Nantucket Cove HOA

Nantucket Cove, a Homeowner’s Association in Schaumburg, was faced with an erosion problem – the shoreline of its 2600 linear-foot detention pond was collapsing into the water. In order to solve this problem, Nantucket Cove used bioengineered shoreline stabilization techniques. Bioengineered shorelines consist of re-grading the shoreline to a flatter slope of at least 3:1 and replanting the banks with native vegetation. Once established, the root systems of the native vegetation will hold the banks together. Nantucket chose a bioengineered solution rather than conventional rip-rap initially because of cost differences but was also informed that it is sustainable (while rip-rap needs to be replaced every 8-15 years), provides wildlife habitat, deters geese, helps clean runoff water, and is beautiful.

In fall of 2005, an herbicide was applied to the existing turf grass and the banks were graded back to an easily-vegetated slope of at least 3:1. Selected trees that were dead or dying were cut and left to lie along the bank in the water. This adds habitat for Herons, Egrets, turtles and other wetland creatures, but it also slows erosion by breaking up wave action before it reaches the shore. A dormant installation of native prairie seed and plugs was installed on the banks along with native tree and shrub groupings to replace some of the trees lost. Native wetland and emergent plugs were planted along the shoreline and in water to re-establish the emergent zone. Bird and bat boxes were also installed to provide habitat. A goose protection fence was put up to prevent geese from eating the seedlings.

Management of the planting began immediately the following spring and consisted mostly of mowing, spot herbicide treatments and mechanical removal of invasive species. Currently, management has and will continue to decrease as prescribed fire becomes the main stewardship tool employed on site.

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