Shingle Creek Erosion Control & Riverbank Improvements
For generations, Shingle Creek has wound through farms, wetlands, and neighborhoods, shaping the communities it passes before joining the Mississippi.
But if you own property along Shingle Creek today, and you’re watching your land wash away or be damaged by burrowing animals, it can feel like your land is under a time limit.
The good news is you don’t have to take erosion sitting down. Lakeshore Guys® helps riverbank property owners hroughout Minnesota protect and beautify their waterfront land.
With our riprap installation for erosion control and animal-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 Shingle Creek.
Tell us about your situation and book an on-site consultation, or read on to learn more.
About Shingle Creek
Two other creeks connect in Brooklyn Park to form Shingle Creek. It travels 11.3 miles through nine communities, including Brooklyn Center, Crystal, and Minneapolis, before reaching the Mississippi at Webber Park.
In the 1860s, Rufus Farnham’s shingle mill near the creek gave Shingle Creek its name, and other mills by the Mississippi fueled the region’s lumber boom.
After timber supplies dwindled and the last sawmill closed in 1921, the watershed’s sandy soils supported an extensive potato-growing industry. The northern Brooklyn Township area was regarded as one of the state’s leading potato districts.
Common Creek Problems
Several factors combine to make challenging conditions along the banks of Shingle Creek:
The creek experiences dramatic flow variations, from almost no flow during summer droughts to over 600 cubic feet per second during major storms. This creates unstable soil conditions that accelerate erosion.
Decades of development have transformed the watershed, which is now 85% developed with about one-third covered by impervious surfaces. Parking lots, roads, and rooftops force water to rush into the creek rather than soaking into the ground, intensifying erosive pressure on the remaining natural banks.
The creek was aggressively straightened and over-widened starting in 1960, with channelization creating unnaturally wide, shallow channels. With the creek disconnected from its natural floodplains, erosive forces concentrate on exposed banks. Some segments now have unstable banks that slough off significant amounts of soil every year.
Heavy rainfall events have increased in recent decades, with more intense storms creating more severe erosion episodes along the creek.
All this means homeowners often feel like they’re fighting a constant battle to keep their land intact.
Stop Erosion Now
Riprap is a type of durable stone used for erosion control. Our riprap installations layer these stones over geotextile filter fabric, providing attractive and reliable protection for banks on Shingle Creek.
We can build up your property’s bank to handle extreme flow variations and erosive forces. Flowing water will find and exploit any weaknesses, which is why creek restoration requires specialized expertise.
Our banks are built for long-lasting protection, giving you the peace of mind that your bank is designed to withstand the creek’s droughts, floods, and everything in between.
Keep Burrowing Animals Out
Burrowing animals like muskrats, groundhogs, or even beavers can damage banks. If you’re dealing with this issue, we can help.
Our proprietary 72″ PVC-coated galvanized steel Muskrat Mesh™ is designed to deter burrowing animals. This mesh covers several feet of your bank above water, as well as extending into the water a few more feet, which helps prevent animals from being able to dig into the ground at, above, and below the water’s edge.
Combined with geotextile fabric and a layer of stones, this creates a hardened area that animals can paw at, but it’s much easier for them to move on and find someplace else to dig.
Staircases and Steps
Whether you want to reach the creek for kayaking, enjoying the scenery, or simply having convenient access to your waterfront, we can build you safe, attractive access that complements your riprap creek bank.
Our custom-designed staircases and steps work with Shingle Creek’s variable water levels and provide long-lasting access in your choice of materials:
Once you can safely reach the creek, if you decide you’d like extra amenities like a patio or improved pathway, we can handle that, too.
Restoration Efforts Underway
Despite decades of challenges, Shingle Creek is experiencing active restoration. The Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission has secured millions in restoration funding and completed multiple projects since 2016.
Recent restoration work has stabilized severely eroding streambanks, installed rock riffles to improve oxygen levels, established native deep-rooted plantings, and enhanced aquatic habitat. These projects help prevent sediment and phosphorus from washing downstream.
Several lakes in the watershed have met water quality standards and have been removed from Minnesota’s Impaired Waters List after years of restoration work.
Your stretch of Shingle Creek is part of ongoing restoration efforts. Protecting your property now means you’ll be ready to enjoy the creek’s improvements for years to come.
Get Your Piece of Shingle Creek Protected
If you’re ready to stop watching your property wash downstream and start enjoying your connection to this storied 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.