backabit - Let see if I understand your question. You say you have an approx 2 ft high embankment that extends up and back from the water line at a 45 degree angle around 1/4 of your pond. I assume the ground levels off at that point where the new grass line is. Grass does not grow on this embankment slope because you did not sow grass there. I also assume the embankment was built to keep the creek floods out of the pond.

1. Why not plant grass there and just not mow it? It will only get about 8" to 12" high with the seed stems reaching 20" to 28" high. At least that's how my fescue behaves. I do not see this as a unsightly problem in such a small area. Grass in "seed" looks pretty cool. I do not mow most of the grass around my pond all summer. The unmowed grass gets mowed once a year (usu early spring) to keep the trees down. I try and spray the broadleaf weeds to keep them to a minimum.

Consider planting bluegrass, it gets a maximum of abt 12"-14" high (including seed heads)and maybe some new varieties of fescue have shorter seed stems than 24"-30". Dense, thick, unmowed grass once established will eliminate all soil erosion on your slope. The problem will be getting good thick grass cover estabalished on a steep slope with poorer soils.

2. Three leaf clover like that in your many Indiana yards stays real short and also would be a good alternative. Not sure where you buy that 3leaf clover seed; most homeowners try and kill it in their lawns.

aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine -
America's Journal of Pond Management