The site is looking very good after its first season.  The initial plan called for the site to be prepared for planting fall 2003, which would have allowed for a chemical treatment to rid the new topsoil of invasive weeds.  The site preparation could not be completed until late spring 2004, so chemical treatment was not possible as it would have delayed planting past the optimum dates.  The result was invasive mustards, lambs quarters, pigweed, ragweed and smartweeds.  These were controlled by a two-step process.  First, "weed wicks" were used to apply a Glyphosate herbicide (RODEO) in areas where the weeds were significantly taller than the native plants.  Second, Minnesota Conservation Corps (MCC) was hired to hand weed the majority of the site.  Volunteers from the Northwest Juvenile Center Satellite Home also helped with the hand weeding.  Sentence to Serve was not able to fit the weeding into their schedule this year, but we hope to fit it in next summer.   A large black fence was chosen by MN DOT to match the fence portions of the nearby Mississippi River inlet bridge.  This fence separates the steep portions of the site from the adjacent bike path.    Fencing was not installed around three of the four "lookout" areas due to excessive settling of the ground and subsequent lowering of the fence pilings.   When the ground has finished settling, these areas will be built up, the pilings extended, the fencing installed and the affected sections replanted.
 

Survival Rates as of October, 2004

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Looking northwest towards the Mississippi Inlet. Lookout areas can be seen jutting out into the lake.	Looking northwest towards downtown from the south end of the project.	Overview looking towards the south end of the project.
Fencing for these "lookout" areas could not be installed due to excessive settling of the ground and subsequent lowering of the fence pilings.	The southern end of the site has a more gentle slope, and thus did not need the riprap toe. There has been some additional erosion due to people pulling their boats up and trampling the native plantings.	Some species were chosen for their stabilization abilities, others for their showy flowers and aesthetic effect. The pink forb, smartweed, is a native plant that volunteered to the site. Much of it was pulled from the site during weeding to allow the other natives to become established.
This shows one of the mixed areas of the site. These areas were planted at one-foot intervals with a mixture of 40% grass, 60% forbs.	The aster is a late season bloomer, making it very attractive to butterflies and other insects.	Anise hyssop is a very attractive native forb that blooms from mid-summer to frost. It is a favorite of butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.
Black Eyed Susan is another attractive native forb that blooms from mid-summer to frost. It is used by butterflies and birds. Over time, it will likely disappear from the site as the other native forbs become established.	Each species of forb or grass was featured by planting it in a specific area of high concentration in addition to being a part of the intermediary mixed areas.