The project involved the restoration of a stream meander to the existing straight-line configuration of the creek, wetland vegetation restoration, and construction of a boardwalk. The project will increase public access and provide educational signage throughout the site.

The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) has updated its rules, including Rule F: Shoreline Protection. To better promote water quality within the MCWD, this rule will promote natural landscaping and stabilization along shorelines to a greater degree than the previous rule. The Lake Minnetonka Shoreline Restoration Project complements this change by classifying the shoreline around the lake according to its likelihood to erode, and by creating five demonstration sites of natural stabilization (bioengineering) to show homeowners and contractors how to work with a variety of shoreline conditions. The first demonstration site was completed in 2005 at the headwaters of Minnehaha Creek at Grays Bay. The remaining four sites were stabilized during the summer of 2009.

Background

Big Island is a large isolated island on the Lower Lake portion of Lake Minnetonka. The island is partially developed with single-family homes and otherwise is largely preserved in parks owned by the city of Orono, Three Rivers Park District, and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD). From 2004-2006, MCWD participated in the acquisition of a 56-acre portion of Big Island in conjunction with the city of Orono and the Minnesota State Legislature. MCWD currently maintains easement rights over important natural areas on the island and remains in discussions with the city of Orono regarding a natural resource management plan for the parcel. The parcel contains upland habitat identified as maple basswood forest and two wetlands that are highlighted in the MCWD Functional Assessment of Wetlands as holding high value for multiple categories.

The purpose of the Big Island Restoration Project is to enhance and improve natural features on the site within the parameters of the management plan currently being developed by the city of Orono. The project was developed with input from the city and includes elements such as bluff shoreline protection that was important to the city and wetland/wetland buffer restoration as identified in the feasibility study. The MCWD project focuses on improvements related to water resources, but was developed to meet the park needs of city residents and habitat desires for the site.

In 2002, Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) Managers authorized an investigation of Stubbs Bay after the city of Orono expressed concerns about its water quality.

Park History and Use

Pamela Park is a 64-acre city park located within Edina east of Highway 100 and north of the Crosstown Highway, which contains Pamela Lake, an 18.4-acre wetland designated as a DNR Protected Wetland. It is part of the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) drainage area. In addition to the wetlands, the city park contains tennis courts, soccer, hockey and softball fields and is a popular neighborhood place to play and picnic.