SHORELINE MANAGEMENT GUIDE

introduction

The shorelines of Burlington are a staple in the city’s identity. From Leddy Park Beach to the Winooski river, Burlington meets the water’s edge across various locations. Because of the shoreline’s significance to the Burlington community, it is vital that we work to improve its health and prosperity. The following guide presents a range of shoreline types, stabilizations, and management practices to ensure a healthy future for the Burlington lake and river waterfronts.

The City of Burlington sits on unceded Abenaki territory. The land discussed in this guide belongs to the Abenaki nation. Because many modern land management solutions are often based on “Western science,” it is important to acknowledge the need for development and alteration on the shoreline is often a direct impact of colonized land management practices. While the improvements offered in this guide may aid the naturalization and stabilization of shorelines, they are not perfect. Perhaps, these practices can be implemented in the interim, while the community of Burlington moves towards acknowledging the true history of this land.

The management techniques described in this guide span from simple to elaborate, ranging in cost to fit your needs. While there is a range in impact and accessibility, every single project has the capacity to improve our city’s shorelines. As Burlington sees an increase in cyanobacteria blooms, invasive species, and erosion, integrating improved flood management, biodiversity, and run-off protection into every shoreline property is essential. From a landowner's perspective, these improvements can dramatically increase property values. The value of a lakefront property is significantly increased through individual and community action by prioritizing water purification and erosion-prevention strategies on land. Clear lake water and healthy ecosystems can increase the price of a single-family home by nearly 3%, achieved by implementing some of the management practices suggested in the following pages¹.

The Burlington community wouldn't be the same without its shorelines. It is essential to begin implementing these naturalization and stabilization improvements.

Dig further into this guide and find out how you can improve your shoreline property!