Along the Isles, the Planted Shoreline Does Its Summer Work

The deep roots knit the bank against erosion, filter stormwater that would otherwise carry lawn chemicals, sediment and street grime into the lake, and shelter the birds, insects and turtles at the water's edge. Hardened or mown edges are reserved for formal access points, including the marked canoe and kayak launch the Park Board maintains at the Isles.

The approach is visible across the chain. When crews rebuilt the channel between Lake of the Isles and Cedar Lake beginning in fall 2021, they removed decades-old wood retaining walls and naturalized the edge with stone, soil and plants rather than rebuilding a hard wall, a roughly $1 million project paid for through the state's Parks and Trails Legacy Fund. The result is a shaggier shoreline in exchange for steadier banks, cleaner water and far less mowing, fertilizer and irrigation than lawn requires.

The plantings pair with volunteer cleanups that clear the litter the vegetation cannot hold. The East Isles Neighborhood Association runs monthly Saturday cleanups along the Isles, meeting at Euclid Place and East Lake of the Isles Parkway, with dates set for June 13, July 11 and Aug. 8.

Residents can support the shoreline by keeping to marked access points instead of cutting new paths through the plantings, which compacts soil and opens gaps where the bank can begin to erode again. The Park Board posts its shoreline and water-quality guidance at minneapolisparks.org.