Harrisburg, PA (03/27/03) - A free landscaping template designed to help homeowners make the most of backyard streams and ponds is now available free from Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. The new template enables landowners to use water features to attract wildlife and enhance the beauty of natural areas, and at the same time, improve local water quality by preventing streambank erosion and reducing run-off of lawn chemicals.

The template allows even those without a green thumb to successfully create a natural streamside buffer in their backyard. The template provides step-by-step instructions that include an extensive list of landscaping plants and design ideas.

For many years, streamside buffers have been promoted by environmental organizations and Pennsylvania state agencies to prevent streambank erosion, reduce run-off of pollutants into local waterways, and provide important habitat to the region’s wildlife. Initially, farms and large land holdings were targeted for streamside buffers. With this template, the Alliance hopes to introduce streamside buffers to a new audience – homeowners. “As land is converted from farms and natural areas to housing in South Central Pennsylvania, many miles of small streams and creeks are being incorporated into backyards,” said Alliance Program Coordinator Susan Richards. “Too often landowners mow to the stream’s edge instead of planting environmentally beneficial native trees and shrubs. We hope this template will encourage homeowners to adopt more river-friendly techniques in their backyards.”

In order to promote “backyard buffers,” the Alliance, with support from Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Growing Greener initiative, will distribute the landscaping templates and offer buffer planning advice to interested homeowners. Templates will also be available through local garden centers.

Founded in 1971, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is a regional non-profit organization dedicated to building partnerships to protect and restore the Bay and its rivers.

For a free landscaping template, contact Susan Richards at 717-737-8622.