May
23
Thu
2024
Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Board Meeting @ Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center Conference Rm. A
May 23 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Board Meeting

Meeting Materials

Virtual meeting access:

Microsoft Teams

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 242 364 011 892

Passcode: 2dsXnz

Dial-in by phone

+1 651-273-3070,,748339046# United States, St. Paul

Find a local number

Phone conference ID: 748 339 046#

Jun
5
Wed
2024
Lawns Reimagined Workshop @ Apple Valley Municipal Center
Jun 5 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Lawns Reimagined Pilot Program

Have you ever looked out at your lawn and thought, “sure would be nice to water less often, reduce the need to fertilize, and spend less time mowing”? Well, we’ve got the program for you! Our new program – Lawns Reimagined – assists landowners in installing a more resilient lawn to reduce water and fertilizer use, and cut down on mowing frequency during the growing season.

Lawns Reimagined is a new program provided through a partnership between the Dakota SWCD, Dakota County, and the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization. The goal of the program is to create healthy looking lawns using deeper rooted grasses that are more resilient to weather conditions and climate change while maintaining traditional turfgrass lawn uses.

These lawns will be composed of fescue grass blends that require little to no watering or fertilizer post-establishment; reducing the impact lawns have on the groundwater supply and decreasing nutrient loss to waterbodies through runoff and lawn clippings. It is recommended to reduce mowing frequency which results in reduced carbon emissions from lawn mowers and healthier air at a local level.

The Dakota SWCD will be hosting two workshops for Dakota County residents:
* June 5 in Apple Valley (Municipal Center) at 6 p.m.
* June 12 in Rosemount (Steeple Center) at 6 p.m.

At the workshops, participants will learn about the benefits of an alternative lawn type, along with technical guidance on site preparation, seeding, and long-term maintenance. From there, landowners can apply to receive further assistance. Once applicants have been approved, SWCD staff complete a site visit to further guide site preparation, seeding, and answer any additional questions. Landowners then complete the site preparation and Dakota SWCD will provide landowners with the seed to complete a fall seeding. If the participants are willing to do a little work, the cost to them will be minimal to none!

For more details and to sign up for the workshop, check out the Lawns Reimagined webpage!

Jun
12
Wed
2024
Lawns Reimagined Workshop @ Rosemount Steeple Center
Jun 12 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Lawns Reimagined Pilot Program

Have you ever looked out at your lawn and thought, “sure would be nice to water less often, reduce the need to fertilize, and spend less time mowing”? Well, we’ve got the program for you! Our new program – Lawns Reimagined – assists landowners in installing a more resilient lawn to reduce water and fertilizer use, and cut down on mowing frequency during the growing season.

Lawns Reimagined is a new program provided through a partnership between the Dakota SWCD, Dakota County, and the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization. The goal of the program is to create healthy looking lawns using deeper rooted grasses that are more resilient to weather conditions and climate change while maintaining traditional turfgrass lawn uses.

These lawns will be composed of fescue grass blends that require little to no watering or fertilizer post-establishment; reducing the impact lawns have on the groundwater supply and decreasing nutrient loss to waterbodies through runoff and lawn clippings. It is recommended to reduce mowing frequency which results in reduced carbon emissions from lawn mowers and healthier air at a local level.

The Dakota SWCD will be hosting two workshops for Dakota County residents:
* June 5 in Apple Valley (Municipal Center) at 6 p.m.
* June 12 in Rosemount (Steeple Center) at 6 p.m.

At the workshops, participants will learn about the benefits of an alternative lawn type, along with technical guidance on site preparation, seeding, and long-term maintenance. From there, landowners can apply to receive further assistance. Once applicants have been approved, SWCD staff complete a site visit to further guide site preparation, seeding, and answer any additional questions. Landowners then complete the site preparation and Dakota SWCD will provide landowners with the seed to complete a fall seeding. If the participants are willing to do a little work, the cost to them will be minimal to none!

For more details and to sign up for the workshop, check out the Lawns Reimagined webpage!

Jun
27
Thu
2024
Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Board Meeting @ Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center Conference Rm. A
Jun 27 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Board Meeting

Meeting materials available here.

Virtual meeting access:

Microsoft Teams

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 216 321 817 765

Passcode: 7mRmXo

Dial in by phone

+1 651-273-3070,,122558343# United States, St. Paul

Find a local number

Phone conference ID: 122 558 343#

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
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:

Microsoft Teams

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 274 154 940 030

Passcode: zuTrkH

Dial in by phone

+1 651-273-3070,,486263981# United States, St. Paul

Find a local number

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
24
Sat
2024
TCTU Habitat Project on South Branch Vermillion River Day 2 @ South Branch of the Vermillion River State Aquatic Management Area
Aug 24 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

TCTU Event: Habitat Project on South Branch Vermillion River, Day 2

Twin Cities Trout Unlimited needs 20 volunteers to help improve stream habitat for trout.

Under direction from Mark Nemeth of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, we will be installing cedar trees (cut during the event the day before) in sections of the river to protect the stream banks from erosion.

The Plan

  • Meet at the start time at the parking lot of the South Branch Vermillion River Aquatic Management Area.
  • We will haul and install cedars at several locations in the river.

What You Should Bring

  • Chest waders (in water work) or be prepared to wet wade
  • Long sleeve shirt
  • Sunblock
  • Heavy work gloves
  • Water

What the DNR & TCTU Will Provide

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

Registration will close 24 hours before the event for an accurate list of participants.