Knaus Lake Shoreline Restoration

Stearns Conservation District staff were out on Knaus Lake doing routine status reviews and were talking with a shoreline landowner who had previously completed a project. The landowner mentioned that their neighbor was interested in working with the SCD on a shoreline project. The neighbor was then connected with the SCD and the beginning stages of the project planning began.

The project included removing old granite retaining walls along the waters edge. The project also consisted of planting the slope to the lake in native vegetation. The area had been maintained in lawn grass. 

This project includes both wildlife and water quality benefits for the lake. Benefits include near shore and slope stabilization, sediment and pollution reductions for water quality improvement, and flood retention via water runoff infiltration. Other benefits of the completed project include improved fish and wildlife habitat, prevention of nuisance geese, low maintenance for the landowner, and increased privacy along the lake shore. 

Components:

• Removing old retaining wall

• Planting native vegetation

Benefits:

• Pollution and sediment reductions

• Shore stabilization

• Flood retention

• Fish habitat

• Wildlife habitat

• Prevention of geese

• Privacy aesthetics

• Low maintenance