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Pond restoration Part Two #679078

Asked January 12, 2021, 6:33 PM EST

I am attaching some additional files concerning the pond I hope to restore. I also have a pdf of the actual pond contours if there is any interest. Thank you for your consideration. Rolf W. Parsons, Ph.D.

Ramsey County Minnesota

Expert Response

There is some information I need. What do you exactly mean by "restore." Shoreline? Water Quality? 

Where do you live?

Who "owns" the pond? You? The City? The DNR?

Are neighbors involved?

Is this a storm water retention pond?

Paul W. U of M Extension Master Gardener Dakota County Replied January 15, 2021, 3:19 PM EST
Paul: Here are some answers to your questions: There is some information I need. What do you exactly mean by "restore." Shoreline? Water Quality? The restoration I am looking for is a recommendation for the denuded shoreline resulting from the excavation that occurred this fall. The shore and land beyond used to be covered in grasses, but the new pond level will be lower than it previously was resulting in a three foot area of what will be just mud in the future. We would like to have some sort of appropriate but colorful planting along the new shoreline. Where do you live? My address is 2576 Parkview Ct. White Bear Township, MN. You can view the pond as it appeared in the past on Google Earth. Who "owns" the pond? You? The City? The DNR? The pond is an extension of a wetland owned by the White Bear Township. We are in frequent communication with them and have always gotten permission to plant on their land as long as it is not an invasive species. Are neighbors involved? The pond is "shared" by neighbors on either side of us. Over the years we have shared costs for pond maintenance - most significantly we have shared an aeration system to keep the pond healthy and to accommodate its previous inhabitants (fish, turtles, frogs and muskrats). Is this a storm water retention pond? It is a storm water retention pond, which is why the township excavated it after 25 years. For more pictures, see the first part of this question: "Pond Restoration Part 1" on file.
The Question Asker Replied January 16, 2021, 7:46 AM EST

I was able to find your first post. We have a new Ask an Expert System and it took me some time to find Part I. The reference that Julie gave you in the reply is an excellent reference. HAve you contacted the Soil and Water Conservation people at Ramsey County:Soil & Water Conservation | Ramsey County. It their program is similar to the one we have in Dakota County you can get grants to help with the costs of the restorations. Typically they will have workshops in the spring and when you complete the workshop you will have a complete planting plan and plant list. The grants in Dakota County can be upwards of $1000 depending on the size of the project.

As a starting point I suggest you get a soil test of the planting area if the new shoreline is from the dredging it could be made up of some nasty stuff: Soil Testing Laboratory | Department of Soil, Water, and Climate (umn.edu)

This is not an easy question to answer because the possibilities are endless. It really has to be designed out.  Here are some things you might want to think about:

Keep it natural by integrating native grasses and sedges with some splotches of color. For instance Little Bluestem Grasses are very water tolerant and have  nice color in the fall. Color can be provided by Blue Flag Iris which love wet feet and provide spring color. Late in the fall you can use Cardinal Flowers which have a bright red spike or Turtlehead or Bugbane (white flower spike) or Liatris (Monarch magnet). For a tall accent consider Joe Pye Weed or Little Joe both are bumble bee magnets in the fall.

Further from the shore consider native cone flowers or maybe some Rudbeckia. 

Another source of plant lists is the "Purple thumb Guide to Raingardens." Look for the plants that are recommended for the bottom of the raingarden. Raingardens – Blue Thumb
 

One more thing: don't forget about maintenance. You probably want to select plants that require minimal maintenance.

I hope this gives you some ideas. It will be a fun project. 

Paul W. U of M Extension Master Gardener Dakota County Replied January 18, 2021, 5:49 PM EST

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