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Everyone Can Contribute to Photo by: Maria Catanzaro
Nature-Based Solutions!
Even those that don’t live on the shoreline can help
protect our beaches and oceans! Photo by: toinane on Unsplash
For example, there are a number of strategies to
reduce polluted runoff from entering the aquatic
environment, including:
• Using permeable pavers: You can replace
paved areas with surfaces that allow rainwater
to permeate the ground . A Green Shores
design seeks to reduce the total area of
impervious areas, and can include installation • Building a rain garden: A rain garden is
of permeable pavers, gravel or grass grid another nature-based solution that a home-
systems, and specialty concrete mixes, that owner can create to prevent stormwater from
allow storm water to filter through to the soils reaching the shoreline . Rain gardens are garden
below . Use of these alternatives has a number features that are designed to collect, hold and
of environmental benefits, including lower soak in stormwater in depressions planted
pollutant loads entering waterways, reduced with native shrubs and flowers . In addition
erosion and flooding from flashy storm runoff to recharging groundwater, they are highly
and increased groundwater recharge . effective at preventing pollutants from entering
If stormwater can filter through the soil, our waterways . The plants and soil of a rain
ecosystem processes will naturally improve garden help to increase infiltration of surface
water quality before it makes it to a stream . water down into the soil where it can be
It will also recharge local aquifers, which will filtered, and then help to recharge sub-surface
contribute to more steady stream flows . aquifers . Helpful guides are available to
Additionally, less radiant heat is retained by demonstrate how to design, construct and
these alternative systems compared to tradi- plant a rain garden .
tional concrete . This will reduce heat pollution • Building a green roof: Green roofs can also
that contributes to urban heat island effect . reduce rainwater runoff from your home . While
Depending on the type of solution selected, constructing a vegetated roof might not be for
installation methods and costs will vary . everyone, a green roof is another example of
Typically, pavers are placed on a level bed harnessing nature’s ingenuity to reduce runoff
that allows infiltration and spaces between are as well as insulate your home, increase the
backfilled with fine gravel . Detailed installation longevity of your roof, protect property from
guides and summaries of different options fires, create habitat, reduce urban heat affects
can be found online . and store carbon .

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