Liberty Lake Shoreline Naturalization Project

The norm for lakeside properties in Spokane County has been bluegrass lawns stretching to the seawall or bulkhead. For decades, landowners have been led to believe that a park-like setting of manicured lawns and flower gardens are the ideal landscape. They have “tamed” shorelines to “better enjoy” their shoreline property by removing vegetation to improve views.

This project will initiate a program directed to help property owners appreciate the values and pleasures of naturalizing their shorelines, and preserving existing natural shoreline vegetation and environments. This will directly improve water quality, shoreline natural character, and fish and wildlife habitat. 

Several private shoreline property owners in Liberty Lake, Washington, have expressed interest in taking the first steps to “re-naturalize” their shorelines. These landowners are preparing and planning to recapture the natural character and function of their shorelines. They are naturalizing their shorelines in an effort to increase habitat, improve water quality, and reduce the use of irrigation, herbicides, and fertilizers. They have all enthusiastically agreed to be part of this lakeside demonstration project, the first of its kind in Spokane County.  

Liberty Lake has a highly developed lakeshore environment. The projects will demonstrate that seawalls and bulkheads are not necessary to prevent erosion and that landowners can have a naturally functioning shoreline that still meets their style of living on the lake.

The projects will include approximately 440’ linear ft. of shoreline (3, and possibly 4 lots). Each lot contains a seawall or bulkhead to be removed and replaced, or obscured with a naturally sloping native landscape. The project will involve a landscape architect and shoreline experts to re-naturalize the shoreline with native vegetation. Projects will involve use of soil, geo-fabrics, and rock placement at the shoreline edge. A native plant list will be developed and each property will prepare a landscape design that best meets the environmental and landowner objectives.

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