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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!
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.
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.
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.
