Melody Lake Shoreline Restoration

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This project has concluded.

The City is restoring the shoreline at Melody Lake Park with a native plant buffer. View a map of the project area here.

Native landscapes provide many benefits including;

  • Stabilizing shorelines
  • Supporting cleaner air and water
  • Providing wildlife habitat, including pollinator habitat
  • Managing invasive plants, including Buckthorn
  • Increasing resilience in a changing climate

Get the latest project updates here.


The City is restoring the shoreline at Melody Lake Park with a native plant buffer. View a map of the project area here.

Native landscapes provide many benefits including;

  • Stabilizing shorelines
  • Supporting cleaner air and water
  • Providing wildlife habitat, including pollinator habitat
  • Managing invasive plants, including Buckthorn
  • Increasing resilience in a changing climate

Get the latest project updates here.


This project has concluded.

  • Lake View and Bald Eagle Siting

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    Taking in the beautiful view from Melody Lake Park this morning and caught a glimpse of a bald eagle flying overhead.

  • Trail Installed

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    A trail to the bench and rock landing was installed last week Friday.

  • Management Mow

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    The first management mow is planned for this week. This strategy helps the native seeds and plugs to gain an edge over weeds.

  • Mother Painted Turtles

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    Two mother painted turtles were spotted laying eggs at the park today. Young turtles will hatch in late August or early September. Check out the video here.

  • Plant plugs and shrubs installed

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    A mix of 20 different plugs and shrubs were planted earlier today including butterfly milkweed, wild strawberry, cardinal flower, prairie phlox, prairie rose, red-osier dogwood, and others.

  • What the Future Holds

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    Melody Lake Park is in its establishment phase which admittedly can look a bit ugly. The restoration project at Lake Cornelia is a bit further along - it was installed in 2020. Check out this Lake Cornelia restoration project photo gallery to see what the future holds for the restoration at Melody Lake Park.

    Large Beardtongue in bloom, Lake Cornelia Shoreline Restoration, June 2022.


  • Spring Growth

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    The site was seeded late last year with native seed and an annual cover crop to help stabilize the soils as the native plants come in. The cover crop is looking nice and some natives are emerging. Milkweed and Black-eyed Susan are easily recognizable - check out the photos. Later this year, we'll enhance with some native plugs and shrubs.

  • Restoration cycle

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    There is a lot to look forward to as plants grow. Native restorations can take up to three years to establish and reach their full beauty. Think of the longstanding gardening quote:

    Year one, they sleep...

    The surface may look patchy, but underground these native plants are building massive root systems that stabilize and improve the health of the soil.

    Year two, they creep...

    Plans begin to fill in above ground. Most of the energy is spent growing in size and deepening roots, but some will begin to bloom.

    Year three, they leap!

    Native vegetation becomes established and fills in the landscape. Plants reach mature sizes and blooms are more common.

    Braemar Academy 9 Golf Course buffer in July 2017, in year two of establishment.

  • Removals

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    Buckthorn and weed tree removals will be completed this week.

  • Update: Invasive Buckthorn and Tree Removal

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    With the extended ultra-cold temperatures we've had, the invasive buckthorn and tree removal schedule has been delayed a few weeks. We expect the work to occur in March.

    This winter lakeside view highlights the buckthorn infestation along the shoreline. Removing the invasive species helps to open lake views, allow existing valuable trees to thrive, and make space for beneficial native plants to grow.