Wetland Mitigation

Natural stormwater management and site re-design for privacy and function

This property is located on a state highway that provides direct access to the Westerly beach area. As a result of improvements to the adjacent state highway, storm water would flood the south side and rear yard of the site.

Working in conjunction with a local engineer, Landscape Elements LLC provided landscape architectural services for a re-design of the side and rear yards to address issues of storm water fl ooding in addtion to providing more privacy. The resulting redesign provided the owner with an attractive and usable backyard. The patio and lawn areas look out across a detention pond that is defi ned by a low stone wall. The mix of wet meadow grasses, forbes and willful owers within the detention pond provide an attractive native plant palette under a variety of water level conditions.

The surrounding sloped topography has been planted in a mix of native evergreen and deciduous shrubs that provide seasonal interest, wildlife habitat and food ( winter berries) but are relatively deer resistant.

Plantings of giant arborvitae provide a perimeter evergreen buffer for privacy with foreground plantings of mixed deciduous trees and shrubs for wildlife habitat and landscape interest.