The Northern Neck Master Gardener’s Shoreline Evaluation Program (SEP) will offer a presentation on riparian buffers on Friday, June 28 at 2:00 p.m. at St Mary’s Church, 203 Dennison St., Colonial Beach.
A riparian buffer may be the most valuable element in a waterfront landscape, offering a natural defense against the destructive forces of erosion and upland runoff. Yet few people are aware that this protective grouping of trees, shrubs, perennials, and grasses is a required feature for every waterfront property under the terms of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act.
The presentation will analyze the importance of riparian buffers and the many ways they contribute to the health of the shoreline and the value of the property. It will also review the activities permitted within the buffer zone, and strategies for enhancing the effectiveness of the buffer vegetation. The program will conclude with advice on planting plans and management strategies to create a beautiful and functional shoreline landscape.
“In our Master Gardener classes, we are taught that a riparian buffer is the most effective way to protect waterfront properties, in terms of cost and effort,” comments Susan Lindsey, chair of the NNMG Shoreline program.
“Homeowners are becoming more and more aware of the impact of increasingly intense storms, especially if they live close to the water. Buffers are one way that thoughtful landscaping can help protect a property and contribute to the overall health of the Chesapeake Bay.”
The program is free, but registration is required. For more information and to register, call the Westmoreland office of Virginia Cooperative Extension at (804) 493-8924.
If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Trent Jones at 804-580-5694/TDD*) during business hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to discuss accommodations five days prior to the event. *TDD number is (800) 828-1120.
Founded in 1989, the Northern Neck Master Gardener Association is a not-for-profit organization. Its purpose is to promote and serve the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) Master Gardener Program in cooperation with the Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, Westmoreland and Essex County Extension Offices in fulfilling the educational mission of VCE.
Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments. Its programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, military status, or any other basis protected by law.
Northern Neck Master Gardeners – www.nnmg.org
Virginia Cooperative Extension – https://northumberland.ext.vt.edu
Contact: Mary Beane, Horticulture Program Assistant, mbbeane@vt.edu – (804) 580-5694