Minnehaha Creek Erosion Control & Riverbank Improvements
For thousands of years, Minnehaha Creek has flowed from Lake Minnetonka to the Mississippi River. The Dakota people considered it sacred, pioneers built their mills along its waters, and generations of Minnesotans have called its banks home. But if you own property along this historic waterway, and you’re watching your land wash away piece by piece or get chewed up by muskrats, it’s hard to enjoy that rich heritage.
The good news is you don’t have to sit by while your riverbank washes away. Since 1996, Lakeshore Guys® has helped property owners throughout Minnesota protect their waterfront land. With our riprap installation and muskrat-resistant reinforcements, we can halt the damage now and protect your property long term. Beyond that, our custom staircases and steps provide safe, attractive access so you can fully enjoy your part of Minnehaha Creek.
Contact us to discuss your situation or book an on-site consultation, or read on to learn more.
About Minnehaha Creek
Minnehaha Creek winds 22 miles through some of Minnesota’s most desirable neighborhoods, traveling from Lake Minnetonka through Hopkins, Saint Louis Park, Edina, and Minneapolis.
The Dakota people called it “curling water,” a name that fits perfectly as this creek has been carving and shaping the landscape for millennia.
In the 1850s, the creek powered some of Minnesota’s earliest gristmills and sawmills, driving early industrial development in the region.
The creek ends its journey at the 53-foot Minnehaha Falls, which draws over 850,000 visitors annually.
Common Creek Problems
Though the old water-powered mills are gone, the water force that brought them to life is as strong as ever. Several factors make problems along its banks particularly challenging:
- The creek experiences pronounced flow variations, from near-zero flows during droughts to 300 cubic feet per second during storms. This creates unstable soil conditions that contribute to erosion.
- Development throughout the watershed has increased peak flows while reducing natural water absorption, adding even more to the likelihood of erosion.
- Past straightening and channelization projects disconnected the creek from its natural floodplains. With fewer places for water to spread out, this increases erosive pressure on the banks.
- Muskrats living along the creek create tunnel systems that can undermine retaining walls, embankments, and lawn areas.
All of this means that homeowners often feel they’re fighting a losing battle against the creek.
Stop Erosion Now
Riprap is a type of durable stone used for erosion control. Our riprap installations place these stones strategically over a layer of geotextile filter fabric, providing reliable, long-term protection for creek conditions.
We can build up your property’s bank to handle Minnehaha Creek’s variable flows and erosive forces. Flowing water will find and exploit any weaknesses, which is why creek restoration requires specialized expertise.
Our banks are engineered for long-lasting protection, giving you the peace of mind that your bank is built to withstand the creek’s droughts, floods, and everything in between.
Keep Muskrats Out
If you have muskrats, you don’t need us to tell you all the trouble they cause. The good news is they aren’t digging for the fun of it, so when things become too difficult for them, they tend to move on.
We can make your property virtually impervious to muskrats, by installing our proprietary 72″ PVC-coated galvanized steel Muskrat Mesh™. This mesh covers several feet of your bank above water, as well as extending into the water a few more feet, which helps prevent muskrats from being able to burrow into the ground at, above, and below the water’s edge.
Combined with geotextile fabric and a layer of stone, this creates a hardened area that muskrats can paw at, but it’s much easier for them to swim off and find someplace else to dig.
Staircases and Steps
Whether you want to reach the creek for fishing, kayaking, or just to enjoy the peaceful sounds of flowing water, we can build you safe, attractive access that complements your riprap creek bank.
Our custom-designed staircases and steps work with Minnehaha Creek’s variable water levels and provide long-lasting access in your choice of materials:
Once you can safely reach the creek, you might discover you want additional amenities like a boat ramp, patio, or improved pathway. We can handle all of that, too.
Get Your Piece of Minnehaha Creek Protected
If you’re ready to stop watching your property wash downstream and start enjoying your connection to this historic Minnesota waterway, we’re here to help. Our DNR-compliant practices, in-depth explanations of our processes, photos, videos, and great reviews make your next step a clear and easy one.