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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
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 220th 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.
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!
Community Conversation – Hastings
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!
Vermillion River-Kummer AMA Habitat Day
This event is part of Twin Cities Trout Unlimited’s Vermillion River Initiative-a focus on protecting and enhancing this cold water stream so near to the Twin Cities! Join us TCTU as they help the DNR continue to restore the Vermillion River & this Aquatic Management Area for wildlife.
Work will include:
-Removing buckthorn, other invasive species and boxelders
-Dragging and dropping the brush into piles
-Picking up any trash we find
Bring heavy work gloves and a willingness to work hard.
There won’t be any in-water work, but we’ll be able to keep our eyes open for trout!
In case this is cancelled, the back-up day will be June 8, same time and place.
VRWJPO at Dakota County Fair
Visit with VRWJPO and environmental partners at the Dakota County Fair’s Natural Resources Building, August 5-11, 2024.
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 for 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.
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 for 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.
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 for 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.
