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May 16, 2008Florida Home Buyer Guide > Florida Water Front Homes For Sale
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Florida Water Front Homes For Sale

Florida waterfront homes offer residents beautiful places to live with great locations near beaches, fishing and boating. But before you look into buying Florida waterfront homes, learn about the signs of a waterfront property that is healthy and likely to retain its natural beauty.

Erosion Threatens Florida Waterfront Property

If you are seeking Florida water front homes near canals, lakes, rivers etc., look for good surface vegetation in the buffer zone and also close to water. Lack of surface vegetation near the water front property will not only cause the erosion of the topsoil but could cause damage to the water quality. The waterfront vegetation protects the bare ground from erosion and reduces damage caused by surface runoff. Vegetation also helps keep pollutants out of the water.

Shoreline properties are on the receiving end of drainage from the lands uphill. Erosion from rain and melting snow can be a major problem. So the more vegetative cover, the better for the waterfront environment.

Gauging the Health of the Shoreline Environment

A well maintained and properly established shoreline buffer zone should be able to: remove up to 50 percent or more of fertilizer chemicals and pesticides, remove up to 60 percent or more of some bacteria and remove up to 75 percent or more of sediment.

An ill-maintained buffer shore could cause dirt particles to be eroded from the surface and deposited in the surface water: Result, sunlight cannot penetrate the murky water and aquatic plants are unable to grow, thus destroying the habitat for aquatic creatures. The gravel, pebble or sand beds are covered, making them unsuitable for fish spawning and as homes for insects such as mayflies and stoneflies. The treatment costs for drinking water can escalate. The water becomes less pleasant for swimming.

Florida waterfront homes are much sought after by boating enthusiasts, as well as by people who just love watching the sparkling water. But Florida waterfront homes must strike a balance with the needs of the local environment, or risk destroying all of the things that makes these homes so desirable.

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