Jul
25
Thu
2024
Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Board Meeting @ Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center Conference Rm. A
Jul 25 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Board Meeting

Virtual meeting access will be posted here when available.

Aug
5
Mon
2024
VRWJPO at Dakota County Fair @ Dakota County Fairgrounds
Aug 5 @ 12:00 pm – Aug 11 @ 5:00 pm
VRWJPO at Dakota County Fair @ Dakota County Fairgrounds

VRWJPO at Dakota County Fair

Visit with VRWJPO and environmental partners at the Dakota County Fair’s Natural Resources Building, August 5-11, 2024.

Aug
7
Wed
2024
Irrigation Water Testing – Vermillion @ Vermillion City Hall
Aug 7 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Irrigation Water Testing – Vermillion (city)

Dakota County, the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center will be offering farmers who irrigate their crops the opportunity to test their irrigation water for nitrogen. Testing is at no cost.

Participants will receive their results the same day. They will learn how to credit nitrate in their irrigation water for next year’s nutrient management plans. Participants will also walk through the Irrigation Management Assistant (IMA) Tool with a SWCD staff member. The tool helps with irrigation scheduling.

Private well owners can also have their drinking water tested for nitrate. They will receive their results and treatment recommendations, if applicable.

Sampling instructions for irrigators

Samples may be taken the day of analysis or ahead of time. Samples taken ahead of time must be frozen until attending a session to prevent samples from degrading.

Participants may bring in several frozen samples collected over a period of several days to get a more representative result.

Samples can be collected directly from irrigators or by installing a boiler drain to a pivot point or the well itself.

If sampling directly from irrigators:

  • Allow irrigators to pump water for at least 15 minutes before sampling.
  • Fill a clean 5-gallon bucket, or similar container. Mix before collecting the sample.
  • Collect the test sample in a small Ziploc bag or a clean bottle or container. Only about 1 ounce of water is needed for testing.

Sampling instructions f​or private well owners

  • Collect samples from your primary drinking water source after eight hours of nonuse, preferably first thing in the morning
  • Collect your sample in a small Ziplock bag or clean bottle or container
  • Do not run the water before sampling — collect the first draw in the container
  • Only about 1 ​ounce of water is needed for testing, but collecting extra is advised.​

Test results

Nitrogen results are confidential. Participants are not required to take any action after testing. They will receive their results and information on nitrogen crediting.​

Aug
15
Thu
2024
Irrigation Water Testing – Farmington @ Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center
Aug 15 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Irrigation Water Testing – Farmington

Dakota County, the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center will be offering farmers who irrigate their crops the opportunity to test their irrigation water for nitrogen. Testing is at no cost.

Participants will receive their results the same day. They will learn how to credit nitrate in their irrigation water for next year’s nutrient management plans. Participants will also walk through the Irrigation Management Assistant (IMA) Tool with a SWCD staff member. The tool helps with irrigation scheduling.

Private well owners can also have their drinking water tested for nitrate. They will receive their results and treatment recommendations, if applicable.

Sampling instructions for irrigators

Samples may be taken the day of analysis or ahead of time. Samples taken ahead of time must be frozen until attending a session to prevent samples from degrading.

Participants may bring in several frozen samples collected over a period of several days to get a more representative result.

Samples can be collected directly from irrigators or by installing a boiler drain to a pivot point or the well itself.

If sampling directly from irrigators:

  • Allow irrigators to pump water for at least 15 minutes before sampling.
  • Fill a clean 5-gallon bucket, or similar container. Mix before collecting the sample.
  • Collect the test sample in a small Ziploc bag or a clean bottle or container. Only about 1 ounce of water is needed for testing.

Sampling instructions f​or private well owners

  • Collect samples from your primary drinking water source after eight hours of nonuse, preferably first thing in the morning
  • Collect your sample in a small Ziplock bag or clean bottle or container
  • Do not run the water before sampling — collect the first draw in the container
  • Only about 1 ​ounce of water is needed for testing, but collecting extra is advised.​

Test results

Nitrogen results are confidential. Participants are not required to take any action after testing. They will receive their results and information on nitrogen crediting.​

Aug
20
Tue
2024
Irrigation Water Testing – Marshan Twp @ Marshan Town Hall
Aug 20 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Irrigation Water Testing – Marshan Township

Dakota County, the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center will be offering farmers who irrigate their crops the opportunity to test their irrigation water for nitrogen. Testing is at no cost.

Participants will receive their results the same day. They will learn how to credit nitrate in their irrigation water for next year’s nutrient management plans. Participants will also walk through the Irrigation Management Assistant (IMA) Tool with a SWCD staff member. The tool helps with irrigation scheduling.

Private well owners can also have their drinking water tested for nitrate. They will receive their results and treatment recommendations, if applicable.

Sampling instructions for irrigators

Samples may be taken the day of analysis or ahead of time. Samples taken ahead of time must be frozen until attending a session to prevent samples from degrading.

Participants may bring in several frozen samples collected over a period of several days to get a more representative result.

Samples can be collected directly from irrigators or by installing a boiler drain to a pivot point or the well itself.

If sampling directly from irrigators:

  • Allow irrigators to pump water for at least 15 minutes before sampling.
  • Fill a clean 5-gallon bucket, or similar container. Mix before collecting the sample.
  • Collect the test sample in a small Ziploc bag or a clean bottle or container. Only about 1 ounce of water is needed for testing.

Sampling instructions f​or private well owners

  • Collect samples from your primary drinking water source after eight hours of nonuse, preferably first thing in the morning
  • Collect your sample in a small Ziplock bag or clean bottle or container
  • Do not run the water before sampling — collect the first draw in the container
  • Only about 1 ​ounce of water is needed for testing, but collecting extra is advised.​

Test results

Nitrogen results are confidential. Participants are not required to take any action after testing. They will receive their results and information on nitrogen crediting.​

Aug
22
Thu
2024
Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Board Meeting @ Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center Conference Rm. A
Aug 22 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Board Meeting

Virtual meeting access will be posted here when available.

Aug
23
Fri
2024
TCTU Habitat Project on South Branch Vermillion River Day 1 @ South Branch of the Vermillion River State Aquatic Management Area
Aug 23 @ 8:00 am – 11:00 am

TCTU Event: Habitat Project on South Branch Vermillion River, Day 1

Twin Cities Trout Unlimited needs 14 volunteers to help improve stream habitat for trout.

What Will We Be Doing

This will be Day 1 of a unique 2 Day effort. You can also, if so desired, sign up for Day 2 (a separate sign-up for Saturday, Aug. 24).

Under the direction of Mark Nemeth of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, we will be harvesting & hauling cedar trees to a trailer, then delivering to the South Branch Vermillion Aquatic Management Area. The trees will be used to protect the banks of several areas on the river. We will also be doing some reseeding where we cut the trees.

The Plan

Meet at the start time at the parking lot of the AMA. We will carpool to the Vermillion Highlands area to cut trees, re-seed, and haul the trees back to the AMA.

What You Should Bring

  • Long pants
  • Long sleeve shirt
  • Sunblock
  • Heavy work gloves
  • Water

What TCTU & the DNR Will Provide

  • All equipment
  • Bug spray
  • LUNCH after we’re all done working

Registration will end 24 hours before the event for an accurate headcount.

Aug
27
Tue
2024
Irrigation Water Testing – Hampton @ Hampton City Hall
Aug 27 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Irrigation Water Testing – Hampton (city)

Dakota County, the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center will be offering farmers who irrigate their crops the opportunity to test their irrigation water for nitrogen. Testing is at no cost.

Participants will receive their results the same day. They will learn how to credit nitrate in their irrigation water for next year’s nutrient management plans. Participants will also walk through the Irrigation Management Assistant (IMA) Tool with a SWCD staff member. The tool helps with irrigation scheduling.

Private well owners can also have their drinking water tested for nitrate. They will receive their results and treatment recommendations, if applicable.

Sampling instructions for irrigators

Samples may be taken the day of analysis or ahead of time. Samples taken ahead of time must be frozen until attending a session to prevent samples from degrading.

Participants may bring in several frozen samples collected over a period of several days to get a more representative result.

Samples can be collected directly from irrigators or by installing a boiler drain to a pivot point or the well itself.

If sampling directly from irrigators:

  • Allow irrigators to pump water for at least 15 minutes before sampling.
  • Fill a clean 5-gallon bucket, or similar container. Mix before collecting the sample.
  • Collect the test sample in a small Ziploc bag or a clean bottle or container. Only about 1 ounce of water is needed for testing.

Sampling instructions f​or private well owners

  • Collect samples from your primary drinking water source after eight hours of nonuse, preferably first thing in the morning
  • Collect your sample in a small Ziplock bag or clean bottle or container
  • Do not run the water before sampling — collect the first draw in the container
  • Only about 1 ​ounce of water is needed for testing, but collecting extra is advised.​

Test results

Nitrogen results are confidential. Participants are not required to take any action after testing. They will receive their results and information on nitrogen crediting.​