Salmon-Enhancement Tips for Shoreline Landowners

This property is an example of a shorefront house. Shorefront landowners have specific ways of helping keep the rivers clean. Courtesy of Flickr user Bobby Rettew.

Landscape to cultivate healthy beach property:

Incorporate native vegetation, drainage, and strategic placement of logs to prevent erosion and create habitat for the insects that young fish love to eat.

Prevent erosion using natural methods:

Plant native vegetation and keep trees that have fallen on your property to prevent erosion, promote drainage, and support insects and small fish that comprise the food chain below salmon.
Consider replacing your bulkhead with more natural solutions:
- Look into new methods that protect against erosion and provide natural habitat.

bulkhead-before-and-after — These pictures are an example of a Washington beach before and after a bulkhead was removed. The first picture demonstrates the massive bulkhead, while the second shows how natural resources such as log placement can be used in place of bulkheads. Both images are courtesy of Flickr user Washington DNR.

Keep water clean:

Garden naturally, eliminating or reducing pesticides and fertilizers so that they don’t get into the water.
Maintain your septic system properly; limit toxins from entering the system by using nontoxic household cleaning products.

Protect vital local species:

Learn if you have sensitive habitat on your shoreline—an eelgrass bed, wetland and/or stream outlet, for example. Reducing threats to them (boats, buoys, etc.) can do a world of good for salmon.

eelgrass-bed — This picture shows an eelgrass bed in Vashon Island, Washington. It is vital that resources such as eelgrass beds be preserved to maintain a safe environment for salmon and other living beings. Courtesy of Flickr user Washington DNR.

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