Lake Nokomis Shoreline and Habitat Improvements Phase 2 Phase Two improvements will expand on what was previously done by naturalizing more of the shoreline and improving habitat for wildlife.

Milestones (anticipated project schedule by month/season)

2026

Jan-Mar: Project Scoping and Analysis; Community Engagement
Feb-April: Permitting and Design Development
May-June: Preparation of Construction Documents
June-July: Publicly bidding
August-October: Construction

2027

Mar-Dec: Maintenance and Establishment

Background

In 2015 the Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park Plan was developed.  The purpose of that plan was to provide a long-term vision for improvements to park facilities, recreation, landscape, trails, and shorelines within the regional park.  Thie plan studied the existing conditions of the park, assessed community needs in relation to park use, and proposed specific improvement projects related to natural resources, recreation and connectivity.

Natural Resources within Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park include all aspects of implementing and maintaining the landscape, vegetation, habitat, and water body improvements within the park.  The needs assessment process conducted as part of the 2015 Park Plan identified a vision for improving the natural setting and quality of the park.  A landscape design methodology characterized as “Naturalized Style” was the preferred option, maintaining the park primarily as a native/naturalized landscape in the form of savanna, meadow, prairie, woodland, and wetlands, with designated areas of managed turf inserted within it.  In 2017 Phase One shoreline improvements along the northern and northeastern portions of the lake converted approximately 4,000 linear feet of mowed turf to a naturalized landscape, reducing erosion, removing invasive plant species and improving water quality.

Funding

Lake Nokomis is a popular Minneapolis lake for its variety of recreation opportunities including swimming, sailing, fishing, canoeing and boat and bike rentals.  The lake was originally just five feet deep but was dredged in 1914 to provide more open water and parkland for visitors.  Park Superintendent Theodore Wirth’s ambitious plan to improve Lake Nokomis reduced open water area from 300 acres to 200 acres.  Lake Nokomis is part of the Minnehaha Creek Watershed and the primary land-uses around the lake are residential and parkland.  There are a total of 16 stormwater outfalls surrounding Lake Nokomis.

Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park is loved for its natural amenities.  In 2023 the lake scored excellent in water clarity, public health and recreational access, and good in aesthetics and habitat quality.  More recent park improvements have led to the creation of larger stormwater wetlands and additional wildlife habitat, which has contributed to the popularity of birding in the park.  Nokomis-Hiawatha’s well-developed network of trails offers visitors prime access to the park’s lakes, creek, and wetlands, and has made passive modes of recreation like walking, running, and cycling some of the most popular ways to experience the park.  The park consistently ranks in the top ten most visited regional parks and trails with more than two million visits annually.

The MPRB received a Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council grant in the amount of $755,000 to continue naturalized shoreline improvements around the lake to further improve water quality and increase wildlife habitat and diversity.