Mechanical harvesting is performed on Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles, Bde Maka Ska and Lake Harriet. A machine called a mechanical harvester, operated by MPRB certified equipment operators, removes plants that are in the top four to six feet of water. The harvested plant material is removed from the water and stored until the end of summer when it is brought to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum to be used as organic fill for their operations. The mechanical harvesters can only harvest within the Minnesota DNR permitted areas. This means you won’t see them operating out in the middle of the deeper water or along the entire shoreline.
The harvesters operate throughout the season with changes due to the weather, wind, water temperature, plant growth rates, and other changing variables. The harvesters are operated by MPRB Equipment Operators who are professional drivers holding Class A Commercial Driver’s Licenses.