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"State of the River" Report 2018 budget 25 by 25 Ag Water Quality Certification agriculture ais Alimagnet Angry Inch Angry Inch Brewery Apple Valley Apple Valley Senior Center aquatic invasive species astronomy bird watching board meeting buckthorn removal Burnsville Carpenter Nature Center Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center citizen advisory group Clean Water Summit 2016 climate Coca-Cola Refreshments in Eagan Minn. Conservation Minnesota County Fair CP Adams Park Dakota County Dakota County Parks Dakota County SWCD de-icing workshop Eagan Earth Day exhibits Farmington field day fishing FMR Fortin Consulting Freshwater Society Friends of CNC Friends of the Mississippi River Governor Dayton Greenway groundwater Hastings Hastings Environmental Protectors Hastings Sand Coulee SNA information meeting invasive species removal Inver Grove Heights irrigation Kevin Smith Lake Marion Lakeville landscape for the river landscaping for clean water lawn and garden lawns MAISRC Master Water Stewards Mike Lynch Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Minnesota Institute of Astrophysics Minnesota Landscape Arboretum minnesota pollution control agency Minnesota StarWatch Mississippi River MPCA MWS native plants nitrates North Creek Parks Pine Bend SNA planting for clean planting for clean water pollinators prairie seed collection private wells public hearing public meeting rain barrel rainbarrel redevelopment rosemount salt sand coulee SNA Schaar's Bluff Gathering Center scientific and natural area scott swcd Smart Salting snow and ice best practices South Branch Vermillion River Spring Lake Park St. Croix Valley Bird Club star map starry stonewort starry trek stormwater retrofits SWCD TAG Technical Advisory Group Technical Advisory Group (TAG) tour town hall township officers Trevor Russell trout stream Trout Unlimited TU turfgrass maintenance Twin Cities Trout Unlimited UMN Extension University of Minnesota urban urban best management practices Vermillion Falls Park Vermillion River Vermillion River Aquatic Management Area Vermillion River Watershed Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization Vermillion Riverkeepers Vermillion Stewards volunteer VRWJPB VRWJPO VRWPC water conservation water quality Water treatment watershed management Watershed Plan watershed planning commission Watershed Planning Commission (WPC) We Are Water MN Whitetail Woods Regional Park winter road maintenance WPC
![Minnesota Water Steward Information Sessions @ Virtual](https://www.vermillionriverwatershed.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Copy-of-Jen-gardening-CWSH-300x225.jpg)
Minnesota Water Steward Information Sessions
Come learn what it takes to become a Water Steward! Along with submitting an application, all program applicants need to attend an information session. Anyone is welcome to attend any info session.
Information sessions for the 2023 program year (starting January 2023) are all virtual and listed below. Sessions run about 45 minutes to an hour long. You must register beforehand and you only need to attend one session.
Contact Alex Van Loh avanloh@freshwater.org with questions.
Tuesday, October 18, 2022, 12:00 pm
Tuesday, October 18, 2022, 5:00 pm
Tuesday, October 25, 2022, 12:00 pm
Tuesday, November 1, 2022, 5:00 pm
Tuesday, November 15, 2022, 12:00 pm
Tuesday, November 29, 2022, 5:00 pm
![MPCA Turfgrass Maintenance Certification Training @ Dakota County Western Service Center Rm. 106 | Apple Valley | Minnesota | United States](https://www.vermillionriverwatershed.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/IMG_4830-300x225.jpg)
MPCA Turfgrass Maintenance Certification Training
Attend this workshop to learn best practices for lawn/turf maintenance with reduced environmental impacts. The practices taught will save you money and time and protect our water. Take the test to become Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Level 1 certified in turfgrass maintenance best practices. Participants will receive a Turfgrass Maintenance Manual.
Who should attend?
- Private maintenance companies
- Property managers
- Employees maintaining park, cemetery, city or school grounds
Training topics include:
- How turf management affects surface & groundwater
- Equipment calibration & maintenance
- Life cycle of turf & weeds & how it affects maintenance
- Efficient & effective irrigation
- Soil testing, fertilizer selection and application
- Mowing techniques
- Pesticide application tips
- Best practices for turf management
- Weed control practices
- In-field reference materials, such as turf care matrix
Pre-registration is required by 4 p.m. March 22. Register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/526531689457 or call 952-891-7000. Morning coffee and refreshments and lunch provided.
Funding by Dakota County and the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization as well as the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency with Clean Water Funds.
![Landscaping for Clean Water Design Course @ Apple Valley Municipal Center McIntosh Training Room](https://www.vermillionriverwatershed.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/LCW-Logo-Final-white-background-300x218.png)
Landscaping for Clean Water Design Course
After completing the Introduction to Clean Water class, you are eligible to enroll in the Landscaping for Clean Water Design Course. While the Landscaping for Clean Water program is open to anyone, the $250 cost share grants are only available to Dakota County residents and Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization residents in Ramsey County.
The Landscaping for Clean Water Design Course helps residents like you create and install beautiful landscaping projects that are unique to your yard! This course is a great opportunity to learn about garden planning from the experts, whether you are interested in finding out about site design, plant selection, raingarden installation, or adding native plants to the landscape.
In 2023, the Design Course Online Learning Materials will be provided to all participants for project planning at home. In addition, we are offering three in-person Design Course options this year:
IN-PERSON DESIGN COURSE OPTIONS
- Tuesday/Thursday – April 18/20
Burnsville City Hall
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. - Friday – May 12
Apple Valley Municipal Center
12:00 – 4:00 p.m. - Tuesday/Thursday – June 20/22
Mendota Heights Fire Station
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
There is a $25.00 registration fee for the Design Course that includes a copy of the Blue Thumb Guide to Raingardens book, a Design Folder including aerial property maps and design tools, online instruction materials and one-on-one help.
Are you a returning Design Course participant? Register again for the Design Course and the FEE is WAIVED!
APPLY FOR A $250 GARDEN GRANT!
At the end of the Design Course you will have a complete garden project planned and ready to install. You then have the opportunity to apply for a $250 cost share grant, funded by Dakota County watershed organizations. The grant (paid at completion of project) includes in-person site visits at your property and technical assistance from our staff available to you throughout the installation process.
The 2023 grants will be awarded in three rounds, as follows:
2023 | Application Date | Project Completion |
---|---|---|
Round 1 | April 26, 2023 | July 21, 2023 |
Round 2 | May 31, 2023 | August 25, 2023 |
Round 3 | July 12, 2023 | October 6, 2023 |
Public Meeting: Alimagnet Lake Feasibility Study
This spring and summer, the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization (VRWJPO) is leading an Alimagnet Lake alum (aluminum sulfate) treatment feasibility study. City of Burnsville and City of Apple Valley natural resources staff are also participating in the process. VRWJPO has hired a consultant, Barr Engineering, to conduct field work, analyze data and help put together the final feasibility report. This report is expected to be completed in July. We are hosting a public meeting on July 20, 2023 where the findings of the report will be presented.
What is an alum treatment?
An alum treatment is a common water quality improvement practice in shallow lakes that have excessive phosphorus and poor water clarity as a result of algae growth. Often times phosphorus is released into the water column from lake bottom sediments during the summer months. When alum is added to the water, it attaches to phosphorus and falls to the bottom of the lake, preventing it from feeding algae and improving water clarity. Increased clarity following alum treatments can also lead to increased aquatic plant growth, which help to keep phosphorus levels in check.
One of the first steps in planning for a potential alum treatment is to conduct a feasibility study, which will determine whether Alimagnet Lake is a good candidate for the treatment, and if it is, how to most effectively apply alum in the lake, and the estimated costs. The study will also look at alternative solutions to improve water quality, other than an alum treatment.
At the public meeting, there will be a short presentation to present the findings of the study and then time for attendees to ask questions or provide feedback on the findings. If alum treatment is determined to be a feasible option for Alimagnet Lake, VRWJPO would anticipate applying for a grant in late summer of 2023 to obtain funding to complete the work. No treatment would occur prior to 2024.
If you have any questions regarding the public meeting, please feel free to contact Caleb at 952-895-4543 or caleb.ashling@burnsvillemn.gov.
Community Conversation – Lakeville
The Vermillion River Watershed invites you to attend our first round of Community Conversations in January! This is your opportunity to learn about the watershed, comment on goals, share concerns, and inform the watershed’s next generation management plan.
Come at 5 p.m. for a short introduction about the watershed from Administrator Travis Thiel; or stop by any time before 7 p.m. to enjoy snacks, get refreshed at the Water Bar, and chat with staff. Kid-friendly activity stations will be available to occupy little ones, so feel free to bring the family. Participants who provide feedback will be eligible to spin a prize wheel to win a $10 gift card to Fluegel’s, Fleet Farm, or Target, among other prizes!
Lakeville Earth Day Celebration and Watershed Cleanup
Bring your family, your neighbors and friends! Fun for all ages!
Visit the various education stations and learn about what you can do to help make a difference in our city and for the Earth as a whole. The education stations include information on the following:
- Aquatic invasive species
- Prairies
- Pollinators
- Recycling
- Water quality
- Watersheds (that’s us)
- And more!
As you visit the stations, you will earn the chance to get Earth-friendly prizes and are sure to have lots of fun along the way.
Other activities include:
- Zoomobile
- Puppet shows
- Garden tool swap: If you’re in need of new to you gardening tools OR looking to get rid of excess (but still useful) gardening tools, there will be a garden tool swap at the entrance of the event where you can leave and take what you would like.
Watershed Cleanup info:
You and/or your group can start the pickup on April 20 at 1 p.m., or you can schedule a more convenient time, as long as it is before dark on April 30. Sign up here and be sure to mark on the map where you plan to clean up.
![Landscaping for Clean Water Intro Class - Lakeville @ Ritter Farm Park](https://www.vermillionriverwatershed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Plants-Rain-Sunshine-You-300x300.png)
In-person Landscaping for Clean Water Introduction Class
Join us for a one hour IN-PERSON class at Ritter Farm Park in Lakeville! Learn how native plants, raingardens, and shoreline plantings can bring pollinator and water quality benefits to your yard. The class is FREE and is a pre-requisite to taking part in the hands-on design course and grant program! Learn more.
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!