The Dakota County Parks Department contacted the NRCS and SWCD in late 1999/early 2000 to form a partnership to stabilize and restore an eroding bank. A critical design element was that the trees at the top of the near-vertical bank were to be preserved to provide a visual barrier to recently constructed park buildings. After reviewing multiple options, a vegetated geogrid, aka reinforced soil tiers with brush layering, approach was selected. Parks supplied 75% of the cash for the project and the SWCD supplied the remaining 25%. Labor was provided by a diverse and motivated team of agency and contract personnel. The project started on November 13, 2000 and took three days to complete. Additional buffer plantings will be added in the spring of 2001. The following individuals assisted in the design and/or installation of the project: Terry Vikla, Bruce Blair, and Johnny Forrest (Dakota Parks); Jay Riggs, David Holmen, Jenn Morrow, Laura Jester, Todd Matske, and Brad Becker (SWCD); Gregg Thompson (Metro SWCD Association); Katie Hechler (MnDOT); Darrin Carlson and John Crellin (NRCS); and Lyndsay and the rest of the MCC crew (MDNR). All of the heavy equipment work was done by the great folks at Otto Excavating. Photos (November 20, 2000): After (2001): July 15, 2004