The annual WAPOA Shoreland Restoration Open House will be on Saturday May 20th from 9:30 am to 11:30 am at Camp Knutson, at 11148 Manhattan Point Blvd, Crosslake. Join via zoom or in person. There will be a walking tour at 11:30 am after the zoom presentation has ended for those who attend on site. We will tour the Camp Knutson Shoreline Restoration project on site.
If you would like to attend, please email Kristie Roedl, the WAPOA Shoreland Restoration person at Kristieplummerroedl@gmail.com.
Presenters include Laura Mendoza from Great Roots and Aaron Soltau from Prairie Restoration. Both vendors are familiar with shoreland restoration projects with Willow Wattle, Coir logs, Cedar Tree revetment and native plants and flowers. Jill Johnson, a property owner who completed a shoreline restoration project last year and Jared Griffin the Senior Camp Director for Camp Knutson will be available to talk about their projects. Natasha Bartolotta, from the National Loon Center: “The Nest” will be available to talk about Landscaping to help the Loons and a grant opportunity. Staff from Crow Wing Soil and Water will speak about the benefits of site visits, site summaries, and possible future funding opportunities.
Monarch Butterflies are now on the endangered list and your planting Native flowers and plants can help the pollinators and butterflies for your grand children to enjoy.
Land next to your shoreline planted with native flowers and plants acts as a buffer to filter the possible fertilizer run off from your lawn and hopefully reduce the phosphorus level and weed growth in the lake. Buffers planted with Native plants and flowers does not have to look “messy” or be too tall to block your view. If you do nothing else, stop mowing to the waters edge and stop fertilizing your lawn.
Opportunities to help participate in community build shoreline restoration projects on Friday June 9th and the 16th will be presented. There is no better way to experience and learn about Shoreland Restoration than helping plant Native plants and flowers on the shoreline and installing coir logs on the shore.