Lambert Lake is a former shallow lake that was drained and ditched by County Ditch 14 in the 1940s. The Lambert Lake Pond was built in 2005 within the former footprint of Lambert Lake, restoring a portion of water storage capacity to the remaining wetland. Highlights include:
- The pond has a 400 ft sheet pile wall on the northwest end and a weir on the southern end.
- The weir maintains a consistent water level in the pond while also allowing high water to overflow to the larger wetland area to the south. Water also outlets from the pond to the adjacent Lambert Creek Meander (see map in slideshow).
- The sheet pile was replaced in 2021 for continued reliability of the pond.
The project was a partnership between VLAWMO, the Saint Paul Regional Water Services, and the City of Vadnais Heights and funded through both grant and loan funding. Grant funds were through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 319 funds administered by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) with a match from VLAWMO. Loan funding was provided through a 0% interest loan from the Clean Water Partnership loan program, funded through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF).
The pond was created in 2005 to improve water quality and reduce sedimentation into East Vadnais Lake during periods of high rainfall, and reduce flooding downstream.
The pond captures excess nutrients, sediment, and bacteria before they continue downstream into East Vadnais Lake.
The upgraded 2021 steel sheet pile strengthened the pond's northwestern wall, supporting long-term resilience for the site and downstream. The pond now works in tandem with the Lambert Creek Meander project.
