Alternatives to Traditional Landscaping (Beyond the Lawn)
Eight Towns and the Bay developed a PowerPoint presentation titled "Beyond the Lawn" which describes the relationships among hydrology, land development, water quality and quantity degradation, and environmental landscape practices. After alerting viewers of the impacts that they have on the coastal hydrology in their area, the presentation discusses several practical techniques to address some of these impacts. These homeowner-scale actions include the use of native plants over non-native exotics to reduce water and chemical use and provide wildlife food and habitat, roof runoff collection and recharge systems, runoff infiltration possibilities, and some town-wide zoning changes: Open Space Subdivision Regulation bylaw.
The presentation was giving at many venues including the Ecological Landscaping Association's annual meeting, an Ipswich River Watershed Association conference, a Massachusetts Audubon Society workshop, and several area planning board and conservation commission meetings.
