Cottage Grove gets an island

I didn’t realize it at the time, but I got a good look at Cottage Grove’s newest addition when I was testing out an external mount on a GoPro a couple of weeks ago: an island in the Mississippi River.

Frankly, it doesn’t look like much but the city has big plans, the Pioneer Press reports.

If you want to watch the video, turn down your speakers. (Scroll to about 2:05 for river views)

greycloud_inlet

Last week, the City Council named the island Joseph La Bathe Settler’s Island, which it acquired on the cheap after the previous owner didn’t pay taxes on it. It’s the city’s first island.

The island often floods in the spring, it’s covered with vegetation and there’s presently no way to get to it except kayak or boat.

The city’s parks director told the PiPress that the city might make a picnic area on the island, or make it part of an “interpretive kayak trail.”