The mechanical harvesting of nuisance macrophytes in shallow lakes is frequently conducted to improve recrea­tional opportunities and aesthetics. This management approach also removes phosphorus from lake systems. We assessed the effectiveness and relative cost of phosphorus removal by plant harvesting in a shallow (mean depth 0.6 m), small (5-ha), urban lake in Minnesota from which common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) had previously been eradicated by drawdown. In 2014, two harvesting efforts (July and August) were effective at reducing infestations of water net [Hydro-dictyan reticulatum (L.) Bory] and common elodea {Elodea canadensis Michx.) in Casey Lake. A total of 3,600 kg dry weight of plant material and 16.4 kg of total phosphorus (TP) were removed through harvesting. The phosphorus removed by harvesting was equivalent to 53% of the TP inflow (load) to Casey Lake. The cost of this phosphorus removal was $670 kg of TP, which was more expensive 5 than in lake alum treatment ($480 kg of TP), but considerably less expensive than many watershed best ­management practices ($2,800 to $49,800 kg of TP). Phosphorus removal costs were figured over the life of each practice. Our results show that macrophyte harvesting can be a cost-effective means to remove phosphorus from an urban shallow lake system, and this management tool has the potential to factor into dynamic and creative lake and watershed management plans.