the swale and extending into the vegetation to direct water.
Dave Durrenberger, KLWA board member, removes material above the swale with a rake.
Once the water bars were built and well supported, volunteers added mulch to absorb runoff and provide a nice surface to walk on. These new water bars not only prevent runoff from getting into the lake, but provide a much nicer walkway - meeting one of the landowner’s goals for the trail.
The final result was a beautiful trail that will divert much of the water coming off the driplines of the main structure into the buffer. The new trail has fewer exposed stones and a nice mulch walking surface.
before improvements
The original trail led water directly down to the lake and was slightly awkward in some sections.
After Improvements
The improved trail with several new water bars directing runoff to the vegetated buffer.
You too can make easy, simple improvements that can help the health of the lake. LakeSmart, an initiative of Maine Lakes, is a free educational program for shoreland property owners who want to learn how to manage their property to best protect water quality and aesthetics. KLWA’s LakeSmart project team has completed dozens of LakeSmart evaluations for property owners in the watershed in the last year and a half.
Signing up for a LakeSmart evaluation on the KLWA website is a great first step and only takes a few minutes. We'll visit your property and provide feedback so you too can make improvements that will really make a difference to the lake you love. Evaluations are free, non regulatory, and only take an hour. We hope to see you at the lake!
Thanks to property owner Susan Beem (left) and her sister (right) for hosting this demonstration.
By Emlyn Crocker
Images courtesy of Jill Rundle and Emlyn Crocker