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 i 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 i 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- j 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 I inflow (load) to Casey Lake. The cost of this phosphorus I 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 best­management 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.