February 10, 2025 2014 | Hastings Lakeshore Restoration In June of 2014, homeowners reached out to us seeking to enhance the ecological function of their small residential pond through lakeshore restoration in Hastings, MN. They had turfed all the way to the edge of the pond, but the area was unusable. The area’s high water table made the ground incredibly inundated and difficult… Read More
February 10, 2025 2021 | Elk River Community Lakeshore In 2021, a local management company approached us with a vision to breathe new life into a neighborhood in Elk River through community lakeshore restoration. Complaints from residents about the lackluster shoreline, devoid of aesthetic and recreational appeal, prompted them to seek our expertise. Our approach began with consultations to grasp the unique needs of… Read More
January 28, 2025 2022 | Chanhassen Native Plant Buffer In 2022, we were contacted by homeowners interested in transforming their unsightly cattail-infested pond into a vibrant native plant buffer in Chanhassen, MN. Despite their attempts to restore the area independently, they faced persistent challenges in eliminating the cattails and turf grass. They had a great deal of passion for this project, but needed our… Read More
January 28, 2025 2020 | Minnetonka Hillside Prairie Beginning in July 2020, our mission for this project was to convert a heavily eroded hillside into a flourishing native prairie in Minnetonka, MN. Our initial steps involved a thorough assessment of the site’s challenges, along with discussions with the homeowners to align on project goals. We began by installing biologs, fabric, and silt fence… Read More
April 12, 2023 2018 | Spring Park Boat Ramp For this project, Hennepin County contacted us to create a parking lot rain garden on Lake Minnetonka. The county had identified the adjacent parking lot as a significant source of pollutants entering the lake, prompting them to seek our expertise. After our site assessment, our primary objective was to reduce the flow of sediment and… Read More
April 3, 2023 2012 | Lake Minnetonka Riprap Shoreline In 2012, we took on the challenge of combining traditional landscaping practices with ecological restoration to create a naturalized riprap shoreline. To begin, like many homeowners living along the shores of Lake Minnetonka, wave and ice erosion was a constant challenge for our client. To combat this problem, they elected to install riprap armor along… Read More
October 19, 2022 2020 | Beacon Haven Shoreline Once dominated by buckthorn and other invasive weed species, this Mendota Heights Shoreline Restoration project now supports an impressive diversity of wetland, woodland, and prairie species. A walking path allows the residents of Beacon Haven to enjoy the unique natural areas. This 1-acre natural amenity is used at a soothing and healing tool for many… Read More
July 11, 2022 2018 | Medina Pond Shoreline Restoration This Medina estate was dealing with a very common pond problem. Reed canary grass and narrow-leaf cattail had invaded, compromising the look and the ecological function of the pond system. We controlled these invasive species and introduced a wide variety of wetland plants that are now thriving in this Medina pond shoreline restoration. The pond… Read More
June 29, 2022 2019 | Rusten Woods Pond We often work with condo and homeowners’ associations to improve pond buffers and lake shorelines. This particular Minnetonka pond shoreline restoration is shared by multiple homes and is adjacent to a popular walking path. We were called in to create an attractive and functional natural buffer for the association members. Native plant flowering now takes… Read More
April 29, 2022 2018 | Cottagewood Hillside Using native vegetation to stabilize steep hillslopes just makes sense. On the Cottagewood site, we used a variety of bio-engineering techniques and a multitude of planting and seeding methods to establish a very functional, deep-rooted hillside prairie restoration. Here are the advantages: it looks terrific during all seasons, prairie plants send roots 10 to 12… Read More
April 29, 2022 2018 | Girard Park Shoreline The residents of Girard Park have the unique opportunity to experience over 80 native plant species that comprise pond shores, prairie and woodland areas, and a large native garden restoration in Bloomington, MN. We were called in to transform their campus. We eliminated turf areas and converted weed-invested pond edges to ecologically functioning habitats that… Read More
April 29, 2022 2019 | Eagle Creek Pond The Eagle Creek Pond Restoration in Prior Lake, MN had the traditional land management approach impacting the shore. Turf to the water’s edge was causing bank slumping, erosion, and water quality concerns. We developed a plan to establish a diverse and attractive shore-edge plant community. The shore is now stable and supports showy species like… Read More
