City of Hastings Drinking Water Treatment Plant Tour (4 times) @ City of Hastings Water Treatment Plant

Oct 20 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

City of Hastings Drinking Water Treatment Plant Tour

Learn more about where drinking water comes from, common pollutants impacting water and the treatment process that makes water safe to drink. Presented by the City of Hastings. Registration required. Geared for adults and youth ages 12 and older.

City of Hastings Water Treatment Plant
1300 North Frontage Road, Hastings
Thursday, Oct. 20, 1–2 p.m. Register now.
Thursday, Oct. 20, 2–3 p.m. Register now.
Thursday, Nov. 17, 4:30–5:30 p.m. Register now.
Thursday, Nov. 17, 5:30–6:30 p.m. Register now.

Categories: Events Outreach Workshop Tags: Hastings water quality We Are Water MN

Water Storytelling and Collage (3 sessions) @ Pleasant Hill Library, Wescott Library, Burnhaven Library

Tickets

Oct 25 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Water Storytelling and Collage

Join us for storytelling and collage with Julie Boada of the Fond du Lac people and Park Ranger Judy Geck who will share memories, relationships and the hidden histories that have shaped their own personal experiences in and near Minnesota waters. Presented by ArtStart. Registration required.

Pleasant Hill Library
Tuesday, Oct. 25, 3–5 p.m. Geared for teens. Register now.

Wescott Library
Wednesday, Nov. 2, 1–3 p.m. Geared for adults. Register now.

Burnhaven Library
Thursday, Nov. 3, 5:30–7:30 p.m. Geared for adults. Register now.

Categories: Events Outreach Workshop Tags: We Are Water MN

Nitrate Clinic for Private Well Owners @ Pleasant Hill Library, Hastings

Tickets

Oct 27 @ 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Nitrate Clinic for Private Well Owners

Bring private well water samples in a clean container to get your water tested for nitrates. Visit the interactive We are Water MN exhibit while you wait for your results.

Pleasant Hill Library
1490 S. Frontage Road, Hastings
Thursday, Oct. 27, 4:30–6:30 p.m.

Categories: Events Outreach Workshop Tags: Hastings nitrates private wells water quality We Are Water MN

Minnesota Irrigator Program @ Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center

Tickets

Mar 1 @ 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

Minnesota Irrigator Program

Are you an irrigator concerned about matching your irrigation with crop water use? Are you wondering how to improve water use efficiency and reduce water costs? The University of Minnesota Extension is offering the Minnesota Irrigator Program (MIP), to help answer these questions and more.

The three-day MIP will be held in person at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center in Farmington (same building as our office and Dakota County SWCD) on March 1, 8, and 15 from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm. Topics will include general water use and flow, irrigation sprinkler systems, variable rate irrigation, agronomics, maintenance, energy costs, and much more. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Participation is capped at 25 individuals and the cost is $75. For more information and to register, go to https://z.umn.edu/MIP23registration.

MIP attendance is one of the requirements for the Irrigation Endorsement awarded by the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program and certified producers are eligible for tuition reimbursement. Contact your local MAWQCP certifier for more information.

Categories: Events Workshop Tags: Ag Water Quality Certification agriculture Dakota County SWCD Farmington irrigation UMN Extension

Minnesota Irrigator Program @ Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center

Tickets

Mar 8 @ 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

Minnesota Irrigator Program

Are you an irrigator concerned about matching your irrigation with crop water use? Are you wondering how to improve water use efficiency and reduce water costs? The University of Minnesota Extension is offering the Minnesota Irrigator Program (MIP), to help answer these questions and more.

The three-day MIP will be held in person at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center in Farmington (same building as our office and Dakota County SWCD) on March 1, 8, and 15 from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm. Topics will include general water use and flow, irrigation sprinkler systems, variable rate irrigation, agronomics, maintenance, energy costs, and much more. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Participation is capped at 25 individuals and the cost is $75. For more information and to register, go to https://z.umn.edu/MIP23registration.

MIP attendance is one of the requirements for the Irrigation Endorsement awarded by the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program and certified producers are eligible for tuition reimbursement. Contact your local MAWQCP certifier for more information.

Categories: Events Workshop Tags: Ag Water Quality Certification agriculture Dakota County SWCD Farmington irrigation UMN Extension

Minnesota Irrigator Program @ Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center

Tickets

Mar 15 @ 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

Minnesota Irrigator Program

Are you an irrigator concerned about matching your irrigation with crop water use? Are you wondering how to improve water use efficiency and reduce water costs? The University of Minnesota Extension is offering the Minnesota Irrigator Program (MIP), to help answer these questions and more.

The three-day MIP will be held in person at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center in Farmington (same building as our office and Dakota County SWCD) on March 1, 8, and 15 from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm. Topics will include general water use and flow, irrigation sprinkler systems, variable rate irrigation, agronomics, maintenance, energy costs, and much more. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Participation is capped at 25 individuals and the cost is $75. For more information and to register, go to https://z.umn.edu/MIP23registration.

MIP attendance is one of the requirements for the Irrigation Endorsement awarded by the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program and certified producers are eligible for tuition reimbursement. Contact your local MAWQCP certifier for more information.

Categories: Events Workshop Tags: Ag Water Quality Certification agriculture Dakota County SWCD Farmington irrigation UMN Extension

Public meeting: VRWJPO 2026-2035 Watershed Management Plan @ Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center Conference Rm. 1-2

Tickets

Oct 12 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization (VRWJPO) Public Meeting and Open House on Update of the 10-Year Watershed Management Plan

Notice is hereby given that the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization (VRWJPO) will hold a public meeting at 4 p.m. on October 12, 2023, at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center (4100 220th Street West, Farmington, MN) in Conference Room 1 & 2 to discuss watershed management issues and priorities that stakeholders and the public want included in the 2026 update of the Vermillion River Watershed Management Plan. A presentation and discussion will take place at 4 p.m., followed by an open house until 6 p.m. to allow interested parties to find out more about the watershed’s goals and activities.

A summary of the issues and priorities identified to date will be provided during the meeting. Interested parties are encouraged to bring their questions, ideas, and concerns about watershed management to the meeting. The feedback will be documented and used to develop the 2026-2035 Watershed Plan. Special accommodations at the public meeting can be obtained by contacting Brita Moore-Kutz at (952) 891-7967 or brita.moore-kutz@co.dakota.mn.us.

Agencies, groups, or persons attending the public meeting or open house will have the opportunity to provide written or oral comments. Prior to the public meeting, written comments may be addressed to the VRWJPO, 4100 220^th St. West #103, Farmington, MN 55024, or emailed to Brita Moore-Kutz at brita.moore-kutz@co.dakota.mn.us or Melissa Bokman-Ermer at mbokman@co.scott.mn.us.

Categories: Events Meetings Outreach Workshop Tags: public meeting Vermillion River Watershed Watershed Plan

Lawns Reimagined Workshop @ Rosemount Steeple Center

Tickets

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!

Categories: Events Workshop Tags: Dakota County SWCD landscaping for clean water planting for clean water rosemount SWCD turfgrass maintenance